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Grinder Platform Comparison

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@Emiliano Achaval , I noticed in a photograph of your shop that you recently posted (https://www.aawforum.org/community/index.php?threads/grinder-lights.16840/) that you have both the Robo Rest grinder platform and Stuart Batty's grinder platform (do you also have Stuart's set up gauges?). So a call out to you, and anyone else that has experience using both platforms, for a comparison. I would be most interested in how they compare for ease of use, accuracy, and repeatability. Thanks.
 
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I don't believe you can find the SB ones anymore, as I tried. I have two of the robo platform or whatever they are called. and like them very much. I did a lot of research and found, exactly nothing worth a ... poop out there, then I came across the robo platform, and they are not only acceptable but they are really good. I added little extender plates on the surface platform, but other than that, I am very happy out of the box.
Oh, that said, they may be going away, leaving, as mentioned above, exactly nothing. So act quickly.
R
 

john lucas

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I have.a Robo rest, oneway rest, Lee Valley and one other similar to the Oneway but its name wont come to me right now. I tried out the Stewart Batty but was so far beyond my budget I didnt look too hard. I like the Robo rest the best so far. I have not looked at what woodturnerswonders has to offer yet.
 
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I don't believe you can find the SB ones anymore, as I tried. I have two of the robo platform or whatever they are called. and like them very much. I did a lot of research and found, exactly nothing worth a ... poop out there, then I came across the robo platform, and they are not only acceptable but they are really good. I added little extender plates on the surface platform, but other than that, I am very happy out of the box.
Oh, that said, they may be going away, leaving, as mentioned above, exactly nothing. So act quickly.
R
I just bought an SB platform last month. It had been on backorder for quite a while. (woodworkers emporium)
 

Roger Wiegand

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I loved the design of the Robo, but the one I had flexed significantly when downward pressure was applied to it messing up the uniformity of my edge. For better or worse my sharpening improved when, at the advice of a teacher, I started holding the tool much more firmly to the platform. (Interestingly, I had the same issue at the lathe, being too gentle. A much firmer downward anchor on the tool rest made a big difference in getting a better surface.)

Many (most?) of the Oneway platforms aren't flat out of the box, with a bulge where they've been welded that allows the tool to rock. That is easily addressed by dressing with a file.

I'd love a system with the rigidity of the Oneway and the repeatable angle capability of the Robo.
 
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One more tiny tweaking option on the Robo Rest (Wolverine version).
I noticed a bit of play because of the differerence in pin and hole diameter of the setting system.
A sligtly larger pin made it rock steady.
 
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One more tiny tweaking option on the Robo Rest (Wolverine version).
I noticed a bit of play because of the differerence in pin and hole diameter of the setting system.
A sligtly larger pin made it rock steady.

Lars - can you tell us the diamanté's her of the pin that fit well please? No local resources...so I will have to order one from a supplier.
 
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Reed talks about this in the setup video on his site. If memory serves it was 1/64th over, best to check, though.

As I write I'm wondering if a wrap or two of tape might be enough.

My Robo Grinder rest arrived yesterday. It looks like a stout, well built thing, but I haven't had a chance yet to explore it.
 
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I can't remember, but my standard pin is 1/8 inch hex wrench. I believe a couple have gone to 5/64th. The problem is that the hinges are not a high precision piece, and we couldn't find anything more accurate any where close to the size. Mostly the holes, no matter how careful we are don't always line up perfectly, so the 5/64th pin might have to be pushed through some times. The 1/8 inch pin fits all the time. I never noticed the problem until some one commented about it. I think the wire from the bottom of the cyclone fences is a closer fit. Getting it straight would be a challenge...

robo hippy
 
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I'm playing with my platform now. There is a tiny amount of play in the platform, as Reed says. I tried a few different drill bits for size. 9/64 is a tad too small and still leaves some play. 5/32 is too large and would need some filing. A 5/32 allen wrench would need less work (a T-20 Torx was a close fit, too).

But I am not sure that for me it's at all worth worrying about. Just eyeballing I'd say it was no more than a degree of varriability. I haven't tried grinding yet, but the platform is naturally tail heavy and the center of gravity is about even with the face of the grinding wheel. So you'd have to be pressing down pretty far forward before you'd tip the platform.

Moreover, I don't think I'd be any better off with a platform that used a setup block like Batty's (which is what the original question was about). I think I would have at least 1* of varriation in judging where the wheel was tangent to the setup block.

For sharpening tools it's not terribly important to me if my 60* setting in my shop varries from your 60* setting in your shop by a couple of degrees. It is important to me that the 60* setup in my shop today is within a degree (or less) of what it was the last time I used it.

@robo hippy , I do have one setup question, if you would. The platform is to be 1/8" from the grinding wheel. Is that determined with the platform at 90*, or should the platform be set to the grind angle before positioning it 1/8" from the wheel?
 
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@Tim: Sure.
I took a piece of this-side-of-the-pond-standard 4mm round steel and sanded it down to 3.9 mm.
My caliperculator (R) says that would be around 0.1545".
5/32 sanded a bit down might do the trick.
If noting locally available fits your project, I'd be happy to send you a 5" piece of 4mm, but it may take months before it reaches you - after all the ballots.


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The 1/8 inch distance, is supposed to be the center of the hinge pin. this is when measured when the platform is at 90 degrees. There is a straight line across the top of the platform so you can eye ball it. For me, I set the platform to 90 degrees, pull the pin, and slide the rest into the wheel and use the pin to gauge the distance. Accurate to a very tiny degree, and no way to measure, but I can grind a skew at the 30 degree setting, which is actually closer to 25 degrees, and on the 600 grit wheel, it takes maybe 30 seconds to have a 'perfect' bevel match. There have been several different methods of having a 'positive' stop on the Oneway compatible rests. Hose clamps, and even a zip tie. I have had several that needed to be repaired because some one gets bumped while adjusting the rest to proper distance or from turning on the grinder before the rest was locked into position... Spacer blocks can work also. Since I only use the platforms for all of my sharpening, that hasn't happened to me, yet...

robo hippy
 
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