GG's

Just in case anyone is interested:

I bought a grinder mandrel (with a #2 MT) from Highland Hardware.  I loaded
it into my Jet wood lathe, locked it in with the tail stock and viola!  A
slow speed grinder for $15!

The advantages to grinding on a lathe (as opposed to a purpose built
grinder) are:
 
1) you can run virtually any size wheel (width or diameter),

I like a big wheel because I don't hollow grind all of my chisels
-especially morticers and framers.

2) most lathes have terrific adjustable tool rests,

3) it turns 500 rpm.

4) most importantly, if you already have a lathe, you don't need any more
space and it only costs $15 to do it!

Adam Cherubini

> -----Original Message-----
> From: owner-oldtools@l...
> [mailto:owner-oldtools@l... Behalf Of Adam
> Sent: Thursday, December 21, 2000 2:39 AM
> To: OLD TOOLS
> Subject: Using a lathe as a grinder
>
> I bought a grinder mandrel (with a #2 MT) from Highland
> Hardware.  I loaded
> it into my Jet wood lathe, locked it in with the tail stock
> and viola!  A
> slow speed grinder for $15!

Please take care to only run it at low speed. An unintentional start
at very high speed with an unbalanced wheel can be a very nasty
experience. This includes the possible risk of the wheel exploding, or
(remotely?) the mandrel being shaken off the lathe centres. The former
has happened to somebody I worked with. He was experimenting with a
home-made device, but fortunately he was not in the direct line of
fire.

Jeff
Jeff Gorman, West Yorkshire, UK
Jeff@m...
http://www.millard.demon.co.uk/Index.htm

>I bought a grinder mandrel (with a #2 MT) from Highland Hardware.  I loaded
>it into my Jet wood lathe, locked it in with the tail stock and viola!  A
>slow speed grinder for $15!

When I consider getting grinder residue (read "grit") into, onto, and over
the ways and headstock of a lathe, I think that this may be a false economy.

Kirk Hays
Cedar Mills, Orygun
Cruffler Galoot #1

Jeff Gorman wrote:
> [...] This includes the possible risk of the wheel exploding, or
>(remotely?) the mandrel being shaken off the lathe centres. The former
>has happened to somebody I worked with. He was experimenting with a
>home-made device, but fortunately he was not in the direct line of
>fire.

To follow the "exploding grindstone" thread a bit:

On one of his shows St Roy tells a story about cleaning up
an old grindstone.

The stone was badly glazed so, to clean it up, he soaked
it in gasoline.  After it was finished he got the gunk off,
and then set the stone aside to dry out.

Later, he set the stone up --on a treadle base, of course--
and started to use it to sharpen a chisel.  However, although
the surface was dry, there was still gasoline buried
deep in stone.  The centrifugal force of the spinning started
expelling a thin, atomized mist of gasoline surrounding the 
area of the stone.  His story ended about the time he touched 
the blade to the stone...


So, remember, be careful out there; it's a jungle.

N

> When I consider getting grinder residue (read "grit") into, onto, and over
> the ways and headstock of a lathe, I think that this may be a false economy.
> 
> Kirk Hays

You may be right!  I tell myself nothing's getting into the tapers so what's
the big deal.  It does make me feel a little hincky though.  May be
justification for a purchasing a tormek or...what I really want...a home
made treadle lathe!!!!!!!!

>May be
>justification for a purchasing a tormek or...what I really want...a home
>made treadle lathe!!!!!!!!

I've got the Tormek - well worth every penny spent.

Kirk Hays
Cedar Mills, Orygun
Cruffler Gallot #1