Grinder
If you are tired of the same old furnace routine and want a more engaging way to process ores, the Grinder add-on for Minecraft is a breath of fresh air. This clever mod introduces a modular machine that crushes raw ores into valuable dusts, giving you a configurable and automatable system that fits right into your factory floor. Whether you are a seasoned modpack builder or a casual player looking to spice up your single-player world, the Grinder offers a satisfying blend of simplicity and depth.
What Makes the Grinder Unique?
At its core, the Grinder is a furnace-like block that uses solid fuel to operate, but instead of smelting ores directly, it requires a grindstone attachment. The grindstone determines the speed and output of the processing, allowing you to tailor the machine to your needs. You can produce dusts from ores like iron, gold, copper, tin, silver, and many more, then smelt those dusts into ingots for a higher yield. This two-step process not only feels more industrial but also opens up opportunities for automation and resource multiplication.
How to Install the Grinder Add-on
Getting started with the Grinder is straightforward. First, ensure you have Minecraft Forge installed for version 1.19.2 or 1.20.1, as the mod relies on Forge’s API. You can download Grinder from reputable mod hosting sites like CurseForge or Modrinth. Once you have the .jar file, place it into your mods folder and launch the game. If you are using the foxygame.net launcher, you can find Grinder in its extensive add-on catalog and install it with a single click, automatically resolving any version compatibility issues. After installation, you are ready to craft your first grinder block.
Crafting and Using the Grinder
To begin, you will need to craft a grinder block using a simple recipe that typically involves iron, stone, and a furnace. Once placed, the grinder is useless without a grindstone. Right-click the grinder with a grindstone in hand to attach it. The cheapest option is a stone grindstone, but you can craft grindstones from various materials, each with unique stats displayed in the tooltip. To detach a grindstone, sneak-right-click the grinder with an empty hand. The machine will not process ores without a grindstone, though any fuel already burning will continue to tick down.
Grindstone Types and Their Bonuses
The mod includes a range of grindstones, from basic stone variants to precious materials like diamond and emerald. Each grindstone modifies two key attributes: speed and result. A speed modifier of 1.0 means default processing time, while a value below 1.0 speeds it up. For example, a gold grindstone has a 0.5 speed modifier, cutting processing time in half. The result modifier works similarly: a value of 1.0 yields one dust per ore, while 1.4 gives a guaranteed dust plus a 40% chance of a second. Diamond grindstones offer a guaranteed doubling with a 70% speed boost, making them highly desirable. You can also craft grindstones from specific ores like copper or uranium, which are unlocked conditionally based on the presence of those ores in your world.
Configuration and Data Packs
The Grinder is deeply configurable. Through the common configuration file, you can adjust grindstone stats, hide unused dusts, and tweak processing values. For pack makers, data pack support allows you to add custom recipes using ore tags or other ingredients. The mod even introduces a special furnace recipe serializer that outputs the first item of a tag, making integration with other mods seamless. All default recipes use Forge conditional wrappers, so they only appear if the relevant ores exist in your pack. This keeps your JEI interface clean and focused.
Automation and JEI Integration
Automation enthusiasts will appreciate that the Grinder’s sides function identically to a vanilla furnace. You can insert fuel and ores from any side and extract dusts from the bottom, making it compatible with hoppers, pipes, and other transport systems. JEI integration is included by default, so you can view all grinding recipes right in your inventory screen. This makes planning your ore processing chain a breeze, especially when combined with other tech mods.
CraftTweaker Support for Custom Recipes
For those who love fine-tuning their modpacks, the Grinder offers CraftTweaker integration. You can add custom grinding recipes using simple scripts, specifying inputs and outputs with item tags. For instance, you could create a recipe that grinds soul sand into planks. The builder also includes a .staticOutput() method to prevent output variation based on grindstone quality. While recipe removal is not yet supported, the addition system gives you plenty of flexibility to design unique processing chains.
Conclusion
The Grinder add-on for Minecraft is a fantastic choice for players who want a modular, configurable ore processing system. With its variety of grindstones, deep configuration options, and seamless automation support, it fits perfectly into both vanilla+ and heavily modded worlds. Whether you download Grinder for a new survival playthrough or integrate it into your custom modpack, this machine will quickly become a cornerstone of your resource production. Give it a try and watch your ore yield multiply.