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Meadows 20 Inch Ultimate Stone Burr Mill shown |
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Furrows
and lands on the bedstone of a Meadows Ultimate |
The furrows are deepest at the center, known as the eye, of the millstone and become shallower as they move towards the outer edge of the millstone. Looking at a furrow from the side (see image below) shows its two separate edges. The "back edge" or bottom of the furrow is the deepest cut. From the deepest point, the furrow tapers upward to meet the land at a point called the "feather edge." This is the cutting edge of the furrow. The lands are the areas of the millstone between the furrows and are the grinding surfaces of the millstone.
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As
the runner stone moves across the surface of the bedstone the kernels of grain
are carried up the incline to where the feather edges meet the lands. The sharp
leading edges of the furrows passing over the corresponding edges of the other
millstone act like the blades of a pair of scissors shearing the whole grains
into smaller and smaller fragments. These smaller and smaller fragments of whole
grain move from the center of the millstones to the outer edges during several
revolutions of the millstone.
Any product you intend to process in
a Meadows stone burr mill should have moisture content less
than 15 percent and should be free of natural oil.
When selecting the appropriate size of stone burr mill you should ask yourself three questions. First, do I have a single-phase or 3-phase electrical supply? Second, what product do I intend to process? Third, what is my desired rate of production per hour? Electric motors up to 10-hp may be used on either single-phase or 3-phase electrical supplies. Electric motors larger than 10-hp may be used on 3-phase electrical supplies only. The 8 inch stone burr mill is driven by a 1-hp or 2-hp electric motor, the 12 inch stone burr mill is driven by a 5-hp electric motor, the 20 inch stone burr mill is driven by a 10-hp electric motor, and the 30 inch stone burr mill is driven by a 25-hp, 30-hp, or 40-hp electric motor. Electric motors and drives for 50-hertz electrical supplies are available. While all sizes of Meadows stone burr mills are designed to process any dry, free flowing grain and corn; some products such as Teff are processed most efficiently when using 20 and 30 inch stone burr mills. The chart below includes rates of production per hour for each size of stone burr mill.
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Meadows Stone Burr Mills:
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Meadows 8 inch stone burr mills discharge flour
through a discharge spout that is cut into the bottom of the housings which
surround the millstones. Meadows 12 inch stone burr mills discharge flour
through a discharge spout that is cut into the side of the housings which
surround the millstones. Meadows 20 inch and 30 inch stone burr mills may
be configured so that flour discharges either through a discharge spout that is
cut into the side of the housings which surround the millstones or into a
materials handling fan. The materials-handling fan conveys the flour from
the stone burr mill through a short length of four inch diameter pipe into a
materials collector. The flour falls from the materials collector into a
sifter, a bagging system, or a brute. Brutes are containers which may be
used to collect and store flour.
The millstones used in Meadows stone burr mills require regular maintenance which is referred to as dressing the millstones. As millstones wear, the lands, or flat surfaces, of the millstone becomes smooth and the furrows become shallow. Dressing millstones is a three step process. In step one the lands of the millstone are cut with a bushing tool so that the lands are made rough. In step two the furrows are cut to their proper depth. In step three the millstones are aligned to one another. Some customers choose to dress their own millstones while others choose to ship or delivery their stone burr mill to our factory for service. If you choose to dress the millstones yourself Meadows Mills sells the tools necessary to perform the task. If you choose to dress the millstones yourself we recommend viewing our instructional video found below.
Despite centuries of scientific advancement, the age old method of stone grinding remains the best grinding method known. There is a distinct difference between the grinding process of a stone burr mill and a roller mill. The action of a roller mill crushes the grain instead of shearing it into finer and finer pieces. Stone ground flour is preferred by many bakers and natural food advocates because of its texture, nutty flavor, and the belief that it is nutritionally superior and has a better baking quality than steel-roller-milled flour. Because the millstones produce less heat in the grinding process the wheat germ is not exposed to excessive temperatures that cause the fat from the germ portion to oxidize and become rancid, which destroys some of the vitamin content. Stone milling retains more of the natural goodness and flavor of the grains. Treat yourself or your customers to a wholesome taste that will not be forgotten. The variety of mill sizes available insures that you can select a mill that is perfect for you.
Meadows Mills offers new stone burr mills from three families. These families are The Natural, The Ultimate, and the 8 inch light commercial/household. Meadows Mills also offers only service and parts for the Heritage, Centennial, Meal Master and Master Meal families of stone burr mills.
The Natural (click here for photos and specifications for the 12 inch , click here for photos and specifications for the 20 and 30 inch): Stone burr mills in The Natural family are available with 12 inch, 20 inch, and 30 inch diameter millstones.
The Ultimate (click here for photos and specifications): Stone burr mills in The Ultimate family are available with 20 inch and 30 inch diameter millstones.
The 8 Inch Light Commercial/Household (click here for photos and specifications): Stone burr mills in the 8 Inch Light Commercial/Household family are available with 8 inch diameter millstones.
The Heritage (click here for photos and specifications): The Heritage family is no longer manufactured. Meadows Mills does offer parts and service for this family of stone burr mills. Stone burr mills in The Heritage family were available with 16 inch, 20 inch, 24 inch, and 30 inch diameter millstones.
The Centennial (click here for photos and specifications): The Centennial family is no longer manufactured. Meadows Mills does offer parts and service for this family of stone burr mills. Stone burr mills in The Centennial family were available with 20 inch and 30 inch diameter millstones.
The Meal Master and the Master Meal: The Meal Master and Master Meal families are no longer manufactured. Meadows Mills does offer parts and service for these families of stone burr mills. The housings surrounding the millstones on the Meal Master and the Master Meal stone burr mills are cast from ductile iron. The bearing housings are also cast from ductile iron and contain a single row ball bearing with one grease shield removed for lubrication. Depending upon their age, stone burr mills in the Meal Master family may be equipped with either a 2-bushel stainless steel hopper or a 2-bushel galvanized steel hopper that is painted. Stone burr mills in both families are equipped with a two-step cleaning system. Step one in the cleaning system is the cleaning shoe with a grain or corn screen and a magnet in the grain receiver. The cleaning shoe is mounted below the hopper and is designed to screen your grain or corn. Step two in the cleaning system is a cleaning fan. The purpose of the cleaning fan is to clean fine particles from your grain or corn with forced air. Stone burr mills in both families were available in the following sizes 16 inch, 20 inch, 24 inch, and 30 inch.
Meadows Mills offers the following accessories which may used with our stone burr mills; Meadows Dry Ingredient Mixer, Meadows Eccentric Sifters, Meadows Grits Separators, Meadows Hand Baggers, Seed Cleaners manufactured by Crippen, Bag Closers manufactured by Fischbein, air hammers and carbide tipped bushing tools for dressing millstones, hand mill picks for dressing millstones, and food grade grease.
