Expand
Artisan Crank Top Mill Kit
- View Larger
- Multiple Views
- Video
Customer rating on this product:
Artisan Crank Top Salt and Pepper Mills
Details
- Our Artisan® Crank Top Salt and Pepper Mills have been completely redesigned inside and out with premium quality components and a spot-on fit and finish. Improvements include a beefier crank knob that doesn’t rock, a circular stainless steel base plate and overall heavier construction.
- Low profile for table use
- Easy to adjust from fine to coarse
- Pepper: rugged stainless steel mechanism
- Salt: corrosion proof ceramic mechanism
- Fully adjustable grind
Perfectly sized for tabletop use, Artisan® Crank Top Mills deliver freshly ground pepper or salt from a light dusting to coarse grind. Artisan® Crank Top Mills are also ideal for grinding spices for added flavor and aroma.
Specifications:
Finished size: 1-3/4" dia. x 3-5/8" long
Minimum blank size: 2-1/2" x 2-1/2" x 3-1/2"
Shaft length: 3"
Includes:
Project components (blank not included)
Items needed to complete:
Forstner drill bits: 1-1/16", 1-1/4", 1-1/2"
Replacement items:
Components (if available): Call (800)551-8876
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.
Nice project that makes for a great gift
Dustin in CAN
Comments On Jan 17, 2020:A matching pair of salt and pepper mills makes for a very nice gift. The only thing to note is that the plastic retainer rims are flimsy and will crack easily so some care is required when assembling. I also think the two screws that hold the bottom plate on should be a bit longer. Otherwise the mill mechanism and rest of the hardware are nice and made in Taiwan. Once assembled the project looks great and works well.
I did find that I had to cut a larger recess on the salt mills than was indicated in the instructions to make the mechanism fit in nicely. After making a dozen of these for some reason the pepper mill kits seem to go together better for me than the salt mills. The hardware is an excellent value and could be improved slightly as previous reviewers have mentioned. Also if you have any issues the good folks at Craft Supplies stand behind their products and will promptly help with any broken or missing parts.
Was this review helpful?
3 of 3 people found this review helpful.
Not a bad kit but needs some changes
Dan in NY
Comments On Apr 04, 2019:This kit appears to well made with the exception of the plastic spring retainer. It is very flimsy. Of the four I ordered, one of these retainers was broken. Craft Supplies replaced it and that one cracked when putting it together. Craft Supplies replaced that also. The other three went together very easily. I may have just gotten a defective part. The people at Craft Supplies are the best.
Was this review helpful?
8 of 8 people found this review helpful.
Good project to expand your skills
William in MN
Comments On Jan 08, 2017:As a novice turner, I was looking for a project beyond pens and relatively simple spindle projects. I made several sets for presents using both maple/walnut (salt and pepper) and padauk. The instructions are clear and led to a nice finished project. One challenge for novices is trying to get a salt and pepper pair to match takes a bit more precision - but it was a good challenge for me.
Was this review helpful?
22 of 22 people found this review helpful.
Nice little project, could use a few tweaks
Timothy in NY
Comments On Dec 18, 2014:I bought 10 of these kits for Christmas projects and made them all in one weekend. I used primarily exotics for the mill body to give the project some weight. The kits are good quality, but the instructions are a little sketchy. I suggest making a test sample or two out of scrap wood before using the expensive turning stock. I ended up using 3 x 3 x 4" long blanks for the mills, slightly larger than the plans call for. I think the smaller size listed on the plan is the bare minimum and this size fits the kit better.
The key to making the kits is getting the relative distance between top and bottom mounting holes to the right dimension. I get this set before turning the outside of the body. I also had to use a small file on each of the lower retaining rings to open up the notch and allow the clip to fit properly, and I recessed the secondary bottom hole for the mechanism mount in the blank body only 1/32" instead of the 3/32" the instructions called for.
To do the outside, after the inner dimensions are fitted to the mechanism, I used another lathe set up with a faceplate-mounted tapered stub that fits into the bored 15/16" thru hole, and then a cone attachment on the tailstock revolving support. This aligns the blank on the center bore and allows machining and finishing of the outer surfaces. I pre-drilled the screw holes in the bottom with a 0.075" diameter drill.
The final projects turned out nice and using a slightly larger blank allowed for a better size to hold in the hand. You can add length to the bottom of the project just by recessing the lower outer bore further. If you accidentally bore the holes too far, you can save the blank by shortening the center mechanism shaft with a stationary grinder and reassemble.
The mechanisms look to be sturdy and should hold up well. Fun project and they turned out great!
Was this review helpful?
