The ultimate (to me.) totally adjustable work rest!

javand

javand

Joined
Oct 17, 2010
Messages
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I don't usually use a work/tool rest for the way I grind, but I also don't usually do scandi or chisel grinds. I'm doing a job though where I have to chisel grind a bunch of little titanium skinners though, that are going to be carbidized, and it was taking me too long free hand, mostly spent trying to correct new mistakes with each pass.

I could have just made a one off jig for the job, but that's not my style most days, so I decided to build the most adjustable work rest I could. A few major concerns were 1) Being able to angle the work rest either from the narrow end or the longer end, 2) adjustable across any axis, 3) that the tooling arm wasn't in the way for grinding off the edge of the belt using the narrow width of the rest, 4) that I could quickly switch out the rest plate itself with different sizes. 5) Have access to any spot or part of the platen or wheel I'm working with.

I also had an idea for another type of "work rest" on the other end of the plate bar, that I'll post pics of later. I can easily set up both ends and just flip it without having to change anything. I can move the work rest in, out, up, down, left, right, turn, twist, and angle. The drop down off the main arm is to set the end of that arm back away from the platen, so it doesn't interfere when I'm working off the edge or corner of the platen.

Sorry for the crappy pics. The second one shows a single pass (first try) on one of the little ti blades. Took the work from 5-10 mins each to about 15 seconds.

Opinions? Critiques? Cheers!

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Can you show more details of the actual pivot area. It looks very handy and really nice.
 
I like that rest very much! Especially the way the main body of the rest is completely out of the way.
Thanks for sharing. I am welding up a very simple rest for my GIB but see I'll have to do something a little fancier eventually.
Thanks for sharing.
 
Looks great.

I am looking for some ideas for a work rest that is very adjustable for my KMG that will have the ability to be pivoted on its side. Any photos you could add would be great.
 
It looks great :)

My only suggestion would be to make it with a pinch type clamping system for locking the round stock in position, rather than the set screws. Set screws usually end up marring the rod. It's really not much more work... still boring a hole, drilling and tapping another... just throwing a saw cut in there too.

REALLY nice addition to your grinder!!! :cool: :thumbup: :)
 
Nick, great suggestion. I've never tried those clamping cuts before though, any tips on angle, etc?

I ran out of locking handles, but I'll be replacing all the set screws with them eventually.
 
I'm sure there are a lot of ways to do it, but I have just gone the simple route.

This one has a hole that was bored to 0.750, a 3/8-16 bolt to tighten it. The cut was done with a 0.050 slitting saw, but a bandsaw cut would work just fine as far as I can tell. You might make the cut and then widen it a bit if it's a real small blade like 0.025.

I'm sure no expert on these, but what I've done will clamp down nice and tight on roundstock. :)

If anybody here knows the best way to do this, I'd love to hear it! :)

BTW- Is there a story behind the grinder stand??? It looks really cool!!! :cool:


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Thanks Nick. I've seem those cuts done at an angle on Travis Wertz's rest and tool arms, and on Chris Williams' also, but I'll probably opt for simple too.

I should take a picture of just the stand. Its a pretty huge (300ish lbs) cast iron piece off of a large machine that got scapped.

Update: I found a pictuee online of what it was from, apparently a huge double disc sander! Unfortunately when I found it, it was just the base and the bracket which once held the bearings which were broken off. http://vintagemachinery.org/photoindex/detail.aspx?id=1417

That thing brings new gravity to the "disc grinder" concept. Wowza!
 
Wow, that thing is incredible!!! :eek:

I've seen the angled cuts on Travis's grinder too. I'm not sure if that has a much different result, but it does look cooler. :)
 
Wow that is wild. What an awesome piece to have in your shop.

javand said:
Thanks Nick. I've seem those cuts done at an angle on Travis Wertz's rest and tool arms, and on Chris Williams' also, but I'll probably opt for simple too.

I should take a picture of just the stand. Its a pretty huge (300ish lbs) cast iron piece off of a large machine that got scapped.

Update: I found a pictuee online of what it was from, apparently a huge double disc sander! Unfortunately when I found it, it was just the base and the bracket which once held the bearings which were broken off. http://vintagemachinery.org/photoindex/detail.aspx?id=1417

That thing brings new gravity to the "disc grinder" concept. Wowza!
Click to expand...
 
Javan
Overall nice toolrest, Having a modular toolrest will change the way you make knives.
Definitely agree pinching the rod makes a more elegant toolrest. This is the way I do it now and the way I used to do it.
Second way is way easier, but I found using it for quick change contact wheels that the projected part out front got in my way so went to the
milled slot way.
If you go this route take a look at how Nicks projection is much shorter than mine, thats because he was super smart and only has a thin amount of steel he is bending down. IE his hinge is thinner than mine,
IE if he had put that hole in the middle I doubt he could have tightened it enough to get it tight. Dont worry if you get it wrong you will know in short order.
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Chris, that tool rest is freak'n awesome! I love how you guys have progressed with that grinder... that is one slick machine! :cool: :thumbup: Thanks for sharing your old and current approach. :)

Thanks for the kind words, but I'm never smart- I just get lucky sometimes! :)
 
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