One of the mill options is a hand crank.  Does anyone have experience using the crank?

Has anyone used one of these or heard of them? I can't find much, just that they don't make them anymore and they are very heavy duty. Someone what's to sell me one used, it's old and they want $250-$300 for it. I feel like that is kinda high for a used one. But it is a stone mill, and I am having a hard time finding a stone mill, which is what I want. Do you think it would be worth it?

OK, so I'm not the sharpest tool in the box, but even a blind squirrel finds an acorn now and then.  And although I am an engineer - I am not a mechanical engineer and I'm not 100% confident when I try to innovate - especially when it comes to my (beloved) Diamant Mill.

So I'm putting this out to you-all because it seems like many of you do have that mechanical thinking ability that I lack.

I was cranking the mill the other day when it occured to me that the table that I have the thing bolted to has, as its base, the working treadle mechanism from a treadle sewing machine (told you I wasn't the sharpest tool in the box - only took me a couple of years to notice that...)

Now, this would allow me to grind with leg power (I can treadle not by flexing my feet against the treadle but by putting one foot on the back of the treadle and one foot on the front - this gives considerable power when I am treadling my treadle sewing machine) (and come on - y'all could guess I use a treadle sewing machine, right?) which I'm thinking would be a good thing, but the conversion to treadle power would involve some heavy duty work, so I'd like to do a thought experiment before I drill holes, move the mill and damage an otherwise nice surface (which I am quite willing to do if the cause be good...)

Thing is, when using a treadle sewing machine, the flywheel of the treadle is much larger than the flywheel on the machine.  In the case of the Diamant - the mill's flywheel is 16 in in diameter and much heavier than the flywheel on the treadle mechanism which is only 12 in in diameter.  Am I kidding myself that even by using leg power I would be gaining an advantage? (I have vague memories of an unpleasant class many years ago where they made us do these calculations, but my memory stops there...) Am I setting myself up for bodily injury?

I would use a standard treadle drive band or two (and yes, they are easily found) - I guess - unless I got a better suggestion - but something tells me that alligning the mill's flywheel precisely with the treadle flywheel would be crucial.  How would I do this given that there is 2 inches of hard rock maple which I cannot see through between the two.  I'm speculating that I could do some calculation to get an approximate position for a couple of slots where the band would pass through and then allign the mill - by eye (?) so that the drive band was positioned correctly and then bolt my baby down.  Is there a better way?  Is there a way to test this out somehow?

So if any of you have thoughts, I'll be glad to hear them.

Thanks in advance.

I have been wondering about the Wonder Junior hand mill. Any thoughts from all of you?

http://www.aviva.ca/shop/products.asp?itemid=6394&catid=96

Thanks Mur

I recently had relatives visit from Atlanta.  They think I am a little whacky to be baking my own bread (even if they enjoyed it immensely).  I can handle it.  I know this is the best thing for us right now.  The part that is discouraging, is they suggested that I do not grain my own flour - that everyone she knows that has done that has gone extreme in her opinion.  

I am now discouraged from trying this.  I keep reading about how healthy it is, and I am wondering if any of you who have taken on this extra step have any regrets.    My oldest son (14) yesterday walked into the kitchen, sliced a piece of homemade sourdough, and said "Mom - your bread baking is the best thing that ever happened to me".  He was teasing of course, and trying to flatter me, but the pleasure I have provided from my new found culinary hobby of simple bread baking is astounding.  We eat much less junk - my husband has lost weight even though he gets his food cravings satisfied.  A simple piece of toast with avocado and garden fresh tomatoes is enough to satisfy any food craving.

What do you think flour millers?  Is it worth the abuse from the naysayers?  

Anyone know if dry sprouted wheat grain is available in whole form?  

I like using sprouted wheat flour for it's nutritional value.  I hear that the dehydrated sprouted wheat in it's whole form retains most of it's nutrition, and can be stored up to 7 years.  However, several days after milling it oxidizes and loses nutrition.  So it sounds ideal that I would want to store dry whole sprouted wheat for milling at home when I need it.  Then why in the world can't I find it?  I'm sure there's a good reason, and I appreciate any information anyone may have out there!  Thanks so much!

Shannon-  experimenting, and fascinated!

I was idly looking at the Lehman's site (I'm dreaming of their hand cranked version of a Bosch mixer...) when I happened upon a serious sale on Nutrimills.  I don't know if this is the lowest price anywhere, but they are reduced in price to  $199.99.  Might be a good time to finally get the equipment to home mill.

As you may have guessed from other posts that I have made, I do a lot of business with Lehman's and I have found them to be a top notch organization. Except for being a satified customer, I am not connected with them in any way.

Of course, you could always spend the money on the Diamant....(I love mine)

Happy Milling!

I have a Country Living Mill.  I was making a soaker for a seeded loaf this afternoon when I found something in the cracked grain that looked like half a mouse dropping.  Unfortunately, I can't say where it might have come from as there was a big mix of grains in the grinder.  I buy some grains in bulk, but my wheat I bought in 50 lb bags, and store it in mouse-proof containers... I haven't seen any mice in my house for years so I think it came with the grain, but I don't know which one - the bulk, or the wheat.  Just wanted to post in case anyone thinks I need to toss out my 50 lbs of wheat, just in case - the bulk grains are in small increments so I don't mind losing that.  But no matter where it came from, I have to say I'm rather put out.   Anyone else with a similar story?

Hey there!

I was wondering if anyone knew of a place to buy roller mills?  I realize they are usually set up in succession to bring the particle size down.

And... maybe what I'm looking for could be done without that.  What I'm wanting to do is mill whole buckwheat flour, and not have large hulls left over.  I assume flour processed at Birtkett Mills is all done on roller mills, but don't know if there is maybe a way to process the whole buckwheat berry, hull and all, into a flour.

Ideas?

Thanks!

Does anyone own or have experience with the grain mill attachment for the Bosch Compact Kitchen Machine? I have been very pleased with my Bosch since I bought it about two years ago. It came with a blender and shredder attachment and both work well. I am interested in milling my own flour, particularly rye since it's difficult to find anything but finely milled whole rye flour where I live. I like the fact that this is just an attachment and not an entirely new piece of equipment that I'd have to make room for. Plus it's relatively inexpensive. Anyone have an opinion?