I'm closing in on the stage where I need to start fitting bits together on the everlasting bench build. My first ever oak dowel turned up today...
After looking at various mad options like splined rod replacing a parallel guide and other assorted madness, I've seen sense and realised if it aint broke don't fix it. I'm young enough to bend down a move a pin.
The leg vice blank is planed up and cut to size apart from the final height cut.
So I've been looking at a couple of sources for vice screws. Axminster seem to be permanently sold out of the York ones, which seem to be the same as the ones not marketed as York sold by Fine Tools and also available by Tyzack. All for different prices of course. These ones: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/York-Tail-Vic ... 3641.l6368
So far so good. I can fit the bigger of the two on the bench.
But heres the rub. The smaller screw has a 24mm thread. I have a 25mm bit. Would a 1mm clearance be enough through the leg vice and indeed the 4" leg for the thread?
I'd like the bigger screw which has a 28 mm thread and I could get a bit at 29 or 30mm to get round it. Would people recommend a bigger clearance or would that be ok.
(I wondered if beeswax might help. Bit temporary?)
The other thing I've seen on some of the bench masterclasses made on here is the rollers/guides for the parallel guide. Any ideas? I can see the advantages with being able to adjust, I'm guessing you have to make them up yourself.
Lastly, I could go with the tommy bar for the vice. But sad as it might be to some, I'd really like to put a cast wheel on the thread instead. Shiny! Yeh, I'm probably shallow. But there you go.
Would anyone be interested in taking on the job? Serious offer. I'd send you the cast wheel and thread, you do the necessary to join them. No favours on this one. I'd pay all postage and an agreed price for someone to do it nicely as a job of work. If anyone is interested please feel free to pm on this one.
Although the fitting of the everlasting bench is far from done, I've enjoyed it and been frustrated in equal measure so far. I'm striving for a perfection I'm not really capable of yet. That's alright, it's the learning I find enjoyable. And when I look back, I've learned a fair bit.
Trying to be flexible. The thought of cutting a perfect 45 degree angle on the long stretcher for the deadman was a bit daunting without a table saw, so I'm going to rout a channel. I have that Chris Schwarz book and he says cutting a channel just collects dust and shavings so I'm compromising and thinking I''ll cut a little channel into the channel so I can brush all that malarkey out. Who needs plans?!? :shock:
When it goes right it's lovely. Easter Weekend is nearly here, I might squeeze a day or two down the shed. Actually making the thing hasn't taken that long, its been all the bits in-between. Making the cramps out of box section, buying an old manual pillar drill then cleaning that up, learning about tools then relearning (ad infinitum) and by sheer luck and the Grace of God discovering the only right way to sharpen stuff that has taken the time.
(Just kidding about the sharpening
)
As always, any advice will be gratefully and truly appreciated.
Regards as always
Chris
After looking at various mad options like splined rod replacing a parallel guide and other assorted madness, I've seen sense and realised if it aint broke don't fix it. I'm young enough to bend down a move a pin.
The leg vice blank is planed up and cut to size apart from the final height cut.
So I've been looking at a couple of sources for vice screws. Axminster seem to be permanently sold out of the York ones, which seem to be the same as the ones not marketed as York sold by Fine Tools and also available by Tyzack. All for different prices of course. These ones: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/York-Tail-Vic ... 3641.l6368
So far so good. I can fit the bigger of the two on the bench.
But heres the rub. The smaller screw has a 24mm thread. I have a 25mm bit. Would a 1mm clearance be enough through the leg vice and indeed the 4" leg for the thread?
I'd like the bigger screw which has a 28 mm thread and I could get a bit at 29 or 30mm to get round it. Would people recommend a bigger clearance or would that be ok.
(I wondered if beeswax might help. Bit temporary?)
The other thing I've seen on some of the bench masterclasses made on here is the rollers/guides for the parallel guide. Any ideas? I can see the advantages with being able to adjust, I'm guessing you have to make them up yourself.
Lastly, I could go with the tommy bar for the vice. But sad as it might be to some, I'd really like to put a cast wheel on the thread instead. Shiny! Yeh, I'm probably shallow. But there you go.
Would anyone be interested in taking on the job? Serious offer. I'd send you the cast wheel and thread, you do the necessary to join them. No favours on this one. I'd pay all postage and an agreed price for someone to do it nicely as a job of work. If anyone is interested please feel free to pm on this one.
Although the fitting of the everlasting bench is far from done, I've enjoyed it and been frustrated in equal measure so far. I'm striving for a perfection I'm not really capable of yet. That's alright, it's the learning I find enjoyable. And when I look back, I've learned a fair bit.
Trying to be flexible. The thought of cutting a perfect 45 degree angle on the long stretcher for the deadman was a bit daunting without a table saw, so I'm going to rout a channel. I have that Chris Schwarz book and he says cutting a channel just collects dust and shavings so I'm compromising and thinking I''ll cut a little channel into the channel so I can brush all that malarkey out. Who needs plans?!? :shock:
When it goes right it's lovely. Easter Weekend is nearly here, I might squeeze a day or two down the shed. Actually making the thing hasn't taken that long, its been all the bits in-between. Making the cramps out of box section, buying an old manual pillar drill then cleaning that up, learning about tools then relearning (ad infinitum) and by sheer luck and the Grace of God discovering the only right way to sharpen stuff that has taken the time.
(Just kidding about the sharpening
)As always, any advice will be gratefully and truly appreciated.
Regards as always
Chris
