Embodiments described herein relate generally to large scale synthesis of thinned graphite and in particular, few layers of graphene sheets and graphene-graphite composites. In some embodiments, a method for producing thinned crystalline graphite from precursor crystalline graphite using wet ball milling processes is disclosed herein. The method includes transferring crystalline graphite into a ball milling vessel that includes a grinding media. A first and a second solvent are transferred into the ball milling vessel and the ball milling vessel is rotated to cause the shearing of layers of the crystalline graphite to produce thinned crystalline graphite.