A magnificent piece of highly spalted Maple was used to make this mill, It is very hard to find spalted wood that isn't rotted.This piece is as solid as can be. I use only ceramic grinders in my mills so they can grind salt, pepper, or spices. I also give a lifetime guarantee my mill mechanism for life. Every house has one or more pepper mills that don't work. They all work good that first and then one day doesn't grind anymore. Not mine. If it stops simply return it and I will replace it. This is a medium sized mill at 9 1/2" tall. Please note that every piece that comes from the tree spalts differently. Spalting is basically rotten wood. The more rotten it is the softer the wood is. Some have a lot some don't. I have developed ways that I can preserve some of these pieces of wood.