Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

I bought this mill after a 30 minute phone call with the man who makes them. Very pleasant gentleman, whos gentle saleman's ways will talk your ear off, but you won't mind. This is a great mill! Our milled wheat is the best I've seen anywhere. The bread we made had the best texture I've ever eaten. BUT... This is not a mill you keep sitting around your kitchen, unless you live on a farm and have a closet to store it in. It is big and cast iron. Ain't nothing going to break on it. Don't worry about the warranty, your grandchildren will be fighting over it in 2090. I knew it would be heavy duty, but I was surprised how heavy that duty was. It comes with no base, so my son and I crafted a base that we thought would work well in the kitchen. We even glue rubber on the bottom in hope that it wouldn't slide. Not good enough. Even with clamps, it wanted to slide, which my wife wasn't very happy to see happen on Corian counters. Fortunately the rubber prevented scratches. This mill needs to be mounted PERMANENTLY on the surface where you grind; bolted to the table. If you keep it in the garage, keep it covered. We've had to clean it out by taking it apart (very simple, by the way) after letting it sit in the laundry room a couple of months without a cover. Gross mold isn't tasty. Next, unless you buy the motorized kit, be prepared for a workout. Remember your physics when considering the extension arm. Yes, the arm gives you more leverage, requiring less strength. However, your work is the same. Half the force, but twice the radius of the circle. Remember that formula, C = 2*R*pi. You're cranking that lighter force over a much larger distance. I found it easier without the arm, once I got the momentum going. However, my children under 12 years of age could not grind very much without the arm; too much strength required. We ground 5 cups of flour (3 cups of wheat kernals) in about 20 minutes trading off the chore. I did most of the work. However on days when I was at work and the children and wife were milling, it took 45 minutes. So guess what I looking to invest in - the motor kit. Too hard for just the wife in children. Yes, the survivalist inside of me rebels. But, the power grid isn't gone yet. Is it worth it -- yes. But consider where and how you are going to use it before you purchase. Know where you are going to mount it, store it and grind it. Hope this helps.