I inherited this nutmeg grinder and it's a good one. I know I have opened it before but I don't remember how

The red bit is one part (not two although it looks as if).
Turnin just grinds the nutmeg
Turnin and pushing doesn't work
Turnin and pulling doesn't work
I can't find any hidden unlock-thingy/mechanism anywhere

Does anyone have one of these? How do I open it for refill?

Hold with the white part facing down and red parts facing up. Grasp the lower ring (the one with the ribs further apart) and hold in place, while turning the top ring (the one with more ribs) the opposite way.

I assume it's a righty-tighty, lefty-loosey so hold the lower ring and turn the top one left.

Edit - I know you think the red bits are all one, but they're not. Or at least they shouldn't be unless you melted them together.

How about push and then turn? As opposed to turn and push.

Turn the other direction.

And... if it really won't budge, put it in a ziplock bag and leave it in the freezer overnight.

Stuff like that tends to get some grime (cooking oil/steam) in it over time. You can wipe the outside down, but that won't get the deposit out of the threads (where it often turns into bio-Loctite). Freezing it, then letting it thaw out again won't hurt the plastic, but it will usually break the bond. You may have to freeze-thaw a few cycles. Probably not a good idea to try forcing it while it's frozen though.

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If everyone you know agrees with you consistently, they are either not listening, or not capable of critical thought.

If you are right about the two red bits being two (which makes sense but I seem to remember otherwise) they are REALLY effing tight, they don't move an mili-inch. And all my forceps are not wide enough to get a grip on one of them.

Nope, already tried that.

Nope, already tried that.

So, still no nutmeg. Yet.

JagWaugh, your freeze-and-thaw idea sounds good. Why the ziploc bag, though? Just to keep the deep-freeze free of nutmeg dust, or is there a scientific function I'm missing?

Just so that if anything shatters, or comes out, then it stays in the bag.

Of course, if you like defrosting the freezer...

Shattering! Hadn't considered that. But kinda how I'd feel, if it happened and I had to clean it up. Thanks for the wisdom.

Hey, just saw that. Sounds good - never heard of that - thanks, thingy is in the freezer now.
I shall report back

In the meantime I'll try and think of ways to reassemble a Nutmeg nut inside it. You can't grow them inside, unless you move to the Banda Islands.

Is the top part threaded on? It could be that you pull that off and then have access to a second lock ring. But looking at it I wouldn't think so.
If you're offering tasty coffee a person might come over and give it a go.

Done. 3Wishes, you were right. Two separate red rings
Didn't like the mention of grime but I guess it can't be avoided using these things above steaming pots. I did deep-freeze it - twice - still took male-strenth to open it. Plus the directions of the threads are "all wrong", meaning unusual directions.

It's on the internet now, I will know how to do it for ever . I was told the thing looks ancient - it is, it's from my grandmother and I love it.
Thread can be closed, thanks folks!

Does this mean that the EF Fondueplaush is at your place this year?

Hmmmm, never had an invite to that since joining 2006.

You wouldn't want that, I admit I only do the package things myself. If I want the real thing I need to ask a friend to come over and produce it (which he does once a year).

I'll cook. That's good for two caquelons.

In what sense "wrong"?

Normally on such devices, they have left-hand threads, so your is RH?

Tom

To open it, the top red ring needs to be turned clock-wise against the second red ring.

That's normal, and to be expected.

Tom

Why don't you purchase a little flacon of already grated nutmeg the next time you visit your supermarket? Save all the hassle! Simples!