how well do *cheapie* hand-cranked grain mills hold up?

[patandchickens]

Any of you have a cheapie (like <$100) hand-cranked grain mill that you've used regularly for more than a year or two, to report how it holds up?

I would really like to try getting one so we can have good-tasting wholewheat bread, but am reluctant to lay out the money and then have it break after not very long. (Or never really work well)

All's I'd want it for is to grind maybe 4-8 c flour per week, but pretty much *every* week (DH and kids feel that life without bread is not worth living )

Thanks for any anecdotes or recommendations,

Pat

 

[miss_thenorth]

http://www.sufficientself.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=6666

Does this help? I'm curious also, as we have been tossing around the idea of getting a flour mill.

 

[Emerald]

I have a Porket hand cranked grain mill that I bought at the flea market a few years ago and we use it off and on and it is holding up fantastic.
http://www.amazon.com/Porkert-Manual-Grist-Flour-Mill/dp/B000H6WDQG
They are out of stock here at this link but you can at least see what it looks like. They are a lot like the Corona mills.
I spent $25 for mine and that fella that sold it to me acted like he just passed off a fake $100 bill, he was that happy! The few Amish ladies that were standing nearby commented that it was a good flour mill and that I got a deal! I agreed with them as to buy this one brand new from the catalog would have cost me $79.99 plus a butt load of shipping costs as it weighs a ton!
I have a feeling that the fella didn't really know what it was and could not get rid of it!
I can do everything from crack corn to grind wheat to a fine powder with it. Or should I say I fill it and make the kids crank it for me!

 

[TanksHill]

I look forward to reading the replies. The hand grain mill still the one thing I don't have. Like you I just don't want any old mill. I want one that will work, and work well.

g

 

[Rebecka]

I have 3.. oh wait. No, I have 4. I started with a cheapie just to see if I was actually going to follow trough with my evil plans of making my family eat better. I wore out the cheapie in less than 6 months. Mind you, it was used every single day. I make some sort of bread or pasta daily, sometimes both. I was pleased with it until I got my hands on a good one.

The best one I have and use the most is one we got from the auction. I had to clean it up, reseason it and what not, but we gave 3 bucks for it along with all the other junk in the box I didn't actually want. I encourage you all to scope out auctions. Mine is an old cast iron one that mounts to the counter. I have 3 more that are 'floor models" that are also old and came from the auction. I can do everything from crack corn for the critters to make pastry flour on each and every one of them. I strongly recommend turning off fans when making pastry flour , cause I have never done that

 

[ORChick]

Not answering the initial question - because I have only had my mill for a few months, and don't use it every day/week - but I bought the manual Family Grain Mill after much thought of whether I should spend the money, and so far have been pleased with it. I also got the adaptor for my Kitchenaid mixer, and do not recommend that. So far, the only times that the machine has gummed up for me was when I was using the adaptor.

http://www.pleasanthillgrain.com/family_grain_mills.aspx

ETA the link