Fletchers' Mill Tronco Salt Mill, Cherry - 10 Inch, Adjustable Coarseness Fine to Coarse, MADE IN U.S.A.

After going through several cheap pepper mills, we finally bit the bullet and decided to invest a bit more into a set and are very pleased that we did! It seems that you definitely get what you pay for with pepper mills! The reason it seems to be different and we have hope that it will last is the metal grinding components rather than ceramic or plastic as our previous grinders had. We also ordered the matching salt grinder which has a nylon crushing system which the salt will not corrode. Both are easily adjustable in how course of a grind you want and do not seem to struggle with the finer grind at all.The mill is truly 10" tall...so taller than most of the items on a set table. But I like that! The shape is very sleek and the wood smooth. We ordered ours in Walnut color and if I had a complaint, it is that the wood grain cannot be seen very well. However, that is not the manufacturer's fault as we could have ordered in a lighter color or a different set that clearly shows the grain. But for us, the mechanics was all important and therefore, we adjusted our expectations a bit in the visual area to get a set that works really well in our price range. We also like that there is a "P" and "S" on the top of the grinder. They are sharp and sophisticated looking!We have only had it a few weeks but due to the smooth mechanics of the grinding, it seems like it will last for hopefully a lifetime. (I know they can last that long because my parents have had their set for over 50 years.)

I've only used this mill for a few days, but I love it. It was a little challenging to fill with pepper at first, but I just created a funnel with my hand, poured pepper into that funnel and I didn't spill any! I like a medium grind most of the time (not huge chunks of pepper, but definitely not a fine powder. It was easy to set the grind to meet my preference. I wouldn't want to change the grind setting regularly, as pepper gets stuck in the base, making it slightly difficult to adjust the setting without taking the top off. Not a big deal for me, but if you use this on the dinner table (I use it for cooking), it won't be easy for people to change the grind setting to meet their expectations. Just tell 'em to leave it like you have it set! It's your pepper mill! ;)The finish is beautiful. I got the black one, so I cannot comment on the stained versions, but this is a nicely crafted piece of kitchen equipment. I'm sure it'll last a long time with proper care.

Fletchers' Mill Tronco 10 inch peppermillMy measurements:Top of top adjustment nut to bottom of mill11 1/4 in. / ~286 mmTop of mill (without adjustment nut) to bottom of mill10 5/8 in. / ~270 mmWidest width (top and bottom are widest)2 1/2 in. / 63.5 mmWeight (empty)18.2 oz / 517 gWeight (full of peppercorns)19.4 oz / 550 gCapacity~3 1/2 Tablespoons / ~33 g whole black peppercorns (SWAD brand)The first thing I noticed was the finish and sturdiness on Fletchers' Mill peppermill. I ordered the walnut finish, but the one I received is a lighter finish than I expected. I'd say it's more like a mahogany or dark cherry. It's still very pretty, and finished nicely, but not exactly what I had expected. This mill feels solid and robust in the hand, unlike some of the cheaper ones I've had in the past. The grinder mechanism itself appears to be solid stainless steel, and the bottom of the grinder is stamped "MADE IN USA FLETCHERS' MILL". It appears to be well-made, and carries a lifetime warranty according to the manufacturer. My initial observation is that this mill is very efficient and has a greater output per turn than many mills I've used. I measure approximately 3/4 tsp / 1.75 g of ground pepper per 10 turns. My sole complaint at this point is the size of the grind when fully opened. The ground pepper pieces aren't quite as large as I'd like when I have the adjustment screw all the way open.Overall, this feels like a very well-made peppermill that should last a long time, and it looks great in the kitchen.

Easy to fill, solid and handsome, very good grind consistency, and decent output. You'd better like a pretty fine grind, though - unlike the older model it doesn't seem to do cracked pepper no matter how loosely the grind selection nut is set.It doesn't seem to have quite the same huge volume per grind as my 30 years older model (sold as Banton). It's perfect for the dinner table, but when I need to grind teaspoons of pepper in the kitchen I reach for the older model.UPDATE: Just as I was about to contact the company to complain about the fine grind limitation, I figured out how to adjust the grind - and fix the volume at the same time! The adjustment column has a bulge which is held firmly in a little plastic centering gizmo. It's held tightly enough that it doesn't slip down when you loosen the adjustment nut. This actually makes sense: it retains your grind adjustment when you remove the top to refill. But it also keeps the grinder from loosening when you want it to. The solution is simple: whack the thing soundly on the top after any time you adjust the nut to a coarser setting. Voila: an array of grinds. And, on a medium grind: faster grinding and huge volume. Tronco mill, you're restored to favor in the kitchen! Increased my star rating to five stars to reflect this.