Shop addition: New Grinder

I just ordered two 1.5" bars from OnlineMetals (one mild steel, one extruded aluminum). The steel arm will ultimately be the one holding the Multi-Platen, with its 6" contact wheel, and whatever other contact wheel I decide to mount (maybe a really small one). The aluminum bar will be used for the work rest tool arm.

I learned that one of the OnlineMetals distribution points is in Seattle, so I might make it a point to go there sometime.

- Greg
 
Yesterday I received the two bars, and cut 5 inches off the end of the steel bar (taking it down to 19 inches). I think I injured my hand doing that (using the Dewalt hacksaw). I'll spend some time this weekend working on drilling and tapping the 1/2 inch mount hole.
 
Yesterday I drilled and tapped the 1/2 inch hole into the steel bar, transforming it into a tool arm. Now my mind is turning to the work rest arm. I want to make something that articulates at several points, but I realize as I'm starting down that path that I am over-complicating the problem. So I'll probably start by making a simple rest that has a fixed length extension from the aluminum arm, and a single pivot for the rest itself, so it can be adjusted for more acute/oblique angles to the sanding surface.

The reason I am prone to over-complicating this is I want to be able to use it with the 2" contact wheel at the bottom, as well as with the flat platen, and I'd also like to be able to adjust it so that the work piece can approach the grinding surface from any angle at any point. I'm having trouble explaining what I'm thinking, but if you saw what I am doing to grind the bevels of the dagger, it might make a bit more sense.

Anyway, I also plan to finish out the multi-platen too.
 
I suggest making one tool rest that is just flat 90* to the platen. Then make an articulated one.

You probably will have more time put into making an articulated tool arm then you do the grinder.
 
Greg, I found left hand threaded bolts work well on articulated tool arms. They tighten instead of loosening when you put pressure on them. I made my own from left threaded all-thread and nuts from Tacoma Screw. Jess
 
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