How to Use a Corn Cracking Grinder

Corn cracking is the process of inserting whole kernels of corn into a hopper, directing it into the grinding area and catching the product in a container. People have been cracking corn, wheat and oats for thousands of years. The early versions of corn cracking grinders were powered by livestock animals walking in a circle guiding a large rock over the whole kernels, breaking apart the kernels into several smaller pieces. Today there are hand operated grinders, electric grinders and combinations of the two. If you own a corn grinder, also called a grain mill when you are cracking wheat or oats, you can supply yourself and your family with corn meal indefinitely.

Things You'll Need

• 2 ½ inch bolts with nuts and lock washers
• 2 cups corn kernels
• Gas powered engine
• 16-by-½ inch wide belt or chain

Instructions

1. Set up the corn cracker/grain mill on a flat surface. The mill housing is the center piece of the unit, and is the largest piece. Attach the flywheel to the right side of the unit. Insert the rear key into the shaft on the left side and slip the flywheel on by holding it in place and tightening the set screw in the hub with the provided hex wrench, which is in the center of the flywheel.

2. Attach the handle assembly through the hole on the outside edge of the flywheel. Screw the handle onto the flywheel until it stops spinning. Fit the nut over the bolt on the handle assembly and tighten it. Test to see if the handle spins freely, if it does not, loosen the nut and bolt.

3. Bolt the unit to a secure location with the two ½-inch bolts with nuts and washers. Bolting it down will allow you to grind without fear of the unit tilting or falling over. Bolting also will let you attach a motor and belt, which will grind corn faster than by hand.

4. Place a gas powered engine behind the grinder and tighten the belt around the flywheel on the grinder and the pulley wheel on the engine.

5. Place 2 cups of whole kernel corn into the grinder's hopper and turn the engine on. The belt will drive the flywheel and grind the corn quickly. As the corn runs through the grinder, replace with more corn. For ultra fine meal to use in baking, grind the corn twice or three times.

6. Remove the belt for manual operation of the corn cracker, or when you run out of gas to operate the engine.

Tips & Warnings

• Do not operate the grinder when the hopper is empty, this could wear down the bearings and metal grinders.

References

• Country Living Grain Mills: Owner's Manual