Clarkson Mk2 Tool and Cutter Grinder

[thestelster]

I recently purchased the tool and cutter grinder from @manualmachinist Both father and son are really great people.

We loaded it onto the truck easy enough, but unloading the base was a little tricky. Especially considering I have no gantry or engine hoist, or any real knowledge moving machines. The base weighs around 400lbs, and if my son and a couple of his buddies were around, they would have just picked it up. So I had to come up with another plan.

Instead of explaining, I'll let some pictures do the talking.

 

[Former Member]

They have a great shop, don't they.

 

[thestelster]

They have a great shop, don't they.

Yes!! I don't know how they got that huge lathe and surface grinder down that steep driveway and in through those doors.

 

[PeterT]

That looks like a big boy machine. Congrats!

 

[thestelster]

Well, it's back together and in the shop/garage, but nowhere to put it. So I'll keep it on the dollie until a miracle happens and the garage expands!!

 

[RobinHood]

Any machine move where both the mover(s) and moved walk away from without either getting hurt, is a success in my book.

Nice score.

I have a Clarkson Mark II T&CG with most of the accessories. If you have any questions as you go, just PM me and I’ll see what I can do to help.

 

[thestelster]

Any machine move where both the mover(s) and moved walk away from without either getting hurt, is a success in my book.

Nice score.

I have a Clarkson Mark II T&CG with most of the accessories. If you have any questions as you go, just PM me and I’ll see what I can do to help.

I'm sure I'll have many questions once I start going over the machine. Thank you.

 

[Susquatch]

Well, it's back together and in the shop/garage, but nowhere to put it. So I'll keep it on the dollie until a miracle happens and the garage expands!!

Nice! That should keep you entertained for a decade!

I have a few tools on dollies too. In fact some have custom dollies that are deliberately intended to be permanent. I keep a lot of my farm machinery on dollies so I can move them around both for storage and for access.

My favorite part of both images is the stool in the background with chemicals on it. I do that too. It drives my wife totally completely bonkers! We have opposite rules. She believes all surfaces should be naked. I believe that an empty surface is just badly wasted space. Every stool in my shop has stuff on it. A few special stools have piles on them.

Your dolley (btw, I like the stepped design with outboard wheels) also reminds me of a shop I was at yesterday that was the ultimate hill-billy hardware store. I bought a few steel and PVC control boxes there. The guy's shop (yes, it was also his work shop) was filled from floor to ceiling with hardware of all kinds. He also had 20 or 30 Pallet Jacks. Every one of them had something on them. Air Compressors, machines, welders, you name it. Turns out that the Jacks were not for sale! Too valuable for use as moving storage! Not only that, but he was offering $50 for more Pallet Jacks in any condition.

 

[thestelster]

Your dolley (btw, I like the stepped design with outboard wheels)

Actually, that's just a funiture dolly from Princess Auto, rated to 1200lbs, and strips of wood screwed front and back to block in grinder to prevent it from shifting.

 

[Susquatch]

Actually, that's just a funiture dolly from Princess Auto, rated to 1200lbs, and strips of wood screwed front and back to block in grinder to prevent it from shifting.

All the better!

Edit - out of stock on-line and around here.

 

[thestelster]

I also got this powered head of some sort. It doesn't look like a Clarkson accessory, but might work just fine with some modifications to do......something

 

[Susquatch]

It doesn't look like a Clarkson accessory, but might work just fine with some modifications to do......something

Too funny! I know the feeling....

I got this "thing" with a bunch of other stuff I scooped. The stuff belonged to a rather famous tool maker in the area. But I have no idea what "IT" is nor what you use it for. It looks purpose made and is quite elaborate so my guts tell me that whatever it is for is prolly pretty cool. It is motorized and even looks like it has an airbearing. I can't wait to figure out just what that is!

 

[Susquatch]

I decided to post my wtfit here:

Thread 'What is this gizmo?' https://canadianhobbymetalworkers.com/threads/what-is-this-gizmo.8834/

 

[Rauce]

Nice score! I bought the Clarkson Mk. I from the same place.

Still storing it at a friends place while I re-organize my shop. I will have to sort out a good dust collection system since it will be in a small space with other machines.

Is that a wheel adapter on the Mk. II for more common larger bore wheels?

 

[thestelster]

Is that a wheel adapter on the Mk. II for more common larger bore wheels?

Yes. A think he made the adapter to fit wheels with 1 1/4" center bores.

 

[thestelster]

Some goodies in preparation for hooking up the Clarkson Mk2 Tool & Cutter Grinder.

 

[Susquatch]

Some goodies in preparation for hooking up the Clarkson Mk2 Tool & Cutter Grinder.

Oh my!!!

Quick question: Do you put all those goodies in a panel box? If so, what box are you using?

 

[thestelster]

The house main panel is in the basement. I then run a 60amp 220v line to the sub-panel in the garage. From the sub-panel I run a separate line to each machine.

So for example on the milling machine:
-from the sub-panel to the safety switch
-then to the input-side AC reactor
-then to the VFD
-then to the output-side reactor
-and then finally to the motor.

I use this setup for the lathe, milling machine, and surface grinder.

For the tool and cutter grinder, I won't be using AC reactors, but instead a DC Link Choke (as per recommendation of Hitachi, my VFD).

 

[thestelster]

A couple more pieces for the project. 1k ohm potentiometer to vary the motor speed.

I chose this pot because it has a high torque (resistance) to rotate the shaft. Specifically designed to resist movement during vibrations. Not that I need that feature for the grinder, but the one I use on the lathe turns very freely, which I don't like, so I might get another one for the lathe later.

 

[thestelster]

I had to make a couple of hold down t-bolts for a couple of the attachments for the T&C grinder. I decided to make them out of a couple grade 5 3/4" bolts I had lying around. Of course doing it this way takes longer because you have to turn some sections going away from the chuck; having to use the parting blade to groove down far enough to allow the turning tool in, and having to actually measure the thread profile. And I had to use the 3-wire method to measure the pitch diameter because I don't have the appropriate anvils for my thread micrometer.