From the OldTools listserv: "Anybody got some pics of a favorite tool rest they like?"

My fingers.

At one time I had access to a real metal lathe tool grinder. You can still buy them if you want. In jr high school we all tried these. Burned blades and off axis is easy to do.

I've rigged various jigs and rests for a regular grinder and really, resting the backside of your fingers on any old normal tool rest is what does it for me. If you want hollow ground you need to feel it as you drop down into the pocket and then adjust toward the edge or toward the back. Unless you have all the time in the world for setup that is.

Try a little practice and see if it doesn't work out. When you first try it you'll think you'll never get it and then pretty soon it's like falling off a log. Only drawback is, if you're like me you'll always need a short practice session if it's been more then a couple days since you last ground anything. Scrap steel is always available for this though. Thin gloves are good for practice.

With the blade in your fingers you're less likely to overheat and can make the subtle adjustments as you go. I never could figure out a jig that would do this. Crowned blades are easy to grind too. I go for minutely crowned blades almost always on plane blades. Scrub or jack blades can be crowned to any arc that pleases you at the moment.

It's nothing to kill, or slightly round the corners this way too.

But OH, couple more drawbacks...

Wear an apron. Inevitable pinhole burns all down the front of your favorite cotton T-shirt are embarrassing.  Wear good eye protection. Digging a piece of steel from your eyeball at the point of a small Dremel like tool in the doctor's office is seldom entertaining.