Last Wednesday’s review of the Easy Wood Tools had a sneak preview of a couple of salt/pepper grinders. I thought I would give you a look at the build, this week.

Normally I would have used the mechanisms with the adjustment knob on top (Woodcraft # 835290).

However, mechanisms constructed of plated metals and stainless steel are susceptible to corrosion. Therefore, I decided to give the “CrushGrind shaft style†(Woodcraft # 146928) a try.

Checking Woodcraft’s site for instructions, I discovered I would need several new forstner bits and a groove-cutting tool (Woodcraft # 151330) to complete the project. Woodcraft’s instructions are straightforward; however, I did find a couple of questionable measurements. Be forewarned, the mechanisms are undersized for the fractional bit sizes listed on the plans. Even though the top and bottom mechanisms are ribbed to aid in a friction fit, epoxy will be necessary to lock the pieces into place. Woodcraft has noted this in the instructions (77D01)- see the attached file at the end of this discussion.

I built the blanks from Walnut, Maple, and Cherry. The salt grinder has a maple top and the pepper grinder a walnut top, clever right!

Next, turn the blanks round then drilled the center holes to the required diameters.

Before creating the top tenon and parting off the top, cut the groove to capture the lower mechanism. I used the steady rest to control the sideways pressure created by the grooving tool. This groove must be precisely located with reference to the end of the grinder body and the 5/8†deep, 1 ¾†diameter bottom hole. The locking tabs of the bottom mechanism must snap into this groove during assembly.

Top with tenon parted. The groove is visible in the body of the grinder.

I found, during the assembly phase, the grooves need only to be about ¼†deep. My grooves are closer to 3/8†deep. This does not affect the operation but it does limit the overall shape by reducing the wall thickness at the groove location. I do not like the overall shape of these grinders. They are not graceful. The height and bottom diameter design does keep them from toppling over on a dining room table. I can picture the Rube Goldberg effect of tall skinny grinders when someone bumps the table- grinder fall, hits spoon handle that flips into the air slinging turkey surprise onto the ceiling- not a pretty sight!

Next, I drilled and grooved the grinder top (called the stopper in the instructions), again, using the steady rest. As before, the location is critical in order for the locking pins to snap into place. The instructions indicate a 15/16†diameter (23.8125 mm) hole in the top, yet the ribbed diameter is 23.47 mm (rib-less diameter 21.3 mm). A 23 mm bit may have been a better choice here and mechanism ribs sanded down for a snug fit, without the aid of epoxy.

The design of the grinder mechanism is for units from 5†to 12â€. The length of the shaft will need cut to accommodate the grinder height. I used the information from “Figure 2†(in the attached instruction file) for the grinder internal design. The instructions indicate the shaft extends 1 1/8†beyond the grinder body in order to engage the “stopper†mechanism. This was a little long. I shortened the shaft to fit the top without bottoming out in the hole.

Assembly is straightforward. Press the mechanisms into the housings until the locking tabs snap into place- using epoxy when necessary. 

After filling and testing both, Mimi is thrilled with her "belated" Christmas present. As for me, I like the idea of having the option of a range of grinder sizes from a single mechanism. 

Thanks for looking!

Safe Turning.

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Lew Kauffman-
Wood Turners Forum Host

Time traveler. Purveyor of the world's finest custom rolling pins!

Very nice write up Lew. Excellent explanation! I like them also.

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John Moody
Site Administrator


John Moody Woodworks
http://www.johnmoodywoodworks.com

As always Lew Great grinders, I really need to get my hands on some varying thicknesses of maple since I cannot thin them out myself.

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Charles Nicholls
Site Host
nicholls61@att.net
Proud supporter of The Wounded Warrior Project, Homes For Our Troops and the NRA

http://www.etsy.com/shop/nichollswoodworks