Miniature bench grinder

[mklotz]

This is a dollhouse scale (1:12) model of an overhead belt drive driven grinder built from a casting kit from PMR models. It's approximately 4" high so 4' in full scale. The grinding wheels would actually grind; they're Cratex grinding disks. The purists should note that the threads on the wheel securing gear on the left side are properly left hand despite being only 2-56.

This picture shows the tool rests in more detail. They were some of the more difficult parts to machine. Although the doubly tapered leg spreaders weren't exactly a walk in the park either.

[12bolts]

Nice work Marv. Would the full size grinder have slotted screws securing the tool rests?

Cheers Phil

[STurnerXM2010]

That's really a nice piece. I love the brass work. I've got the actual grinder that you modeled this one after and I'm about to start breaking her down for a restore. Might have to steal that green color! Nice work.

[mklotz]

Nice work Marv. Would the full size grinder have slotted screws securing the tool rests?

Probably not. Those were supplied with the kit and I built this many years ago before I had the ability to make hex head bolts that small. I should go back and do that the next time I find a round toit in the tool box.

[rossbotics]

Looks great Marv
I been thinking about getting into small machine builds myself

[mklotz]

Looks great Marv
I been thinking about getting into small machine builds myself

If you need some inspiration, spend some time prowling the Craftsmanship Museum site...

https://www.craftsmanshipmuseum.com/

In particular, Barry Jordan's exquisite model of a Bridgeport...

https://www.craftsmanshipmuseum.com/Jordan.htm



For something smaller, Iqbal Ahmed,

https://www.craftsmanshipmuseum.com/Ahmed.htm

has modeled the popular Sherline tools in miniature...





If you're ever in Southern California, make it a point to visit the museum. You won't be disappointed.

[Frank S]

I find that Craftsmen who posses the ability and most of all the patience and perseverance to construct these marvels of workmanship to be among the finest artisans of the trades. Many years ago while I was building oilfield drill rigs a man contracted me to build a 6 ft tall derrick for a working model he was building for MR T Boon Pickens. I felt extremely honored to get to cut out and weld up the derrick but for my part the smallest materials I had to use were just small standard angle iron it was a lot of cutting and welding with a tig torch but still large enough that most anyone who could manufacture ornamental iron house hold burglar bars could have done the job. His work building the machinery portion of the rig. was so intricate that I likened it to the skills of a watchmaker.
My hat is off to anyone who has the skills to make such tiny and intricately complex models.

[wizard69]

Probably not. Those were supplied with the kit and I built this many years ago before I had the ability to make hex head bolts that small. I should go back and do that the next time I find a round toit in the tool box.

You might be surprised to find that a lot of machinery from that era had part held together with slotted head screws. I can remember back in the 1970's, when I just entered industry, a manual Pratt & Whitney profile mill constructed with such screws. I didn't see a lot of equipment of that age and frankly I was kinda surprised even back then to see a machine assembled with such bolts. In one case we had to resort to a modified drag link socket to break the screw loose.

Early screw threads and bolt forms are a very interesting subject, The Sellers Thread form took a while to become industry standard driven largely by the Pennsylvania Railroad and Baldwin Locomotive works. Sadly it took the horrors of WW2 to get the "English" thread forms on a common standard, so pre WW2 machinery had all sorts of bolts and screws we don't see today.

I find the whole subject of screws to be very interesting. It literally took 70 years for the Sellers thread form to come around and then almost as long to get the standards we have today.

[wizard69]

I find that Craftsmen who posses the ability and most of all the patience and perseverance to construct these marvels of workmanship to be among the finest artisans of the trades. Many years ago while I was building oilfield drill rigs a man contracted me to build a 6 ft tall derrick for a working model he was building for MR T Boon Pickens. I felt extremely honored to get to cut out and weld up the derrick but for my part the smallest materials I had to use were just small standard angle iron it was a lot of cutting and welding with a tig torch but still large enough that most anyone who could manufacture ornamental iron house hold burglar bars could have done the job. His work building the machinery portion of the rig. was so intricate that I likened it to the skills of a watchmaker.
My hat is off to anyone who has the skills to make such tiny and intricately complex models.

Some of these guys just do amazing work. I've gone to Cabin Fever just about every year and end up completely amazed by somebodies workmanship. I just hope that I can reach that level, probably after retirement, as time and patience are hard to come by for a working stiff. I grew up in farm country and there stuff is often built or repaired on the farm and it is never to that level; just get it working and get on with whatever is being held up. These model makers are the exactly opposite in every way, they literally refine every detail to perfection.

[mklotz]

The queen of model engineers is Cherry Hill, an English lady who creates some of the most intricate and gorgeous models ever made. Here's a sample of her work...



For her complete story and pictures of her other models, visit the Craftsmanship Museum site...

https://www.craftsmanshipmuseum.com/Hill.htm