Sharpening wheel

[etpm]

55 years ago when I was but 14 years old I messed around with several very old grinding stones that were pedal driven. Where I lived you could find the stones just laying in a field or behind an old building. I think the stones were all sandstone. Anyway, myself and a few friends got some going that still had intact wood supports. We sharpened axes, hatchets, shovels, mattocks, etc. on the old stones. With teenage enthusiasm working for us we got things sharp. But not like knife sharp, the stones were too coarse. Still, sharp enough to easily remove a finger if the hatchet was swung wrong. The old stones turned slowly but were large enough in diameter that they cut pretty fast for a foot driven wheel.
Eric

 

[chim]

Just a safety note about grinders. My Grandad gave me an electric motor many years ago. It has a threaded shaft and came with a wire wheel and a grindstone. When I was still new at understanding stuff, it was my bench grinder on . Of course one needed to wear eye protection when using the wire wheel (a coat was even a good idea).

The big wakeup call came when I was using a 6 or 8 inch stone to remove dings in a hammer head. The contact between the stone and the hammer head became intermittent, like they were bumping. Then WHAM and there was no more wheel on the motor shaft. First reaction was to take a quick inventory of my body. Thankfully, no damage. I wasn't able to find near enough pieces to make a wheel shape.

 

[FullMetalBucket]

After buying a 2x42 belt sander when I got interested in knife making, I haven’t used my wheel grinder since. Way better and much more useful imo.

Edit: after reading chim’s post above me, add another reason why I like a belt sander better. A belt snapping isn’t near as bad as a wheel coming apart on you.

 

[Eagle1]

Then you get a 72" belt grinder and you don't look at much else for grinding.
Just throw the right grit belt on and off you go. Ours is a 5 HP and has either a wire wheel or buffer pad on the other shaft depending on the day. I still have the bench grinder and 42" setup in the shop but stuff is piling up around them

 

[FullMetalBucket]

Hehe yeah that’s next when I get a workshop built.

 

[MH8675309]

I have bench grinders, always looking to become less dependent on the system

I spose you could say its Y2 compliant

 

[dsiedelmann]

Somebody has taken the time and energy to restore that grinder. I think it is older than 50 years as it has square head bolts/nuts. The only times that my dad used his was to sharpen his scythe. At pedal speed it was easy to keep the blade against the out of round stone as it turned. It was much easier to sharpen the long scythe blade on a wide open big stone. Back then there weren't hand held grinders, flap wheels, etc. And now there are much better ways to keep weeds under control.

 

[Fxfymn413]

Build a wooden tub that will hold water for lubricating the wheel and attach it under the wheel so the wheel rotates through it.

 

[JJT]

Build a wooden tub that will hold water for lubricating the wheel and attach it under the wheel so the wheel rotates through it.

My grandfather had one of these, he used an old tire, cut in half for the water bath. Worked well for small things like axes, shovels and hoes, (50+ years ago).

 

[Vinnnie]

Why not just use a bench grinder? Can buy new or very nice used ones for similar money.

They run TOO FAST !!you'll burn the blade !! SMH