Guy Latard's(spell), MACHINISTS BEDSIDE READER # 2 has some info on a homemade surface grinder. I would not have the guts to use it though! In New England at least, older surface grinders are avaiable pretty cheap and would be a lot safer to use. Even if you had to have some work done on it it would be a better machine for most applications. Also, I made the mistake of buying a magnetic chuck with course poles. For thin knife blades a fine pole chuck will work better at least imho. A local dealer has surface grinders ranging from $400-$4000. Any of them would make a great machine for what you want to do.
Good Luck,
hms50
