I have had great results with the family grain mill we use the motorized base but have the hand crank base also, which I use from time to time.

So far so good. Made in Germany.

I have a Country Living Grain Mill... In fact it's too funny that you posted this now, as I just did a search last night to see if there's a topic somewhere that I should add to.

Anyway, we tried ours out and it seems to work just fine. BUT, due to the fact that my table is not ready for it yet, the boys gouged the counter top clamping it down. They wanted to try using it with more force than I can. Oh, well... at least they are curious.

The flour turned out very fine which is what we had it set to. I also tried the coarse setting and everything inbetween and it turned out as expected. I bought mine at eBay for 439.00 with the power bar, repair kit, and auger. That's the best deal that I could find for this mill.

Sorry, I have no experience with any other grain mill.

I have the Kithenaid grain mill attachment (about $100), but have never used it yet! I should maybe get on that I bought it because i have the mixer and the attachment could be bought locally (FleetFarm).

How finely does it grind? What grains have you used it with?

Shannymara and Dawn, I'd like a Country Living mill, but funds are tight at the moment, and I have too many other things I need to get. So I think any mill I buy right now will have to stay under $200. I may hold off on buying until next year, though, in which case I may be able to afford a Country Living mill.

I have used the oat roller for oats just fine, otherwise just hard red winter wheat.. It is best if I run it through twice... I am drying some corn currently and will try making corn meal ... I will try to remember to report back later... maybe thanksgiving.

Got a Country Living Grain Mill over here. I've run several products through it, have had two problems with it, peas and hand wear.

cracked corn
rice
red wheat
milo
rye
spelt
dried split peas
dried rosemary
dried parsley

The thing is well built and heavy. Be sure to pick up some nuts and bolts and attach it firmly to something that is also heavy and has a low center of gravity. I put mine on an end table then added some wheels. The end table has a drawer in which I keep some tools:
Leather gloves, so I don't wear the skin off my hand turning the handle. A new clean paint brush for cleaning the thing when I'm done. A new clean scrub brush for cleaning up. Spare parts. In the space below the drawer I keep a couple of plastic tubs which fit under the output chute. Everything is in one place and I can move it out of the way.

The peas tended to clog the burrs just a bit. Had to go through and clean each gap one at a time. It was a bit of a chore, but the pea powder makes an instant soup.

Dried spices run through offer some interesting uses. Combine garlic, rosemary, red pepper, black pepper, oregano, basil, you can put together a cajun seasoning. Run dry spinach through it, add the spinach powder to your next batch of homemade pasta. Run some cayenne pepper through it, get something to taunt your little sister.

If you need a dirt cheap solution for grinding grains, hit the hardware store for some iron pipe and duct tape. 3 sections of 1" iron pipe, taped together, can crush grain placed in the bottom of a can. Any old can will work, but you may need several cans in backup should you pound your way through the bottom. It won't grind all the grain uniformly or all at once, or even quickly, but will give you something to work with. After that its a matter of sifting out the finer flour. Might cost you 20 bucks.

An even simpler solution would be 2 rocks, but what a chore that would be.

I've been looking through the lehman's stuff lately too but they are all on backorder.... wonder if that is a trend.

Is the family grain mill all metal or is there plastic in there too?

Family grain mill with the motorized base:



hand base:

Here's the thread from another time we talked about grain mills:
http://www.peakoil.com/fortopic16339.html

Yea I guess I'm changing hats.

If you don't grow your own wheat you don't need a mill.

When there is no flour available there will be nothing to grind either and you will have bigger fish to fry at any rate.

We need to get real I'm thinking...

You are forgetting Pops that whole wheat kernels store much better than flour. So if you are in a situation where wheat is available intermittently such that you could store bulk when available it would make more sense to store it as whole grain making the grinder a useful tool to have.

-G

I do grow my own wheat, in limited quantities. And millet, hull-less oats, quinoa, and amaranth. Sure, I can prepare all of the above without a grinder, but having as many options as possible makes for less boring mealtimes. There might be times when you might trade some beef (or whatever) for grain. And +1 to what kpeavey said.

Christ, you're getting grumpy lately. I didn't start my (now merged) thread to talk about grinding store-bought wheat berries. I want to grind corn, quinoa, chickpeas, and other crops that I'll be growing myself, as well as wheat and other grains bought directly from local farmers. I don't think the sky is gonna be falling, thanks very much, I'm just interested in self-reliance and relocalization.

Even if you don't grow your own wheat, the mills are handy for a whole lot more than just wheat.

Corn and other grains. How about beans. You can grow beans just about anywhere. If you can dry it, you can grind it. Lots of herbs out there that are mighty useful run through a grinder. Flavoring is one aspect, but consider also medicinal uses for herbs. Finely ground powders can make the difference between having a bag of flavor and having a remedy or an ailment.

Thanks for your advice. We will try that. For my part I was being impatient. We've had the mill for a few months and I wanted to try it out. I know my dad is building a table for me... It will be my x-mas present.



I would like to learn to grow wheat for grinding, but I don't think there's an urgent need, at the moment. I will likely try a small patch of wheat next year though. I do know how to grow beans, corn, spices and such. I am more excited about finally being able to grind rice for a few recipes that I have... Trying to process rice in the food processors has burnt the motor each and every time I've tried it. My sister-in-law has great results with the food processor method.