Re: ATM Grinding stand

[Bill Krosney <bkrosney@mbnet.mb.ca>]

You can do pretty good with simple hand tools.

My grinding stand was built with a hand saw and electric hand drill.  
Essentially it is an open-ended tall square box; feet on the base with a 
removeable plywood piece as a work area on top.  Built it from 3/4" 
plywood.

Let me elaborate.  Conside a  square tube about 18" or so wide with a 
base on one end.  Lots of of screws and wood glue.  On the base I drilled 
some holes and put in T-nuts (threaded inserts) into which I screw in 
some refrigerator foot pads.  This lets me level the stand so it can't 
rock.  On the top open end I simply lay a large octagon shaped piece of 
plywood which serves as my work area.  The underside of this piece of 
plywood has wooded blocks nailed such that it just fits inside the open 
framework of the square tube (this prevents the top work area from 
sliding around).  The really nice touch is that the box is hollow.  I can 
put two 5 gal. water jugs (the kind you can take camping) inside.  With 
this kind of ballast, it's rock steady.   

The 55 gal. drum idea has merit for disposing of your water/grit as you 
go along.  Rough grinding does get a little messy, you have to sponge up 
more often so that it doesn't overflow the work area onto the floor. I 
got a little elaborate and put a lip or edge on the plywood work surface 
to keep water/grit from spilling over onto the floor.  But even if you 
don't do that, once  passed the rough grinding I've never had a problem 
with grit and water spilling all over.

...Bill