milling flour and cracking grain

[GardenWeasel]

I know some of you grind your own grain. I am looking for a grain mill (not very pricey) that can crack dent corn for chicken food but also produce a great corn meal. I have been to site after site but it seems that unless super expensive none can do both. Any ideas or products you recommend? Really mostly for corn as I can grow it really well, with little pests and so far no coons.

 

[k0xxx]

Years back we owned one of the cheap Corona mills. They do work, but need some experimenting to get the plates set at the proper width. If you decide to get one, I have a few suggestions.

1. Bolt it to a good sturdy surface.

2. Start wit the plates set a bit wide and slowly adjust them closer until you get the grind that you are looking for.

3. Adding small amounts of grain slowly produces better results and easier turning.

4. If you will be grinding a lot, remove the handle and replace the shaft with either threaded rod, or a bolt with the head cut off. Use a locking nut to keep the new shaft from loosening, and use a hand drill to turn the mill. It's much easier and faster.

5. If you decide to grind wheat and you like finer flour, after the first run, sift it and run the coarse hulls back through the grinder.

I hope this helps.

 

[Emerald]

I have an old porket grinder that is much like the corona and I was gonna tell ya the same as k0xxx! For corn I often run it thru to crack it and then again on a smaller setting.
But it is a bit like cutting firewood--Warms ya twice!