Installing A Pepper Mill Mechanism
Installing A Pepper Mill Mechanism

Including how to shorten the drive shaft

Note: This article describes how I install pepper mill mechanisms. While most mechanisms are verysimilar, I may not have installed the brand you have. If the instructions accompanying yourmechanism differ, follow them to insure proper operation.

Pepper Mill mechanisms are very simple machines. A long drive shaft is secured to the head of the pepper mill so when turned, it rotates the grinding cutter within the female grinder at the bottom of thepepper mill.

While installing this hardware is simple, it is important to be sure it operates freely and that sufficientadjustment is available at the knob to allow the user to set it for a full range of particle sizes. This caninvolve shortening the drive shaft, a simple procedure we will cover later in this article. I buy my pepper mill mechanisms longer than needed and then tailor the shaft to fit the pepper mill rather thanrestrict turning the wood to a specific length to fit the drive shaft.

Check the MechanismLay out the pepper mill mechanism to be sure all of theparts are present and that they fit together as designed.

Though rare, finding a problem with the hardware now ismuch easier to deal with than after it has been installed. Besure to screw the top knob onto the shaft fully as thethreads can be a little rough. Usually, if the knob feels tightwhen screwing it onto the drive shaft, running it on and offa few times cleans up the threads and smooths operation.

Be sure to use a wire brush to clean shavings from thethreads as you do this to prevent future problems. http://www.kairun.com.cn/household/index.asp
pepper mill