yes i have made it. it works, i am happy with the results

I have the simple rest mostly built, but (of course) not used…as I've gotten away with hand grinding bits pretty well. For what it's worth, I'll point on that Mr. Hall has some pages on his website referencing the simple grinding rest.

Simple rest: **LINK**

Improved mounting: **LINK**

Mike

Looks like a good system Huub.
Another easy one is to think of the periphery of a circular grinding wheel. If the top of the tool is exactly on centre the contact point will be at 90 degrees. But if you raise it up a bit the curvature means it will be at an angle. A bit of calculation, or drawing will let you know the height/angle combinations. Then all you need is a block of wiid and some thin strips to pack it up.

I am unsure about those grinding rests designed to rest tools on the side of a conventional grinding wheel. Every manufacturer says this is dangerous to do and every workplace and tech college I know of forbids it for safety reasons. And so do all the mainstream professional machining books I have seen.

It is only in model engineering related publications that I have ever seen recommendations to grind on the side of the wheel. Even in old books by respected lifelong machinists like LH Sparey and co.

Why is that?

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I think it’s because the authors “presume to know better”

They ‘know’ that the Manufacturers, and the Safety Officers need to cater for some idiot who might keep pushing a tool into the side of a wheel … but ‘of course’ they would never do that.

MichaelG.

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Edit:__ Paul posted whilst I was typing.

His comment about Huub’s delightful little machine is valid, but doesn’t actually address Hopper’s observation.

[quote] I am unsure about those grinding rests designed to rest tools on the side of a conventional grinding wheel. [/quote]

Edited By Michael Gilligan on 20/03/2022 07:22:50

Yes I have been known to cheat and use the side of the wheel at home since seeing it as common practice in ME books too. But I would never have done it at work for fear of the foreman kicking my backside until my nose bled. Or fear of getting laughed out of the workshop by my colleagues. But already I can see and feel the damage done to the side of the wheel and how that could over time "neck" the wheel down and let chunks of the wider rim break out under centrifugal/petal force.

As a matter of course, I still always stand well to one side of the grinder until it has run well and truly up to speed, just in case. Those training films I saw as a teenager showing the fatal damage a 12" x 2" wheel exploding can do must have made an impression, even though my 6" grinder is a baby by comparison. Still would not like to cop a face full, or a crotch full.

I think maybe the best option would be to set up a proper cup wheel that is designed to be used on the flat "side" face on one end of your conventional bench grinder. Or use Huub's excellent idea above with the flat diamond wheel and angle blocks. Very nice. The stepper motor to drive it seems very 21st Century to this prehistoric Luddite and very innovative. Never seen that done before. But I suppose the disc could be substituted for the grinding wheel on a bench grinder and used on the "side" without risk.

Edited By Hopper on 20/03/2022 08:20:47

I dont know, Michael. It still labels it as dangerous and allows only for the side of the wheel to "lightly touch a face adjoining the surface to be ground". So not grinding on the side of the wheel, just allowing it to touch a shoulder lightly in order to grind full up to it on the outer diameter of the wheel. More exceptions and whytofores and wherefores than an insurance contract.

Must have a squiz at the full document when I get a chance. Always interesting to see the latest take on these things.

I made the simple rest as one of my earliest 'projects' many years back. I found it very difficult to set up correctly, as the 'ball' design' – while giving a lot of versatility – also made it difficult to set the table at a correct angle – as when you adjust front to back at the angle you want, sods law means that the side to side angle moves also, so you re-adjust that etc etc ad infinitum! I virtually gave up using it, although in a flash of inspiration I modified it to get rid of the ball altogether and it now works fine, even easily allowing me to accurately sharpen the ends of milling cutters.

In your case, when 'beginning' you would probably gain a lot from a simple set up ( something like 'Huub' suggested earlier). You also indicate your lack of previous success free hand grinding: practice makes perfect!

I might add though that actually building the grinding rest was a good exercise in general machining ideal for learning several useful skills.

all the best, Mike

James,

Do a search on ebay for diamond grinding disk. They are available in lots of different shapes for not too much money. Most are designed for attaching to an angle grinder.

I have mounted the disk on a 2 trust bearing axis so the disk is running true without play.
The back of the axis has a hex hole that fits the nut on the dremel.
After a wile, I changed the dremel for the stepper motor that run's very quit.
I threaded the mounting hole of the disk.

The housing fits the dremel thread on one side and the threading of the grinder at the other side.

I choose for trust bearings because the load is only axial.

The parts (without housing)

The parts mounted (without housing)