Traditional Salt & Pepper Mills
The earliest salt and pepper mills were developed in wood and used traditional meat grinders. Today the mill market is quite diverse with mills made from steel, acrylic, porcelain, marble and of course wood. Traditional grinders made from a variety of metals can still be found in many mills, but salt mills will usually have plastic mechanisms to avoid corrosion. However the use of ceramic is rapidly expanding.
The grinding mechanism of a traditional peppermill is metal while that of a salt mill is usually plastic. It is important only to use the peppermill for peppercorns and the salt mill for top quality sea or rock salt crystals. If salt is used in mills containing metal mechanisms it will certainly corrode the grinder, resulting in rapid seizure of the whole mechanism.
When new, add a spot of cooking oil to the top of the metal spindle where it meets the adjusting screw, this will prevent rusting and keep the thread in good working order. It is advisable to repeat this occasionally throughout the working life of the mill.
Never mill directly over open saucepans, casseroles or frying pans during the cooking process. The steam will dampen the salt and pepper grounds which can clog up the mechanism. Steam can also have a detrimental effect on the mill body and grinder. If the mechanism does get clogged empty the mill and clean the mechanism with a small brush.
Mill bodies can be kept clean by wiping them over with a damp cloth. Wooden models will benefit from an occasional application of mineral or vegetable oil, to enhance the appearance and prevent the wood from drying out.
The mechanisms on T&G mills both CrushGrind® and Traditional carry a lifetime guarantee.
Please ensure your customers mill returns are checked to ensure the problem is with the mechanism and then send the mill back to T&G for either repair or replacement. If the mill is a discontinued model then the closest equivalent model will be sent if a replacement is required.