Handcrank grinder for sharpening?

Re: Handcrank grinder for sharpening?

Alice Frampton, UK

>Jay,

Yep, I use one all the time. I liked it so much I bought the compa- er, sorry, I mean "another one". :~) I think it pays to look out for one with a 6" wheel though, not only because of the extent of the hollow grind but also because replacement stones are readily available in that size. I use the Veritas grinding jig which eliminates the problem of having only one hand to hold the blade while the other is cranking away. That jig's a real boon to the hand cranking grinder fan :~) Although a simple foot pedal would leave both hands free as an alternative.

Cheers, Alf

Re: Handcrank grinder for sharpening?

Ernie Miller Topeka

>I use one not much chance of burning a blade with one of them.

Good idea...

Scott in Douglassville, PA

>The Handcrank Grinding Fan. Hook up a turbine-type fan to one side, increase resistance when cranking, improve your strength. Or pulley it to an actual fan to cool you off. Hmm...

Re: Handcrank grinder for sharpening?

Jay Hanks/ Columbus Ohio

>Thank you all for the replies, I will see about snagging one. Thanks Jay

Ahhh, but you can!

Steve Kubien

>I managed to burn a small bit off a brand new 3/8" Hirsch chisel with my hand grinder. I have one of Lee Valley's white stones (80grit 1"x6") and I use their grinding jig. Boy was I mad! Be careful.

Steve Kubien

Re: Handcrank grinder for sharpening?

Tom in Tipp

>Lehman's in Kidron, Ohio has this one (and a web site as well???)

Sharpening Stone

No electricity needed for simple grinding and sharpening chores! Traditional favorite for well-equipped shops, has tool rests and oversized wooden grips on 5" crank. USA made.

Sharpener has water reservoir to keep stone cool and direct drive for the precise speed control a good edge requires. Cast aluminum frame with drain plug. Fine grit 10" x 1 1/2" stone, 11"H, bolts down, 15 lb.

Tom

I didn't copy the price, but I think it was $135

Lehman's web site *LINK*

Bill Houghton, Sebastopol, CA

>It's kind of nice that such an old-fashioned business is still around (and keeping up with the electronic times).

This is, by the way, an interesting read for hand tool folk - lots of stuff you wouldn't believe is still available retail. I imagine the plain communities - Amish, Mennonites, and so on - provide a lot of support.

It reminds me of the Mennonite-owned jams-and-stuff place we found when visiting back in Pennsylvania. They have a website, but they don't accept credit cards (not sure what the objection is, but I believe it's religious), so you order what you need, they send it to you, and then you send money, either check or cash.


Lehman's

Amish

Todd Hughes

>I know a good many Amish and the thought that they would pay $135 for a hand crank grinder, let alone use one is pretty funny.In my experance they are pretty high tech within the limits of thier religion and often really look down on doing things the "Old Way" and push the envolope as to what they are allowed to do by thier local Bishop. I once visted a Amish blacksmith shop and he couldn't believe I still used a hand crank Forge Blower. As most Amish shops are his was supplied with compressed air from a deisil run air compresser to run thier power tools and he run this air into the forge.Really didn't work to well not as good as my old Lancaster blower I didn't think.When pressed he admitted this but he told me he didn't want to be "old Fashioned" and besides he was planing to get a gas forge soon. Just last week I stopped by an Amish friend's Farm,[by the way to look at buying an assault rifle and .38 Colt off him!] and he was working on his propane refridgerator.He was complaining because his son who knows about these things better was with his family visting Disney world.

I think these catalogs that offer very high priced [$135 grinders!] "Amish" items are aimed more at people that drive BMWs rather then Horse and Buggys,[which are mainly made out of Fiberglass]......Todd

Re: Handcrank grinder for sharpening?

Alan Hamilton

>Well, well, well. I finally get to act smug right in front of all you rust hunters who seem to always get the best deals.

Many moons ago I drove by my favorite antique store in upstate New York. There was a foot-powered grinder sitting in their front lawn/parking lot. They had no idea that people still used such things. They got it in a multi-player trade and put it outside--mainly just to attract drivers by. I got it for little more than a song.

It's a sandstone wheel, of about thirty or so inches diameter. I sit on its tracter style seat and work its up and down pedals, while a little resevoir drips water down on the wheel.

It works great. I can hardly believe how quickly it works--with absolutely no danger of drawing the temper of my edge tools.

Smugly,

Alan

Re: Handcrank grinder for sharpening?

Steven in NJ

>Do you have an online source for new 6" grinders or are these ebay items? Thank you!

Re: Handcrank grinder for sharpening?

Patrick Gibbons, Houston, TX

>I inherited a large sandstone wheel of approximately 30" or so. I have thought about building the apparatus for it but have no idea how to go about it. Any good plans out there? Maybe from St. Roy or some other source?