Thread: Gidgee Pepper Grinder

It looks good.

Are you are using the Crushgrind mechanism? IMHO the rib design is not well suited to our harder woods - works well in woods like Northern Silky Oak, Red Cedar etc as the wood will compress. Buckley's chance of getting Gidgee to compress, so something has to give. In the past I've used a Vee carving tool to ease a groove for the ribs to sit in.

Originally Posted by Mobyturns

It looks good.

Are you are using the Crushgrind mechanism? IMHO the rib design is not well suited to our harder woods - works well in woods like Northern Silky Oak, Red Cedar etc as the wood will compress. Buckley's chance of getting Gidgee to compress, so something has to give. In the past I've used a Vee carving tool to ease a groove for the ribs to sit in.

Thanks for the comment.
Yes mate. Have been told the Crushgrind mechanism is the only one to use. And you are right - gidgee is very unforgiving when assembling these things - I split one on the weekend. Have now learned not to turn the body and cap down too thin. On this one, the mechanism went in fairly easily - I pushed it in with a socket in my bench vice. But getting the piece into the cap was a lot tighter. It eventually went in after some gentle persuasion with a ball pein hammer and a suitably sized socket. Your idea of using a Vee carving tool sounds like a good option - I'll see if I can find one (gives me an excuse to visit Carbatec or someone similar while I'm down in Perth for a medical appointment later this week).

It doesn't have to be a V carving tool. A 6mm chisel will perform the same task, just takes two passes for each rib.

If you look up instructions sourced from US suppliers of the Crushgrind mechanisms, you will find many advocate removing the ribs then gluing in the mechanism. I think that is an ill considered approach as the whole purpose of the ribs is to anchor the mechanisms securely for a trouble free long life.

Glue, plastic, wood ..... now what could possibly go wrong.

I cut 3 of the 6 ribs off both top and bottom mechs and use the indexing pin to locate where to cut. Then I use a short hacksaw blade to cut the 3 grooves as I go.
Rgds,
Crocy.

They look great, I have hummed and hared about making these things or have a go but never quite got around to doing so.

Nice looking mill that one BMK! I also got the Crushgrind bug and have made some out of myrtle and Huon pine. Even made a giant one “to impress at the barbie”🥳 Some woods are well behaved like myrtle, oddly enough the Huon tends to swell ever so slightly after it’s turned, with the close- fitting tenon and holes for the mechanism getting a bit tighter overnight. Can’t say I’ve ever noticed that before, but no problem the pine is fairly soft anyway.

Originally Posted by Swifty

Nice looking mill that one BMK! I also got the Crushgrind bug and have made some out of myrtle and Huon pine. Even made a giant one “to impress at the barbie”拾 Some woods are well behaved like myrtle, oddly enough the Huon tends to swell ever so slightly after it’s turned, with the close- fitting tenon and holes for the mechanism getting a bit tighter overnight. Can’t say I’ve ever noticed that before, but no problem the pine is fairly soft anyway.

Very nice. Wish I had your choice of timbers available up here in Kal. I'm trying to find a decent piece of salmon gum without any cracks or sap voids. The grain pattern in that can be very nice. Other than that - the bloke up the laneway has a decent size olive tree .................. ��