How to Make Your Own Flour Mill Grinder

Grinding your own wheat flour is a cost-effective way to make your own bread

Building your own mill to grind flour, soybeans, wheat or even coffee is a good project for a beginner crafter. Most of the items can be scrounged from around the house, the workshop or at a landfill. The mill itself has no mechanical parts, so it can be used by just about anyone. Once ground, there are many different items that can be made with the resulting flour.

Things You'll Need

• Bleach
• Water
• Paper towels
• 3 metal pipes cut to equal lengths
• Duct tape
• Large metal coffee can
• Whole grains

Instructions

Making a Flour Mill

1. Sterilize the pipes and coffee can in a water and bleach solution. For each gallon of water, use 1/3 cup of bleach.

2. Dry each piece with the paper towels and set aside.

3. Hold the three pipes so that they are all level at one end.

4. Tape the three pipes together securely, using your other hand. Make sure that the tape goes far enough up the pipes so they won't wiggle if pushed onto a flat surface.

5. Sterilize the bottom of the pipes again with the bleach and water solution.

6. Put the whole grains in the bottom of the coffee can. Use no more than one inch of grain.

7. Strike the pipes into the grain with a stabbing motion to break down the grain. Use the gloves to protect your hands.

8. Continue until the grain reaches the desired consistency.

Tips & Warnings

• Use a window screen or a sieve to strain the ground meal until it is the consistency of cornmeal. Separate the larger pieces and grind again for an even finer flour.

• For a more uniform grinder cut off the ends of the pipe with a hacksaw. File the edges so that they are not sharp.

References

• Emergency Grain Mill

Resources

• Examples of common pipes