Gene, I'm about to build another bench for my grinder, have you found a certain height that works best -- waist, belly button -- etc?

My wheel height is about belly high, straight across from elbow to elbow.
I can then lock myself in place and lean back and forth.
Everyone has a different style.
I do move it for some stuff, but mostly I leave it at belly height, just above(2"or3")the navel.
I have a step made too. I climb up when needed.I am short.:)

Bellybutton:)

Belly Button :)

Hey, maybe I should put it about belly high, whaddaya think? :) Thanks, gents!

Spent most of Saturday rearranging my shed and now I've got a small shop, finally!

Hey Tom,
Don't forget to remove your belly button rings first.:)

OUCH :lol: :rollin: :lol:

Hey, no revealing any secrets, Gene! http://cwm.ragesofsanity.com/contrib/AoErat/emb.gif

I'll bet(if I were a betting man)you have just as many tatoos and body pierces as I do.Right?:)


(NONE)

How'd you guess?!

Heh,

Speaking of tattoos and piercings... :-)

Anyway, I grind by sitting down in front of my grinder- which, while standing is probably about bellybutton high.

When working at it though, it is about chest / neck high. Anyone else do this or am I the odd man out? Maybe it's the jeweler thing- we're always working at a bench about chest high when sitting.

Can't seem to see or feel a thing when I hold the blade low as you guys do... is there an advantage to it or is it simply habit?

I have a few tattoos, and used to have a ring in my ear. ;)

I think the thing about grinding (just above the belly button for me) is that I can brace my wrists against my gut, and with the blade about an inch from my belly, I have much more control. Also, grinding standing up allows me to grind by holding my arms rigid, and just swaying my whole body back and forth. Haven't learned to do that sitting down yet, but I'd like to.

I had a tatoo when I was little, but it came off in the bath.:)
I'v had several body pierces too, but none were on purpose.:)

I stand to grind and to buff.(when I buff, which is not often)
The rest I sit pretty much.
Some times I even dance a little when no one is watching.:)

I dance a little too when them there gloves get to smoking :)

I dance the Dance of the Angry Knifemaker when I burn through the edge of a blade I am grinding.
http://www.doggettcustomknives.com/images/dance.gif

Dogman,
Its not that bad when I have done that. Momma gets another paring knife!

C Wilkins

How bout a pairing knife with a "D" guard wrapped around the hand.(used to be a Bowie,huh)Comes with an 18" sheath.:)

Mr Loose
I grind seating down also I thought I was the only one
standing also hurts my back after a while.
so your are not alone buddy.
Nathan

Apparently, I'm also the odd man. My JL grinder is on a very high table so that I can grind standing up straight with the wheel just below my chin. My eyes are very weak and I can't see what I'm doing if the work is more than a foot or so from my face.

Obviously, I consider a respirator and eye protection very important under these conditions...

Can't help it Ray, but it gives new meaning to the old saying nose to the grindstone. :)

See,

That's why I put the grinder up there... "Nose to the grindstone," indeed!

Whoever said "Bellybutton to the grindstone..." ? :-)

I have tried standing up and I find that I'm missing some key visual info that way though... when I work at face height I can see where the sparks are coming off the blade- this tells me if I have the blade flat against the platen. Often it "feels," flat but the sparks are coming off one side- this results in a less even grind for me.

I agree with Jloose. But, that's why I raise the grinder so high - key visual information plus I get to keep my back straight. It's also easier to use body English to control the blade than if I were sitting.

Under this arrangement, I can tell if I'm grinding evenly when my hair is burning evenly across my forehead.....