I'm not sure that I'd know how to make a universal size holder, Jim, but it would probably need to involve tapered jaws and a long nut, something like a T-handled tap holder.
The problem I would expect to have with a universal size holder would be that the contact area between the holder and the HSS cutting tool would be reduced, and the cutting tool probably wouldn't be held as securely, and likely slip back into the holder while grinding.
The deep recess/broach in the holders I made will hold new full length new blanks with reasonable extension of the HSS for grinding, and also hold shorter sections of HSS securely.
I believe the reason the holders I made hold the HSS effectively is because there is full contact on 2 sides of the HSS cutting tool held securely by the pressure of the clamp block. I think if the contact area of the holder-to-cutting tool is reduced, it's likely the grip will fail.. that's the issue that the holder addresses, contact area.
Unlike most pliers or vise grips, the cutting tool holder's surfaces are parallel and of sufficient area to hold square HSS securely. I have pliers with parallel jaws, and they don't grip HSS securely because the surface area isn't adequate.
If a holder like the ones on my webpage was made for 5/16" cutting tools, a set of flat shims could reduce the hole size to 1/4", and maybe a second thicker set of shims could reduce it to 1/8".
I don't think a couple of set screws would provide adequate holding grip on HSS, but they might. My initial thought process was proceeding along the lines of holding the HSS securely, and that the clamp block would provide a method of adjusting side relief angles as it sat on the grinder's tool rest.
The additional benefit that I discovered was, that the holder gripped the HSS cutting tool well enough that I could apply some serious pressure while grinding, and effectively reduce the time that it takes to grind cutting tools from new blanks.
Resharpening lathe cutting tools doesn't present much of a challenge, but roughing out blanks shouldn't either.
It's my opinion that many new lathe owners are experiencing poor results from trying to grind HSS cutting tools because it takes too long to grind cutting tools from from new blanks. Possibly they're intimidated by the grinding wheel, and most likely they aren't able to apply sufficient pressure to the cutting tool when holding the HSS with their fingers to grind them in a reasonable amount of time. As they try to apply more pressure, they end up burning their finger tips more. Then carbide tooling could start looking like a good option, when it may not be.
In addition to insufficient grinding pressures, they end up glazing the grinding wheel surface, which only compounds the heat and grinding time problems.
If a grinder is set up with the correct wheel abrasive (which I suspect many time it's not), a 1/2 HP grinder should be more than adequate for any lathe tool grinding, IMO.
A grinding wheel abrasive that's too hard won't stay sharp, and the user may not realize that grinding lathe cutting tools doesn't need to be difficult/frustrating or time consuming.
The holders I've made may help a lathe user overcome the problems of heat and insufficient grinding pressure, allowing them to grind their cutting tools in a reasonable amount of time with very few problems.