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Beginner Peppermill Question

D

Doug M Jones

Joined
Jun 22, 2007
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Location
Central Iowa
While in Virginia, I bought a blank of Lignum Vitae (not sure I spelled it right) with plans to make a peppermill for my sister who was my host for the symposium. The blank is coated in wax which leads me to believe it is green. Can you use green wood for a peppermill. How would the process differ from a dry blank? I have a PDF file from Nick Cook with instructions but wasn't sure if the green blank would change the process.

What are the best mills to use, easiest to work with, most reliable.

Thanks for your help,
Doug
 
Peppermills

Doug,
I have turned a number of green peppermills, and usually I simply coat the inside with a mix of 50/50 sanding sealer and lacquer thinner. This is easily done with a rag and some hemostats to get way inside. Then you can turn the mill and put a finish on the outside. I have had good success with this procedure. With the dry blank, you can eliminate the internal sealing. Good Luck!🙂
 
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Oily

I would be hesitant about using ligum vitae for a peppermill. One of its uses is as boat propeller shaft bearings. You will find out why when you try to sand it. It turns beautifully but when it get warm from sanding it looks like someone smeared it with blue star ointment. I have made pens and kaleidoscopes with it but don't know about a peppermill

Vernon
 
Green Wood Peppermill

I have never turned a green wood peppermill. In my opinion, it is somewhat of a risk. The mortise and tenon between the cap and base of the mill are machined to very close tolerances. Any movement of the wood as it dries would likely alter the mortise and tenon clearances. This could render the mill inoperable or difficult to operate.

I have some peppermill blanks that I bought at the 2007 AAW Symposium in Portland, OR (June 2007). I determine whether or not the blanks are dry by weighing them. When the blank weight loss stabilizes for a month or so, I consider the blank dry. It took almost a year for the peppermill blanks to dry. One cracked during drying and was not useable for a peppermill. It would have been a shame to turn a mill out of this blank and have it crack after presenting it to someone.

Short Vesion - I would not turn a peppermill from green wood. Peppermill blanks should be completely stable before turning.

Good luck. - John

P.S. Do not go cheap on the peppermill grinding mechanism. Go with deluxe stainless steel peppermill grinding mechanisms from Packard Woodworks, Inc. (www.packardwoodworks.com, item no. 154XXX) or Craft Supplies USA (www.woodturnerscatalog.com, item no. 365-XXXX). - John
 
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I must agree with John King - "In my opinion, it is somewhat of a risk. The mortise and tenon between the cap and base of the mill are machined to very close tolerances. Any movement of the wood as it dries would likely alter the mortise and tenon clearances. This could render the mill inoperable or difficult to operate."
Lignum Vitae is beautiful material and, properly aged, it might make a nice pepper mill. But I wouldn't risk using it green with the intention of presenting it to someone as a gift when I had good reason to suspect that the gift might eventually disappoint.
My advise is to select a dry blank or laminate some pieces of material that you are certain are dry and will not distort.
 
Its no big deal to make a mill out of Lignum. I've done it with no problems. Lignum is pretty stable stuff. That is why it could be used for propeller shafts, not to mention the oily nature of the wood.

Don't cut the tenon to very tight tolerances and you will be fine. You want it lose. A little slop back and forth is OK. I'd use a Chef Specialties mechanism which is available from Woodcraft, Packard, Craft Supply or from Chef S. themselves. For the Chef S. hardware you'll need to bore a 1 1/16in hole. Personally, if the wood is green, and it is kinda hard to tell with Lignum, bore a 7/8 in hole and let it be for a week or so. Then drill your hole to the final diameter and you should be OK.

Although it is not the most beautiful wood you will ever see, Lignum will make a fine mill.

I make a lot of mills. One Lignum mill was in my inventory for 2 or 3 years before it was purchased. It worked as well the day it sold as it did the day I made it......Never moved!
 
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Have to agree with John and George. I've turned peppermills from Exotics that weren't completely dry and have had the top seize up after a short time. It's a pain to go back and fix the problem. If you insist, cut the tenon very Loose. Also Lignum is not a wood I'd use for a peppermill, it's hard to work with and not very exciting to look at. There are too many better choices available IMHO. But, if you also want to use that peppermill as a hammer. . .
 
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