I've had that beastie knocking about a few years now and just never used it. If the instructions on that Lidl sharpener hadn't been so naff, and I hadn't been pushed for time on sharpening some bits, it would probably still be nestled underneath one of the machines. As it was though, I realised my freehand sharpening ain't half bad, so some form of temp rest to make up for the missing rests and I'm good to go for drill bit sharpening. I'll probably dig out the Rexon linisher & disc sander too, when I get round to doing chisels though. Better than just letting that Baldor waste away, I thought.
Finshed it off. It still doesn't look pretty, but it's functional. I've wired it up so that a rear mounted light switch isolates both the light and grinder, hence the light being on denotes the grinder is live. Thought it might save any numpty moments happening that way.
Made a little hand/tool rest up from that bellhousing, but prefer the block of wood for drill sharpening, as it's a gnats shorter in height. Whacked a lump of lead into the end of that bellhousing to give something to fix the top to.
Last round of pics, I promise. Made a little dipping pot for it today. The old priory wad punches found another use today. Used one of them to flare the top.
Memory also kicked in regarding how painful it is to walk into the corner of a benchtop, so I sloped the front corners to save experiencing that yet again.
Couldn't leave it half baked by not shaping that too. Reground some 3.5mm bits earlier which had been snapped. Two of them were my fault. The other two, however, were from some smug git who that same day I snapped those asked if I'd seen him snap any of them. Never saw him do it, but did find the two he'd snapped chucked in a corner later on. Grinding bits that size does make you realise how crap your eyesight's becoming too.
I keep looking at the bit grinding machines such as the Drill Doctor but its one of those purchases that the money always seems to go elsewhere on and a pack of Dormer bits are not overly expensive on their own.
I always wonder how reliable they are, and about the longevity of units like that. Seem to recall looking at them a while back and the quality appears a bit cheesy considering the price? Spending that type of money ain't bad if you know something'll last and work well. Still not convinced on those though. At least bench grinders are cheap and reliable.
It was worth doing those small bits just so that I can hand back to him the bits he apparently doesn't break.
Slight tangent; Who's a good supplier for stones for bench grinders?