Can't Understand What A Tool Post Grinder Is Good For?

[Billh50]

We used to grind some aluminum plates and blocks at a place I worked. If done properly with right coolants or a light oil it doesn't clog up the wheel that fast.

 

[f350ca]

Had to resurface the mounts on my chucks on the Colchester I bought. The tool post grinder is the best option for work like this, the intermittent cut from the keyway would have made it impossible with a cutter.




Greg

 

[Wobbles]

I may make one though as I will have a nice 1/8 HP motor when I convert my Atlas to DC. Might be a nice project to practice on....

Agreed, nice project. But in the end with such a light-duty unit you may wish you had simply bought a Dremel Tool and the tool post adapter.

 

[chips&more]

Wow, what an interesting thread. So many opinions. I would like to input a few. A tool post grinder is just that, it grinds. A big difference when comparing it to the cutting action of a tool bit. Hard materials, interrupted cuts, surface finish, tolerance control to name a few are jobs for a grinder. A 1/8hp motor should be able to handle 2” diameter stones. Aluminum can be ground, but I would not do it all day, the stone will eventually load up. Frequent stone dressings (coarse) would be a top priority. IMHO a Dremel is not in the caliber of any tool post grinder, and one that is properly homemade. AND the most important of all, protect your lathe from the grinding grit/swarf. I would wrap the lathe with an easily tearable material, like newspaper. And when you are done, just to make sure, give your lathe a good cleaning. If you have or can find a tool post grinder for your shop, I would say definitely get it. When you need it, there is no substituting…Good Luck, Dave.

 

[Mark in Indiana]

I used to reface silicon covered rollers (for transfer printing) on a lathe with a TPG.

 

[aeroHAWK]

I have made molds for injection molded plastic parts out of 7075 aluminum. I ground the aluminum blocks on my surface grinder using a soft, open wheel and lots of coolant. I also smeared a layer of grease all over the surface before each pass. It made a real nice flat parting line - much nicer than any flycutter. The wheel didn't load up very fast at all. The biggest problem was the magnetic chuck wasn't strong enough.

I have also refaced silicone covered rollers with a toolpost grinder for a printer friend of mine....

 

[WoodBee]

Hi all,
I have read all postings in this thread, very interesting.
I agree my question doesn't apply to everyone, but none the less:
I am in the process of "restoring" a universal grinder which has a cylindrical grinding attachment. If that is operational, would there be any advantage in also having a toolpost grinder for my lathe?
(agreed, it is a nice project to build, but I still have some of those left )

Peter

 

[ezduzit]

A toolpost grinder should find many uses for making or re-purposing shop tooling. For example re-grinding slightly larger tooling to fit machines with obsolete tapers, like the #9 B&S on my Index vertical mill. Not much tooling around to fit. but plenty of larger tooling that can be re-ground.

 

[battlewagon]

Years ago when I worked in a print shop we used a tool post grinder to sharpen the cylindrical knives used to slit the paper as it went into the printing press.

 

[mohamer]

If you want to try the Dremel on a tool post mount, the Flex Drive that I have fits my 1/2 inch Boring Bar Tool Post Adapter very well.