I know there are a number of excellent mills for different applications, so I hope I get this detailed enough to really pinpoint which will work best for me. Thanks in advance for your advice!

I'm looking for a mill that can accomplish the following;

can mill coarse or very fine flours (dry grains) for baking, pasta, hot cereal, pastries, gravies, cakes, breads, etc.

does not heat the flour (over 120 farenheit)

can sift the milled flour to make white cake flours (meaning that it's capable of not crushing the outer layer into the flour making it too difficult to sift out to get a white flour)

can mill for a large family (meaning does not heat up or mess up with heavy use)

does not need to be cleaned

does not throw flour dust everywhere

has electrical and hand mill capability

lasts for 30 years+

does not need to be babysat (won't catch on fire or break with a distracted operator)

does not have quarks with getting odd sized or shaped grains stuck and cracks, or constantly needing to be taken apart to fix

low maintenance

less than $1000

can be purchased in or shipped to the U.S. without incredible waits, fees, or bribes, and with the knowledge that defective or damaged products will be fully replaced in a timely manner without uneccesary inconvenience

Any thoughts?

Simplified Milling Process Diagram, courtesy of www.wheatflourbook.org.

I've searched the forum and found some older posts, some with dead URL's in them.

What are some possible sites for a Seattle guy like me to get bulk amounts of wheat berries?  I've checked a couple sites (PleasantHills and MontanaWheat) and shipping makes prices jump up higher than I expected. 

I'm not looking for the absolute cheapest, just more options.  Are there local co-ops that make this sort of thing more do-able?

Finally, how long should wheat "rest" after milling before using in bread making?

Thanks for all your help!

Does anyone know if fine durum wheat flour becomes less yellow when ground really fine? Or can the Durum flour I have purchased have come from a less yellow variety? Also, if Semolina refers to a grind, then what is the difference between finely ground semolina, and finely ground Durum?  I have read that in the U.S. Semolina comes from Durum wheat. Does that mean in other countries Semolina might not come from Durum? I have not used my Durum flour yet, and I am wondering if I can substitute, in recipes calling for fine semolina.Thanks.

Ray

I am just starting with a Magicmill 3 grain mill. When I grind some flour, it comes out quite warm, more than I would have expected. I have read that one of the advantages of stone ground flour is that it doesn't get as damaged due to the lack of heating during milling. Need I be concerned with this at all? Does your mill heat the flour? 

Hi!, Ive been making my whole wheat bread (with bought whole wheat flour) since 1978 and I just bought a Nutrimill and milled my first berries, got some beautiful and amazing looking flour and did continue as I have always had, started adding in the bowl of my old and powerfull Magic Mill Bosch kneader and surprise, the flour never got elastic and thick and it just became a thick soup, I tried it twice, I milled 8 cups for the first try and 8 cups for the second, I must tell you that I have never use any dough enhancer, it wasn't needed I always had beautifull loafs and pizza, maybe I need to add some dough enhancer, which I have never had, because the milled flour loses something when you mill it at home, it does get kind of warm, I read in the ingredients of the store flour they add ascorbic acid (vitamin C) and I also read that helps. I hope somebody out there in this community of Freshloaf is able to help me. thank you and have a great day!

To all of you laddies and gentleman interested in our mill. . The Lee Household mill is indeed still manufactured here at our facility in Milwaukee, WI

Contact: TomThreher electro_mechano@sbcglobal.net

Phone: 1 414 247 1127, 

3712 W. Elm St., Milwaukee, WI 53209,

On my old computer I had a link to a site where they sold grains and mills....ect.  on this site they had a display of seven or 8 spice bottle sized of fresh ground grain, and everything that is removed from it to make white flour that you could buy, if I remember it was around 30 dollars.  I've been trying to find it cause when people ask why bother I would love to be able to show them what they are missing in their flour.  And I would like to have one on my shelf to remind me why it is important to grind at home.... Any help is apreciated...Thanks

LEE HOUSEHOLD FLOUR MILL

I'm in love with Lee...

The Lee Household Flour Mill is an electric grain mill manufactured by EM Lee Engineering. Purchased new, models start at $556. However, used mills are available at times on eBay at significantly reduced prices. I purchased a model S-600 on eBay several months ago and have been exploring the mill's capabilities since then.

Choice of Four Models

The S-600 model I purchased is this company's top of the line flour mill. It is a one-pass variable grind electric mill that uses a unique design for milling grain. It is adjustable from a coarse mill to a very fine flour. To-date, I have used it primarily to mill fine flour from hard spring wheat for bread and soft wheat flour for pasta and cookies. I have also milled a very coarse corn grits (from popcorn).

I have been extremely impressed with the fine flour this mill can produce. The flour I mill from hard spring wheat (red or white) is virtually indistinguishable in feel from a standard, commercial bread or all-purpose flour yet it is entirely 100% whole wheat. I also own a Nutrimill (micronizer) grain mill and I feel that the Lee Household Flour Mill produces a better fine flour.

This mill does have limitations. Like a micronizer mill, it is not capable of remilling flour. It cannot mill bean flour or small size grain such as millet or amarinth. It is difficult to clean. The units that become available on eBay may be missing some parts (most usually the flour receptacle bag and the lid for the grain hopper - however there are work-arounds one can apply).

On eBay, I paid $125 (plus $15 shipping) for a working stone-based mill that can mill fine to coarse flour for most of the grains that home-millers use (wheat, rye, spelt, corn). Given the price, I'm willing to live with this mill's limitations, though I would be the first to admit that this mill is definitely not for everyone.

If anyone wants additional information on this mill, please post back to this thread or PM me (I have done extensive searches and have collected most of the information available on the 'net relating to this mill). I would be delighted to exchange information with you on this mill.

===== Selected Internet Resources about the Lee Household Flour Mill ==========

freerangegourmet.com/Docs/LeeFlourMill - the primary source for information on the Lee Household Flour Mill

www.eminstrumentswi.com/lee.html - information on models from the original manufacturing company, Lee Engineering.

I am looking into buying a mill (I dont currently own one) and have been doing some research.  Frankly, I"m torn.  I have read a lot about the Retsel, and am impressed by the durability, manual options, and flexibility of this grinder.  I also like that I won't have to triple check my grains for stones.  The price is considerable but I'm not sure if it really is worth the pros.  My other consideration is the nutrimill.  I'm rather stingy with money so I really want it to be well spent if I'm going to lay down that kind of cash.  What are your opinions?