Salt Mill

[Dave Fritz]

One of my first projects was a pepper and salt mill. Lately the salt mill wasn't grinding very well anymore and salt crystals were getting caught. After taking it apart the reason was pretty clear. The old grinder shows many years of wear. I tend not to make salt mills anymore for this reason. I can only imagine what some of my early salt mill gifts look like now. At least I didn't sell any.

 

[Roger Wiegand]

I've never understood the point of salt mills, it's not like there is any difference between the "freshly ground" version and the stuff that's been sitting around for 80 million years. With the commercial availability of all kinds of crystal forms and sizes to suit your use I just don't get why you would want or need to grind it yourself; it's just not like a spice that is dramatically different when freshly ground (yes, you will find five different kinds of salt in my kitchen cabinet, none of which are successfully mimic'd by what comes out of a grinder). A salt shaker for table salt and an elegant bowl for flaked salt absolutely!

I'd certainly want a salt mill to be made at least from stainless steel, if not something more exotic like titanium.

 

[Don Wattenhofer]

Like Roger said I don't see any reason to grind salt but I have made several combo salt shaker / pepper mills and the kits I have used for that contain the ceramic grinding components (for the pepper).
I have taken one of the ceramic mills apart and found that the ceramic parts have all been worn smooth and do not work any more so I am attempting to build a shaker / grinder using the stainless steel grinding mechanism.

 

[Dave Fritz]

One other risk is folks mixing the salt and pepper up. I had a couple mention their salt grinder didn't work anymore. They had used salt in the metal pepper grinder and it was frozen up. I had a good time teasing them since the husband in a mechanical engineer. I guess I should have included an instruction sheet explaining what the S and P were.

For what it's worth, my wife prefers salt ground really fine, which this mill now does.

 

[John King]

Dave - I had CrushGrind@ mechanism fail. Sent them a photo. They replaced at no charge. - John

PS - From their website. "All our products, except for coffee, comes with 25 years guarantee on the ceramic parts." - J

 

[Dave Fritz]

Thanks John. I don't remember where I got the kit from but I suspect Chefware Kits. It's the style with the knob on top to set the grind. I robbed another kit and it works perfect now. I doubt I'll make anymore. I do like the CrushGrind mills a lot.