Another basic, simple problem

Re: Another basic, simple problem

Steve Hamlin

>I look at it with a half full glass - makes a heck of a mess + muck on hands + don't want mucky fingers near work in progress -> need more tools.

Space constraints mean I can't have a separate station in the same room as my clean bench, so I've been working with just a fine diamond stone and strop to hand (for slick and chisels+planes respectively) with grinding/sharpening out with the electron eaters (unfortunately no running water at hand to convert these to plug free)

Would like to find a better way, though - perhaps a butler's tray and waterstones.

A few sugestions...

Scott Burr in Ben Lomond CA

>First off cover the MDF tops before they get destroyed. I'd shy away from metal because it�s slippery (all though it would look cool). Formica or other counter top material would be better IMHO.

Lipped cookie/ baking sheets keep the mess of oil and water stoned to a minimum and are easily cleaned. You can place the perforated router pads in the bottom of them so the stones don't slip around.

I can't comment on the diamond powders, I don't use them.

As far as storage goes, I'd be thinking about an arrangement under the cabinet kinda like a commercial oven. Shelves (or racks) to hold the baking sheets, 1 for water stones, 1 for oil stones, 1 for diamonds, etc...

Also, you could incorporate some sliding shelves to hold Tupperware tubs that house water stones (if you keep your in water all the time).

Along with other things.

Powered grinder

Jim in Burlington On

>I wouldn't want my grinder on such a station. Debris flies everywhere. What I have is it mounted to a piece of plywood so I can take it outside or to a far end of the shop.

Re: Another basic, simple problem

Moses Yoder in White Pigeon, MI

>You've got me thinking now. I have a pretty nice little workbench for sharpening but there really is a lot of wasted space there. If the grinder was put on a pedestal somewhere the only thing you would need would be a simple wall hung cabinet with a fold down door that would be supported well when the door folds down. I still plan on working on my frame this weekend though; you almost got me sidetracked ;)

Use plywood

Jim Reed @ Tallahassee

>I mount my grinders on plywood and then clamp the plywood to a tabletop or grinder stand. The plywood gets nasty with swarf. At some point, I throw it away and start over. As for the scarey sharp paper, I use it on top of a 1/4" piece of sacrificial masonite that is tacked to the top of a workbench. Someday it will get replaced. When the paper fills with swarf, I tap it on my shoe. Sometimes I sweep the floor. I grind alot and it is not unusual to throw away a half pound of swarf dust. Yes, grinding and sharpening is not clean.

Re: Use plywood

Edward inVancouver

>My answer? A 1/2 size 2" deep hotel pan... O.K. O.K. so I'm a Chef/baker in my "other life"....

I took Ian Kirby's "sharpening with water stones" to heart and built my self a dedicated sharpening station for waterstones. The fist part is a "tank", a 1/3 hotel pan size insert (these are s/s pans that you see in cafeterias and restaurants) that holds my water stones. The second part is a series of cedar bars aprox 4" apart that holds the water stones, the third part is a 1/2 size s/s pan UNDERNEATH the cedar strips that catches all the crud/water from the water stones.

What I do is fish my desired stone from the soaking tank and rest it in between the cedar strips, then proceed to sharpen my iron, chisel,etc.. The catch pan is held underneath the stones and will catch all the water and swarth. Being lazy, I wait for the water to evaporate from the drip pan and then just vacuum up all the grit and crud.

Adaptive use

Jim Reed @ Tallahassee

>The pan is a good solution. I like your *knock out the dust* solution to sludge. It leaves more time for woodworking.