johnsmachines

Harold Hall has written many articles and several very useful books about metalworking, using a lathe, using a mill, and much more.

Recently he has been posting videos on YouTube.

He is a very knowlegable, dignified, elderly gentleman.  His books are precisely, beautifully written, and the plans and projects are excellent.  I have made quite a few of the project pieces in my quest to learn as much as I can about machining metal.

I came across his Youtube videos quite recently, and have been enjoying them.  One of them was about his grinding rest.

I made 2 of the HH grinding rests from plans in his book, and they have proved to be useful, reliable, and compact.  Here is a photo of one of them.

The original HH plans specify that the footprint of the base is much smaller than I made it.  This one is 200 x 100mm.   The larger footprint adds some extra stability (IMO), and the slots permit the grinder to rest distance being easily adjusted.  It is a bit grimy because it is used frequently.  Polishes up quite nicely.

In HH’s video he mounts the rest on a metal plate, joined with a couple of switchable magnet bases.  Here is a link to HH’s Youtube video.

And in case you are wondering what has happened to the triple expansion engine, I have been working on the reversing mechanism.  The intermediate cylinder reversing curved slide would not fit into the available space, so I removed it, silver soldered in a new end, and ground it several millimeters shorter.  Then reinstalled it.   It is still a mm or so too long but I think that it will do.

The high pressure reversing mechanism on the right, and the intermediate hiding behind, on the left of the pic.

The intermediate cylinder valve rods and eccentrics.   Rather difficult access.