Reasonably priced hand mill for small amounts at a time?
Hello,
Some may know I'm looking to follow Gerard Rubaud's process as closely as I can. Integral to that process is to freshly hand-mill his blend of whole grains to accompany bread flour for the developmental stages of his chefs/levains.
In the article Marie-Claire wrote on stage 1, she points to a hand-mill from Lehman's which at the time she indicates was around $50. Referring the to sku for that mill, 30347120, you are now redirected to a mill with a plastic body (instead of what I believe was the original, cast iron or aluminum), costing more than 4X the original at $219.
Granting that the article was written several years back, I just can't see paying that much for this mill. At this point, I'd rather save and commit to a Mockmill.
Does anyone have any thoughts on a more reasonably priced hand mill, that would get this job done adequately, that at the same time isn't quite so expensive (hopefully, with an all-metal body, though perhaps today that's asking too much)?
Thanks,
Paul
Call or email Lehman to make sure. But I believe oniy the hopper is plastic. The body and handle need to be metal, I think.
You will not find a decent product under $220.
I have the Wondermill Jr Deluxe. which is now selling for $280 at Pleasant Hill Grain.
But mostly I use a Vitamix blender, after first cracking the grain in a 3-roller hand mill.
You can do the entire process in a Vitamix, but really should get their "grains container" which has different style blades and supposedly a harder plastic that won't get scratched by the grain. I pre-crack the grain so that it won't further scratch my Vitamix non-grain (regular) container.
Also, the Vitamix will heat up the flour if you don't pre-crack it.
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You will almost certainly be disappointed in any mill cheaper than $200, including ones that attach to a KitchenAid.
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Both the inexpensive Lehman and Wondermill Jr require a lot of hand and arm strength. If you don't have a lot of hand/arm/upper-body strength, you will need to do two passes of the grain.
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I don't believe the positive reviews on this one: https://www.amazon.com/Operated-Adjustable-Grain-Grains-VKP1012/dp/B0018P54TS
Over the years, it keeps showing up on Amazon under different brand names. I don't trust the over-the-top reviews. The negative reviews just feel more real.
OK, good info, thanks. It's really gone up then over the years, if at the time Marie-Claire made her post it was only $50. Given that these handmills approach something like the Mockmill 200 in cost, would you mind sharing some of the reasons why you like the Wonder Jr. (or other hand mills in general - like the Diamant at $1000!)? Is it the quality of its components, the gentleness of its milling?
I don't like handmills. My Wondermill Jr Deluxe was used twice, and has sat unused for at least 3 years.
I now use a 3-roller "cracker", this: https://www.amazon.com/Norpro-1056-Grain-Grinder/dp/B001FB59K4?tag=froglallabout-20
which only cracks the grain -- it can't make flour. The online description lies...it does not make flour... unless you count the "fines" that come out with the chunky parts as "flour."
The 3-roller "cracker" turns easily. But only holds about 1/2 cup of wheat berries at a time. And it makes a mess, with the fines flying out.
Then I use a Vitamix blender, which I had purchased to make smoothies, to turn the chunky cracked grain into course flour.
I'm cheap.
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The Take-out-of cupboard/closet, take out of box, assemble/set up, attach to counter edge, use, take apart, detach from counter edge, clean the mill parts, clean the mess off of counter, clean the floor, put in box, put away, was just too much hassle.
The "cracker" is easier to assemble/disassemble and clean. But still needs to be taken out and put away.
The Vitamix lives on the countertop.
Interesting. Now I'm wondering if I should have sold the mill I used for brewing:
I wasn't aware of this notion of cracking first, then milling to flour. I got out of brewing entirely and have various things that annoy my wife laying about unused, and this was one of them. I modded a 1/4HP motor with F/W and a potentiometer, pretty nice setup. I asked about its possibility on a brewing site and the general consensus was it wouldn't work as the way the burrs line up differs from a flour mill (even though I can bring the rollers pretty dang close together - adjustable). Maybe I just couldn't get close enough given the burring.
But I wonder if such a thing could have worked as the first step as you do. Now I'll never know, lol.
I like cheap too, but for me its always some nexus of performance, endurance and price. More and more, for better or worse, I'm of the "buy once" school. See comment re my wife above...
Paul, I don't think the product of a hand mill is all that different from an electric mill - though perhaps coarser. As Dave says, hand mills require a lot of effort, and due to the pandemic, prices on mills have gone way up. You may do better with a used electric mill. If you do a search on ebay for flour mill, check the box for used, and put under $200 - there were several good options available when I did the search today. IMO, I have never used this particular one, https://www.ebay.com/itm/164868344020?hash=item2662eb48d4%3Ag%3AH2EAAOSw7khgoD5m&LH_ItemCondition=4 , but the design is pretty common, and the motor is pretty heavy duty so it should last for a long time. I have a Lee like this one Lee , which is a great design, but it is an old model, if the motor has been abused in the past, it is cost prohibitive to have the motor replaced. He notes that the adjustment lever is stuck - it is possible that it could be repaired by removing the stone and a metal plate, and adjusting some screws, and while it is not brain surgery, it would take quite a bit of time and care to do it and put it back together.
Thanks Barry, helpful info. I'd never even known a used mill was a viable option and with the MM 200 being so reasonable, I think, my mind had been going to that mill, NIB.
Most in the E-bay listings are Magic Mills, which I know have been 86'ed, though there are others (e.g., Lee, All-Grain, Nutrimill, etc.). Anyone care to share their thoughts and experiences on these mills?