I've turned a few sets of grinders using this kit from PSI in the last few years. They are always well-received as gifts so I thought I'd post them here all together just in case it gives any turners ideas
The first picture is a pair of Mesquite with a maple cap for the salt and a Walnut cap for the pepper. The second two pictures are a pair I made with Maple for the Salt and Walnut for the pepper. The fourth picture is curly Maple for salt and Katalox for pepper. And the last photo is a curly Maple pair with a Katalox cap on the pepper.
While I enjoy freshly-ground pepper I don't know that there is really any advantage to grinding salt fresh. But most folks have matching salt and pepper shakers so I made them in pairs anyway
The kits are well made and the grinding action works very well even after regular use for a couple of years. I will say, the instructions with the kit say to use a jam chuck but I made some aluminum bushings to use with my pen mandrel to turn them and it works much better for me. I like having the reference of the adjacent diameters to work to so I can visualize the shape a little better. Also, the instructions call for a 1" drill bit for the blank. But the kit parts are only about .985" diameter so I use 2-part epoxy rather than CA glue to glue the kits in so it will fill the gaps.
Thanks for looking. Comments and questions welcome as always!
I have had three sets of gears (?) for these but haven't made any yet. May have to for Christmas gifts or something !!! When I do I hope they come out as nice as these. Good job !!! Mike
Kenny, I may have to dust off the lathe. These look great, nice job! I was reading the reviews and several mentioned that you really have to get Grinding Chamber and Base glued in perfectly otherwise it will bind. It looks like the plastic end of the Grinding Chamber that slides in first is smaller than the Base giving it some wiggle room. I wonder if I 3D printed a thin spacer sleeve and slid that in from the top to center the top portion if that would solve the problem? Once the Base was in place I would pull the sleeve out and epoxy the Plunger Guide in place. How far inside the tube due you spread the epoxy? From one end to the other or just enough on the bottom to hold the Grinding Chamber in place and on the top just enough to hold the Plunger Guide in place?
I was reading the reviews and several mentioned that you really have to get Grinding Chamber and Base glued in perfectly otherwise it will bind. It looks like the plastic end of the Grinding Chamber that slides in first is smaller than the Base giving it some wiggle room. I wonder if I 3D printed a thin spacer sleeve and slid that in from the top to center the top portion if that would solve the problem?
I pretty much assemble the whole thing when I install the chamber. I use 5 minute epoxy so I'll use the plunger and the base to make sure there's no binding and let the epoxy set for a few minutes then remove the base to make sure I don't accidentally glue it in place. I don't know that a 3DP sleeve would really work because the plunger really needs to be aligned with the base piece moreso than with the grinding chamber.
