PEPPER MILLS

PEPPER MILLS WITH WOODCUT TOOLS

Simpler and faster way to make peppermills.

Producing pepper mills can involve drilling several different hole sizes, often requiring multiple drill bits and repeated setup. Australian woodturner Brendan Stemp saw an opportunity to simplify this process.

Inspired by the operation of a mill drill press, Brendan developed the concept of a single tool that could perform the required drilling operations using adjustable cutters rather than multiple drill bits.

Working alongside Woodcut Tools, Brendan collaborated with Peter Hewitt to develop the original Woodcut Mill Drill, designed to operate with the CrushGrind® Shaft mechanism. The tool was introduced in 2010 and quickly became a popular solution for woodturners producing pepper mills.

Over time, feedback from turners helped refine the design. In 2021, machined flats were added to the tool body to make accurate cutter setup easier and more repeatable.

As interest in the smaller CrushGrind® Shaft Mini mechanism increased, Woodcut Tools further developed the design to support both mechanism sizes. German production turner Mario Nagel was involved in testing and refining the updated design to ensure it performed well in real workshop conditions.

The result is the Mill Drill Universal.

The Mill Drill Universal allows turners to drill the required holes for pepper mills using one adjustable tool rather than several drill bits. By adjusting the cutters, a range of hole sizes can be achieved, making the drilling process faster and more efficient.

The tool incorporates a No.2 Morse Taper so it fits directly into the tailstock of most lathes, allowing the drilling process to be completed on the lathe itself.