Overview

This tool grinding rest is the ‘complex’ design by Harold Hall.  I made it exactly to the instructions in the Workshop Practice Series book on tool and cutter sharpening.  I have also made the accessories described in the book, including the end mill sharpening fixture which I have used with success to sharpen the end teeth of end mills and slot drills.

I use the rest in conjunction with a 5in bench grinder mounted on a solid oak base.

Some of the bits that make up the rest.

The grinding rest, grinding wheel and solid base showing steel surface and magnetic clamps.

A very worthwhile modification that I have incorporated is fitting magnetic clamps to the rest, along with a sheet metal surface on the grinding head base.  This makes setting up the tool MUCH quicker and is a must-do modification in my view.

I have used this to sharpen all my lathe tools with complete success.  The only drawback is that it is not completely rigid, showing some slight give when pushed.  This is not a problem in practice though.

Drawings and Construction Notes

This is not my own design, so drawings not available from me!