OldTools Archive
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271420 | John Ruth <johnrruth@h...> | 2020‑07‑06 | Hand-Cranked Grinders [WAS: tapered plane irons ] |
GG’s The esteemed Scott Grandstaff mentioned hand-cranked grinders. There was a LOT of OLDTOOLS postings about hand-cranked grinders. At least one member was collecting them. ( Maybe that was Tom Thornton ? ) Having used one, I’d say that their slower speed makes it less likely to burn the edge of the tool, though it is unquestionably easier to use with an apprentice or GIT doing the cranking! I recall that there were postings about a rather large hand-cranked grinder known as “The Railroad Model”. Certainly, there would be a use for this “out on the line” in the days before portable electrickery generators. For example, sharpening the RR tie adzes. I have a belt-driven water-trough grinder from the now-defunct Prairie Tool Co. When they still had a website, I learned that they also offered a hand-cranked model using the same trough castings. Their catalog is archived at vintagemachinery.org. Some of their more conventional hand cranked dry grinders are on YouTube. If I had indoor space, I’d like have one of the big foot-pedal water trough grinders with a large Beria, Ohio, sandstone wheel. You’d be hard-pressed to burn an edge with one of those! If one has enough floor space, one can probably rig just about any hand-cranked grinder with a treadle. John Ruth Sent from my iPhone |
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271421 | Joshua Clark <jclark@h...> | 2020‑07‑06 | Re: Hand-Cranked Grinders [WAS: tapered plane irons ] |
It was indeed Tom Thonton. That's a name I haven't heard in a while. I recall a couple of times bringing him several grinders at the PATINA meeting in NJ to donate to his collection. Back then it was hard to give them away. A few years ago demand surged for hand-crank grinders. The better models- the Railroad Grinders and Pike Peerless models still sell well, but not for as much as they used to. I owned a nice Millers Falls treadle grinder with the water trough. It was fun to use, but not very practical for the amount of grinding I do in the shop. It also took up a lot of my limited floor space so I sold it a few years ago. I'll regret that some day I'm sure. Earlier this year I added a grinder with CBN wheels to my shop. That has literally revolutionized my grinding work. I'll never go back to a standard grinding wheel, except for soft metals which the CBN wheels won't handle according to the manufacturer. Josh |
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271424 | <michigaloot@c...> | 2020‑07‑06 | Re: Hand-Cranked Grinders [WAS: tapered plane irons ] |
Regarding grinders, Josh talked about CBN wheels - "Earlier this year I added a grinder with CBN wheels to my shop. That has literally revolutionized my grinding work. I'll never go back to a standard grinding wheel, except for soft metals which the CBN wheels won't handle according to the manufacturer." Gentles, If there is any bright side to the current virus situation relative to the Porch, it is the most welcomed reappearance of many old timers. As someone guilty of the same absence (been here since June of 96 but work and other items took precedence), I hope it continues, as I expect to be back in the saddle myself when I retire for good at the end of September. Anyway, I'm curious what would be considered 'soft metals' in this context. Are we talking raw stock like O1 or would a plane iron or chisel be included? I noticed most online references to these wheels revolve around HSS turning tools. Guess I'm trying to determine if I need to retain another stone for non-HSS materials. Dennis Heyza Clinton Township - soon to be New Baltimore - Michigan |
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271428 | Joshua Clark <jclark@h...> | 2020‑07‑06 | Re: Hand-Cranked Grinders [WAS: tapered plane irons ] |
Short answer is I don't know for sure. There's a lot of conflicting information as to what metals the CBN wheels are best suited for and which to avoid. In my experience they work incredibly well on any sort of steel.. plane blades, chisels, gouges, turning tools, etc. I've also ground big laminated blades with some sort of softer iron/steel as the backing material with no problem. I've avoided using them on brass, aluminum, cast iron, etc. The best feature of the CBN wheels in mind is the ability to grind on the side of the stone. The wheels I have on my grinder have about an inch wide strip of grit on the outside edge of the wheel. This lets me use them as a make-do surface grinder to rapidly flatten blades and remove pitting. No more lapping out pitting on diamond stones. Since we're verging on violating the rules of the list, let's just say you could theoretically mount one of these on a hand-crank grinder. Josh |
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