Advise on Steel for Work Rest

[SilentPartner]

Advise Please! I have 2x72 Grinder with a workrest and I want to make the worktable longer so I can use a grinding jig on it. I need a 3/8 x 4 x 14 piece of steel and my question is what type of steel I should make it out of? Would extruded aluminum be too imprecise? It will get wet a lot so I was also thinking of stainless? Is there a need for it to be precison ground?

 

[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

Generally, a work rest needs to be nominally flat, but not PG. Aluminum is a good choice because magnetic jigs and holders won't create a problem as well as it won't rust from a mist spray attachment. I like 1/2" aluminum, but 3/8" should be fine. Plain flat/sheet/plate stock is sufficient. You can make the tool arm that holds the work rest (and other attachments) from aluminum. too.

I have a six-foot-long piece of 6"X4" extruded aluminum with T-tracks on all sides. It is solid except for the T-track slots. I keep on looking at it trying to figure out what kind of grinding jig or tool rest it would make. So far nothing has needed such a big piece. The only thing I have thought of is the main arm of a dedicated side swing 3" belt type surface grinder (like a Reeder surface grinder on steroids). I could mount everything on that beam, and it would be rock solid.

 

[SilentPartner]

Generally, a work rest needs to be nominally flat, but not PG. Aluminum is a good choice because magnetic jigs and holders won't create a problem as well as it won't rust from a mist spray attachment. I like 1/2" aluminum, but 3/8" should be fine. Plain flat/sheet/plate stock is sufficient. You can make the tool arm that holds the work rest (and other attachments) from aluminum. too.

I have a six-foot-long piece of 6"X4" extruded aluminum with T-tracks on all sides. It is solid except for the T-track slots. I keep on looking at it trying to figure out what kind of grinding jig or tool rest it would make. So far nothing has needed such a big piece. The only thing I have thought of is the main arm of a dedicated side swing 3" belt type surface grinder (like a Reeder surface grinder on steroids). I could mount everything on that beam, and it would be rock solid.

Thanks for confirming!

 

[CallumRD1]

I'll add that I've long run a ~1/2" thick aluminum work rest as well. That's thick enough that it's fairly easy to mount it will blind fasteners from below so you have an uninterrupted top surface. It's nice that it won't scratch up or damage work you put on it. One limitation is that if you leave big burs on your part and then put it on the work rest those can dig into the aluminum. This isn't a problem but rather something that has to be kept in mind (and is good practice anyway). I also run a 316 stainless work rest on one of my grinders. It's more durable and a bit thinner for the same stiffness, but I don't see too many advantages over aluminum. Hardened steel will still chew it up and it's a lot more expensive and difficult to work with. Even the smallest mini-mill you (or someone you know) has should be able to resurface an aluminum table when it comes time, but resurfacing stainless is much more challenging and expensive.