Toolpost Grinder

[SaxalbyParticipant @saxalby]

I recently acquired a Boxford "Little Giant" toolpost grinder, but I am having no luck getting a smooth ground finish. Both the lathe and grinder spindles have no "play" in them. I have tried both the original wheel that came with it, (quite coarse, probably 60 grit), and some new 100 and 200 grit wheels I bought. Wheels were trued up with a diamond dresser.

How should one run the lathe, fast or slow, with or against the grinder rotation.

At the moment just trying to grind a nice point on some old centre punches and scribes. Any help would be appreciated.

[SaxalbyParticipant @saxalby]

[blowlampParticipant @blowlamp]

Is the surface burnt or burnished?

Be sure to traverse the diamond across the wheel at fairly brisk pace. The temptation is to traverse slowly in an effort to impart a smooth surface to the wheel, but this only serves to blunt it. What you need to do is open up the wheel which will allow it to cut freely.

Martin.

[SaxalbyParticipant @saxalby]

Thank you all for your hints and tips. Will try again tomorrow.

The spare wheels were bought from the USA, and specified for use on a small tool post grinder. Will bare in mind what has been said about dressing the wheels. Think the problem may well be there. The punches are round shank (roll of bench type) so are being help firmly in collets.

Blowlamp, No the surface is not burnt or burnished.

Graham, you get such a wonderful finish, if all else fails I will send them to you.

[SaxalbyParticipant @saxalby]

Finally getting a good finish.

Used Grahams tip of marking the wheel surface with a felt tip and them dressing the wheel as he suggested.

Again many thanks.

[WALLACEParticipant @wallace]

Make sure the motor / tensioner bolt is tight – very annoying if it looses drive on the final cut !

I used newspaper to protect the lathe as is will readily tear as opposed to cloth if it accidently gets caught up – with an old tin plate to catch the direct sparks and stop the newspaper catching fire !

The one and only photoin my album is anEN8 car engine flywheel being ground on the lathe with the grinder… came out dead flat with a good finish.

W.

Edited By WALLACE on 08/02/2014 13:56:18

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