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The term “mola” refers to two types of stone: a grindstone for grinding and polishing, and a millstone for grinding grain. Grindstones can be rotated at variable speeds and used for sharpening tools or creating a glaze. Millstones are stacked and used to grind grain, with the flour varying based on stone size and speed. Early millstones were powered by animals or water wheels. Stone-ground flour is still sought after by some.
The term “mola” is used to describe two different things, both made of stone. In a sense, a grindstone is a stone that rotates on a central axis at variable speeds, designed for grinding and polishing. In another sense, a grindstone is a millstone, a specialized stone designed specifically for grinding grain. The mola in question is usually clear from the context; both are also used to describe a sense of burden or work, as in “keep your nose on the grindstone”.
In the first sense, a grindstone is a thick, porous stone disc with a hole in the middle. A rotary axis can be fitted through the hole to turn the stone; it is common to mount a grindstone over a tub or basin, so that the filings are ground into an easily cleaned container, rather than all over the floor. Using an electric motor or foot pedal, the grinding wheel can be rotated at variable speeds, which are changed according to the project at hand.
Grindstones are often used to sharpen knives and other tools. They can also be used to create a glaze on something like stone or wood; the wheels used for polishing typically have a very fine grit, as coarse grits would goug the project, rather than polish it. Many shops stock several grinding wheels, which allow people to work through progressively finer grit grinding wheels to achieve the desired finished look.
A millstone is actually one of a pair of large, circular stones. The millstones are stacked on top of each other for the grinding process; typically the lower stone is rotated while the upper stone remains stationary. The grain is poured through a hole in the upper millstone and then ground between the two, dripping through grooves in the stone as flour. The grain of the flour can be varied by using millstones of various sizes and different speeds during the grinding process.
Many millstones are quite large, designed to grind large quantities of grain at once. Early millstones were powered by animals harnessed to stone or a water wheel, which is why many historic mills are located near rivers. Archaeological digs have uncovered early versions of millstones, suggesting that humans have known the basic steps to making flour for thousands of years. Most modern flours are steel cut, rather than stone ground; some people find stone-ground flours superior and actively seek them out.
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