I have used an angle grinder to rough out the big bumps. Make sure you
protect the ways, that grit is not so good the the lathe.
"Grant Erwin" wrote in message
...
Steve Worcester wrote:

I am trying to take 1/2 square O1 down to round for about 3" of the
overall
(9") length. I have been using a tool bit chucked up on the toolpost, but
a
friend suggested it would be faster to use a tool post mounted grinder.
First, I wonder if he is right, and second, is there a reasonably priced
one, or plans around to make one?


Whatever you do, rough it out first on a coarse belt sander or snagging
wheel on the bench grinder (assuming it's hard). That will go a whole lot
quicker than cylindrical grinding in the lathe with a toolpost, where the
infeed will be in thousandths .. - GWE