Tinker (and Mini Tinker) Tool & Cutter Grinder

[simplex]

I am considering building a simple tool and cutter grinder, and the Tinker and Mini-Tinker designs have been brought to my attention. I believe they were both designed by Norman Tinker in the UK, but I have not yet been able to find a UK source for the drawings or castings. I am aware of Guy Lautard in Canada (http://www.lautard.com/tinker-s.htm), but the shipping costs and payment difficulties (he does not accept credit cards or Paypal) would probably make it uneconomic.

Can anyone point me to a UK source?

[ravensworth2674]

Simplex,
I did have them but no longer. There is a huge write up on both on the net and with a bit of imagination, you could soon fabricate what is only 3 castings- or blocks.
I recall that my set had the drawings done for the fabricating ones as well.

I have done this exercise several times- see YahooGroups Quorn_owners.
However, there is perhaps better designs than the Tinker. If space was not a premium, I would go for a cheap Clarkson which can have the huge base removed( like mine)
They can go for as little as £100. Tooling can be thin or non existing but I started my Clarkson build up with best B&Q 50x50 planed whitewood tool holders with the bolts from Wilkinsons!
You can't get much cheaper than that. One of the more exotic alternatives is the Stent and its construction/mods are now in MEW. Plans are available separately and I got them and part castings to make up using a chunk of cast iron. Work stopped because I picked up a fabricated one locally. Failing these, you can make a Brooks which is a fabricated Stent with round bars and a Quorn top. There is the Bonelle on CD.

However, if your aspirations are not to sharpen mills, then why not the olf Nixon design from 1955. It is in either the Quorn stuff or Yahoo's toolgrinding.

If you were under the impression that you needed castings, one of the best Quorns was welded from scrap metal bits.

Clearer?

Norm

[simplex]

Norm,

Thank you for your reply and suggestions. Unfortunately, I can find nothing in the 'Quorn' or 'toolgrinding' groups on Yahoo, possibly as a result of Magicalia's purge.

Another suggestion I have had is the Raymac design, which, I am told, is similar to the Tinker/Mini-Tinker, but a google search provides no clues.

I would be really grateful if anyone could provide me with scanned copies of articles or plans regarding either type. Please send me a personal message if you are able to help.

Thanks

[ravensworth2674]

There is a huge amount of material on the net of which I have amongst my favorites and on file. I wish that I was a younger mortal being 77+ and these things are difficult to download in some coherent form. Could you E-mail me at [e-mail] and I will down load or refer you to things.
A lot of people keep asking for much the same things as you and before my time arrives, I would like see someone put it into some semblance of order. Could you do this?

I would like to see people making use of it

Cheers- and thanks

Norman