Acto tool and cutter grinder

I was looking around the internet for a Stent T&C grinder and came across this: Plans. Unfortunately the casting set for the Stent from Blackgates is pretty much unaffordable now so I thought I'd share this in case anyone else might be interested.

I'll keep looking for a Stent and keep this one in mind...

Have you considered the Brooks design? The words and music are in MEWs 16 + 17. I have one on my "to do" list as it is made without castings and appears similar in operation to the Stent although it uses Unimat-style (but much thicker) round bars instead of dovetails. There is a build on gadgetbuilder.com.

Brian G

+1 for the Brooks design suggested by Brian.

After long consideration it was the one I decided to build but a Clarkson tuned up local at a price it would have been rude to refuse so it never happened.

Incidentally the first few years of MEW coincided with a bumper crop of home build sharpener / T&C grinder designs from various magazines and internet source. I hoovered up about 10 or 12 references around that period to choose from. Its been pretty quiet ever since. I guess the design seam has been pretty much worked out.

Clive

I did send for a set of plans on CD for the Acto grinder, but wasn't overly impressed, it probably works very well but is built mostly of chunky MS sections and just didn't fancy making it. At the same time a set of Kennet castings came along which I really enjoyed making but don't use very much to be honest, still do things freehand.

There used to be a set of plans available for the Colyer Caseley grinder , I think from Bristol SMEE that looks fairly simple and cheap to build and according to the builder of one I spoke to at an exhibition works very well, certainly a lot less work than a Quorn type. I'm sure google would reveal more. I have tried a Quorn with a view to buying it but after using a Clarkson at work found it to be an infuriating thing to use, as someone once said " like shaking hands with an octopus" . They do however look to be suiperbly versatile in the right hands, which mine are not.

Dave