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Grain Grinders
Stone
The stone grinder is the oldest kind of grinder, and remained the ONLY grinder until recent years. Stone grinders operate with two circular grinding stones, one stone turning against a stationary stone. There are cut grooves in the stone extending from the center of the stone to the ends. The grooves become shallower at the end of the stone disappearing at the outer edges. The grinding process of the grain occurs as the stones rotate pulling the grain out through channels which are in the center of the two stones, the flour falling out the outer edges. Many years ago these grinders had stones two or three feet across, weighed hundreds of pounds and were turned by windmills, water wheels, or animals. Today the modern home grinders have stones much SMALLER than their older counterparts - around three inches in diameter. Although these modern stone parts are not natural stones like the older grinders, they are made of very hard material guaranteed to last a life time if used carefully.Burr
Nearly identical to stone grinders, the burr grinder has its grinding wheel made out of steel (instead of stone) with small burrs protruding out of the sides. These protruding burrs shear the grain into flour.Impact
Using circular rows of blades on metal wheels, the impact grinder is similar to the stone grinder in that one wheel turns and the other wheel is stationary. However barring this similarity, the impact grinder is different in that the two wheels align and intermesh with each other, while at the same time turning and running extremely close yet never touching. The grain is ground as the two wheels turn at several thousand RPM, "impacting" with a grinding process that pulverizes the grain into fine flour. This all happens as the grain is fed into the middle of the fixed wheel where it meets with the grinding process and works its way to the outside.Grain Mills Compared
Grain Mill Stone Grinder |
Advantages
+ Very Durable + Setting adjustments for grinding grain texture + Safer for grinding grain not completely cleaned + Lifetime lasting |
Disadvantages
- Large, bulky machine difficult to store - Not good for grinding nuts and grains; stones become 'loaded' quickly - Grinds more slowly than impact grinders
Burr Grinder | Family Grain Mill
+ Same as Stone | + Grinds dry grains AND nuts - wheels will not 'load up'.
- Grain not as fine as
with Stone - but Close!
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| Impact Grinder
| + Light, compact, small + Grinds quickly & fine
- Fragile blades: unclean grains with rocks or metal pieces may cause damage to wheels | - Most are noisy - Unable to 'crack' wheat Coarsest setting comes out fine - Electrically operated only. Blades turn much too fast for manual operation. |
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