There are many aspects to consider in grinders and their uses before purchasing one. Sometimes is is difficult to know what each grinder does or does not do. Here are a few things to consider when shopping for a good grinder.
Stone Grinders
Favorable Characteristics
Grinds finer than burr grinders.
Adjustable to any setting between cracked wheat and fine flour.
Should last a lifetime.
Unfavorable Characteristics
Manual stone grinders tend to turn harder than manual burr grinders.
Stones quickly become 'loaded' if you try to grind oil bearing seeds.
Burr Grinders
Favorable Characteristics
Will grind dry grains as well as oil bearing seeds - wheels will not load up.
Adjustable to any setting between cracked wheat and fine flour.
Much safer machine if you are grinding grain that has not been completely cleaned of grain sized stones and small pieces of metal.
Should last for many years of normal use.
Generally turn easier than stone grinders.
Unfavorable Characteristics
Will not grind quite as fine as a stone grinder.
Electric Impact Grinders
Favorable Characteristics
Very small, light and compact.
Grinds very quickly.
Grinds grain into very fine flour.
Unfavorable Characteristics
The blades are somewhat fragile: Small rocks or metal pieces can make the micronetic chamber eat itself! (K-Tec says their grinder will eat some small rocks but care should be taken in grinding). If you take care to only use well cleaned grain, these grinders will also last many years.
Noisy
Even on the coarsest setting the flour comes out relatively fine. These things won't give you cracked wheat.
