Tony Jeffree’s Grinder letter in MEW175

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Tony Jeffree’s Grinder letter in MEW175

This topic has 80 replies, 21 voices, and was last updated 19 April 2011 at 15:54 by DMB.

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14 March 2011 at 14:42 #38038
Steve Garnett
Participant
@stevegarnett62550
A man who may have missed his vocation?
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14 March 2011 at 14:42 #65477
Steve Garnett
Participant
@stevegarnett62550
Normally when I read MEW it’s a relatively quiet affair, so when I started chuckling, SWMBO wanted to know why…

Leaving aside the serious point he was making (with which I think I fully concur), this is the funniest thing I’ve ever read in MEW; it is an absolute gem. So when you get your copy, make sure you read this – it’s worth it!

Edited By Steve Garnett on 14/03/2011 14:43:59
14 March 2011 at 21:28 #65501
Anonymous
Definitely an interesting letter. I will admit to having, and having read, the book on the Quorn, but I’ve never had a desire to build one. I’ve always been mystified by the comments on the ball handles though. I can’t imagine that the functionality of the machine is affected by the handles, so if I did build one I’d re-design to use much simpler handles. No need to waste hours making ball handles.

As no-one else has owned up to having any grinders for an informal poll, I’ll stick my head above the parapet with my collection; here goes:

1. Cheap B&Q angle grinder: used for weld preparation, sorting out the welds after I’ve had a go at welding, and for DIY jobs where the ‘ammer is not suitable

2. Small bench grinder, one aluminium oxide wheel and one green grit wheel: used for offhand grinding of drills, HSS lathe tools and sharpening TIG electrodes

3. Old Clarkson T&C grinder with centres, bits of a universal head, a radius attachment and a swivelling vice: sharpening milling cutters and HSS lathe tools, not yet set up to sharpen drills or taps

4. Brown & Sharpe surface grinder: making things flat and parallel to better than I can achieve on the mill and for sharpening Coventry die sets

5. Myford cylindrical grinder: making jigs and mandrels, accurate tapered items and things like cylinder liners that need to be parallel and accurate to size to better than I can achieve on the lathe

Quack, quack – that’ll be me ducking the flak!

Regards,

Andrew
14 March 2011 at 22:12 #65509
Steve Garnett
Participant
@stevegarnett62550
It was the humourous bits in Tony’s letter that got to me – just tickled me!

On the grinder front, I have equivalents to 1-4 in your list, and I could have had an early Myford MG12 for a song – but there was nowhere to put it, I didn’t fancy moving it at the time, and I really wasn’t sure what I might use it for. I also have a large angle grinder – the sort that cuts through 11″ brickwork in one go, but that thing is just downright frightening and gets very little use.

The Clarkson Mk1 T&C (with Mk2 radius tool) is the next thing on my list to have a go at – I need to sort out some more bits and pieces for it. But as Tony suggests, the reason that I have the Clarkson is because I want something that will grind tools, and not a build-the-world’s-most-complicated-grinder exercise. I’d rather modify and extend something that’s already basically built, thanks.
14 March 2011 at 23:17 #65514
John Stevenson 1
Participant
@johnstevenson1
I’m glad it has appeared even if as a letter.

It was originally intended to be part of the article and was in the copy that Tony sent me, for some reason it was omitted / edited / cropped and I feel the original article would have been the better for it.

John S.
14 March 2011 at 23:40 #65517
NJH
Participant
@njh
You guys must have big sheds!

(Please note funny little yellow thingy Andrew – I’ve never used one before! )

Must go and pick up my copy of MEW tomorrow – I think Tony has a very nice style of writing so I am waiting with eager anticipation.

Regards

Norman

Edited By NJH on 14/03/2011 23:41:32
15 March 2011 at 00:36 #65521
Nicholas Farr
Participant
@nicholasfarr14254
Hi, haven’t read the letter yet, but as far a grinders go since a competing list has been started:

Three 9″ angle grinders one at 240V and two at 110V

one 7″ angle grinder 110V

three 4 1/2″ angle grinders one at 240V and two at 110V

one 4″ angle grinder 110V

one bench grinder with Ali-oxide and green grit 8″ wheels, but mounted on piece of 4″ pipe with a big plate on the bottom which just stands on the floor.

Three old fashioned hand cranking one wheel jobbies, that you clamp to the edge of the bench/table, waiting to be referbed.

The 240V ones have never been used.

Thats it for the time being, nothing to exciting.

Probally read Tony’s letter in the morning.

Regards Nick.

Edited By Nicholas Farr on 15/03/2011 00:42:07
15 March 2011 at 01:02 #65523
John Stevenson 1
Participant
@johnstevenson1
Two 9″ angle grinders

Two 7″ angle grinders

Seven 4 1/2″ angle grinders

Six die grinders

One universal tool and cutter grinder

One 6 x 18″ surface grinder

One 7″ swing surface grinders

Three 6″ bench grinders

One 8″ bench grinder

Two Linishing machines

One Alexendra single lip grinder

One lathe tool grinder similar to the Worden

But I don’t have a Quorn !!

John S.
15 March 2011 at 08:47 #65532
David Clark 13
Participant
@davidclark13
Hi There

I cut the Quorn bit out for two reasons. I saw this as an article on building the Worden.

I saw no reason to knock the Quorn.

Secondly It did not seem fair to pay a contributor for knocking a comercial item.

The Quorn castings are still available from Ivan Law and many succesful versions have been made.

There are usually two or three superb examples at any model engineer exhibition.

I could knock the Taig book by Tony because I don’t have a Taig lathe or perhaps the Division Master because I don’t have one but why would I.

Both are succesful products as is the Quorn.

regardsDavid

Edited By David Clark 1 on 15/03/2011 08:49:29
15 March 2011 at 09:17 #65534
John Stevenson 1
Participant
@johnstevenson1
But you have now published the letter so the same information is still between the covers but admittedly in two places.

If you re-read the letter, which should have been part of the article, it’s obviously a tongue in cheek dig at the builders of the Quorn not the supliers or the Quorn itself

Correction, the WOULD BE builders of the Quorn as what Tony was getting across, with a little bit of humour is the ratio of built to castings under the bench.

Personally as a fully paid up member of the British Wippet Association I was appalled that you left the biting the head off a wippet in the original article. Do you have any idea of the distress and sleepless nights this caused me ?

John S.
15 March 2011 at 09:26 #65536
David Clark 13
Participant
@davidclark13
I published the letter at Tony’s request. Not because I agreed with it.

The castings under the bench apply to almost every set of castings sold.

Well over half of them will sit under the bench forever.

As a dog owner I am not happy I have to keep reminding you to feed your dog every time I see you.

regards David
15 March 2011 at 11:25 #65546
Geoff Sheppard
Participant
@geoffsheppard46476
I enjoyed Tony’s letter very much as I feel that, sometimes, we take ourselves far too seriously. The number of part-finished Quorns I have come across over the years doesn’t bear thinking about. Someone said to me, many years ago, “To build a Quorn, you need a Degree in Ball Handles”. To think that Professor Chaddock set off to design, build and develop the machine (as well as write a series of articles and a book about it), just to be able to grind the cutters required to machine the components of his BRM engine, just shows what a remarkable man he was. If only………..

Tony’s reasoning for choosing the Worden mirrors mine when I made my choice some dozen years ago. As Tony says, it’s not ideal for all jobs and could do with some ‘development’ as Jim Whetren has demonstrated on this web site. I plan to adopt some of his ideas as they seem to answer some of the questions.

No solution to any of the problems we tackle is perfect, or even the only one. I remind myself of Kipling’s words – “There are nine-and-sixty ways of constructing Tribal Lays, and every single one of them is right.”

Happy messing about in the workshop.

Regards, Geoff
15 March 2011 at 12:58 #65552
John Stevenson 1
Participant
@johnstevenson1
Posted by Geoff Sheppard on 15/03/2011 11:25:54:

No solution to any of the problems we tackle is perfect, or even the only one. I remind myself of Kipling’s words – “There are nine-and-sixty ways of constructing Tribal Lays, and every single one of them is right.”

Happy messing about in the workshop.

Regards, Geoff

Very true Geoff but you can’t weld the head back on a whippet.

John S.
15 March 2011 at 13:04 #65553
Ian Hewson
Participant
@ianhewson99641
Hi

Whilst I agree Tony’s letter was humorous, I do think that comments about a machine that he has not built or used are knocking as David says.

I do not regard myself as an expert, but had many happy hours building the Quorn and solving its problems.

Anyone who can build a steam loco should have no real difficulty with the build.

Ball handles add a touch of class (imo) and are not difficult to make.

I use the Quorn, and also a bench grinder, angle grinder, Dremmel and the Quorn head as a surface grinder, something other tool grinder do not do.

Many casting may be under benches, but that dos’nt mean that the one that get built are no use or not worth building.

There are many things not to like , but don’t put others off because of what you think, you may be wrong.
15 March 2011 at 13:20 #65556
PekkaNF
Participant
@pekkanf
I foundTony Jeffree’s letter funny, but not offensive at all.

I have got THE book, but not castings. I must addmit that I probably never get around building one, but it’s an interesting book to read, and not at least because of the prosedures it has to cut some metal with style.

However, I think that while that humor is boud to attract some friendly fire, it will distract from the main thing: what is my need for a TC-grinder? I have tried to answer that question for myself and I have found that right now I’ll rather manage with very primitive and limited grinder, that put time and space for all-singing all-dancing TC-grinder.

I understand that editor has to have a sustainable policies. But I still enjoy reading the letter.

PekkaNF
15 March 2011 at 14:26 #65559
Geoff Sheppard
Participant
@geoffsheppard46476
John S – you’ve just not mastered the technique! I remember a quotation from our old contributor Bob Loader – “With the right flux you can solder a cat’s ear’ole to a brick wall”.

Keep trying.

Regards

Geoff
15 March 2011 at 14:40 #65560
NJH
Participant
@njh
Hi Geoff

I don’t know about flux but it’s pretty easy with super glue – even if you don’t intend to !

I eagerly await MEW 175.

I wonder – is this thread a cunning plan by the managemant to increase circulation?

Regards

Norman
15 March 2011 at 14:49 #65561
Geoff Sheppard
Participant
@geoffsheppard46476
Norman

I couldn’t possibly comment. However, over the years there have been suspicions that a carefully placed contribution has helped to liven things up when its been getting a bit quiet.

Geoff
15 March 2011 at 14:55 #65562
David Clark 13
Participant
@davidclark13
Hi There

No it is not.

regards David
15 March 2011 at 16:32 #65564
Fil
Participant
@fil
David

Please can you engage Tony Jeffree as a full time contributor?

Very enjoyable reading, even for someone like me who is slowly working my way through machining a Kennet kit which I bought only five months ago!

Phil
15 March 2011 at 18:35 #65572
Steve Garnett
Participant
@stevegarnett62550
Posted by NJH on 15/03/2011 14:40:53:

I wonder – is this thread a cunning plan by the managemant to increase circulation?

Well, I started it and I can assure you that it was completely unsolicited – as David says. I am completely unmanaged! (except by SWMBO, of course…)
15 March 2011 at 19:06 #65573
NJH
Participant
@njh
Well Steve

I didn’t really think that it was but, with all the comments about it, I really do look forward to getting my copy and it would be a good way of getting people to buy a copy too – although I suppose if they are reading this thread they are pretty likely to do that anyway !

As far as the Quorn goes I have the book and I admire those I see at exhibitions, I have a part built Stent – enjoy working on it from time to time- and may even finish it some day. For me the joy of Model engineering is in the sorting out and making – even better I suppose if the end result is useful! For a useful grinder the Worden would probably have supplied a product more quickly and cheaply.

I am very grateful to my SWMBO as without her I would probably starve to death!

She would tell you that I have a not too serious approach to life and am prone to sillyness at times. Now how could she say that?

Regards

Norman

Edited By NJH on 15/03/2011 19:28:34

Edited By NJH on 15/03/2011 19:31:30
15 March 2011 at 19:25 #65574
KWIL
Participant
@kwil
One of the names in this modelling of ours once said to me, it is as much taking of the journey as it is arriving. [With the finished device]

Ball handles are not difficult if you start with a good ball turning tool and Tony, the diameter of an end mill does not matter if it is undersize, it is the cut you put on that you are wanting. It is not worth resharpening below 3/8″ or 10mm dia anyway.
15 March 2011 at 21:45 #65584
Anonymous
Posted by NJH on 14/03/2011 23:40:44:

You guys must have big sheds!

(Please note funny little yellow thingy Andrew – I’ve never used one before! )

Hi Norman,

Errr, there seems to be a funny yellow thing in your posting!

I don’t have a big shed, just a double garage, and it is very crowded, but it’s a bit like the Tardis! It is also a great incentive to lose weight; if I drink too much beer then I get too fat to fit between the machines. Inevitably though the garage has spread into the house with the dining room being used for cutter and measuring tool storage and the kitchen acting as an assembly hall and casting storage area for my traction engines.

What I really need is a large warehouse with a kitchen, bathroom and bedroom attached.

Regards,

Andrew
15 March 2011 at 21:51 #65585
Steve Garnett
Participant
@stevegarnett62550
I think that it might be a case here of deciding which journey… and looked at from that point of view, starting a Quorn and not even attempting to finish it could simply be regarded as straightforward indecision, or perhaps a navigation error? I get the impression that Tony J. might concur with this as well, judging from what he wrote. And no he wasn’t having a go at Quorns…

As far as they go, I don’t have the book, but I’ve heard all the stories. If I was ever to attempt to make one it would be simply as a project, not as a working tool grinder I think – I’d be too scared of wearing it out or whatever, having inevitably spent so much time on it! Maybe that’s why we see them as exhibits in beautifully made cases from time to time, looking as though they’ve never been used in anger. I can identify with that!

And yes, SWMBOs are very good at keeping one’s feet firmly on the ground!

And since John Stevenson mentioned linishers, I should have added that to my list on the first page as well – although I’m personally not entirely sure that it counts in the ‘grinding’ category.

Edited By Steve Garnett on 15/03/2011 22:08:59
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