I hope this is classed as a project:

[Benchwayze]

I am in the process of making a 'piggy-back' workbench, to fit over my present, knackered old workhorse. (Got the idea from the Cornish Workshop; not saying that ALF's bench is knackered mind!)

I realised that a similar bench, say 5 feet long would be just the job for a level worksurface for decent handwork, while I settle on a design for my new bench. As I can't see anything wrong in using softwood for a bench, a'la Chris Schwarz, I decided this temporary job would be made in ordinary deal. Locally though, unless I pay for American timber, I can't find any decent stuff. I'm looking for 100 x 50 mm PAR, to joint up.

So whilst I carry on the search I have made a start on resuscitating my old Paramo 10.5" Q/R vice.

This vice has a lot more work to face, but you should have seen it before I started! I got 'er in 1971, from a retiring Joiner, who threw it in with other tools I bought from him. It was well used then, but I just made sure it was working properly, without worrying about appearances. I thought I had retired it about 10 years ago, but I never brought myself to throw it out. The new Record is showing the strain and I realise the Paramo is the better vice even if it doesn't have an adjustable dog!

So I rescued the Paramo from the back of the shop and started cleaning it up this morning. The worst of the gunge has gone, the jaws still close perfectly square and the Q/R mechanism is fine. This vice is going on the 'piggy-back' bench. The bench will fit over my present work-surface, with a batten clamped in the Record vice and supported at the rear, inside the well, by a second batten.

Dunno if it's interesting to anyone other than me, but Paramo appeared to make a run of castings each month and stamped them with the month and year. (In this case April 1963). Then it seems the person who assembled the vice and/or checked it, stamped it with the actual date, in this case the 5th.

Sorry if I bore you folks, but I reckon this old vice has a few years left in it and will outlast me! Just in case someone might be interested in my progress with the piggy-back bench, I will I'll post more pics, as the bench and vice progress.

Cheers

 

[Paul Chapman]

I'd be interested to watch your progress with the bench, John If you wanted a dog in your vice, you could always fit a slightly thicker wooden jaw facing, drill it out and fit one of the longer Veritas dogs like I did with this Record Woodcraft vice

Get it as close as you can to the screw and it will work OK.

Cheers :wink:

Paul

 

[Benchwayze]

Indeed Paul.. I considered something along those lines, but I always feel 'cack-handed' working across the bench, with a plane! Just me I suppose! It's useful for cramping at times though.

I did see a great idea on YouTube, from David Marks, (on the WoodWhisperer's channel) whereby a Q/R vice was given a thick, wooden front jaw, the width of the bench and used as an end-vice or tail-vice. A neat solution that looked solid and useable. But as I said, this 'piggy-back' bench will be used as a stop-gap. If I decide to keep it, I will get a vice-screw from Axminster and make a corner vice for it. Probably though I will give it to No. 1 son and let him make an undercarriage for it!

 

[neilyweely]

I have a paramo plane, of rather dubious quality, which takes replaceable blades. It looks like it should be quite good, but it's not. at all.

Shame really, because they have a good history in some areas, I think.

Neil

 

[JonnyD]

I have a couple of those paramo 52 vices on my bench. I have never noticed any date stamped on them so I will have a look when i am back in the workshop.

Jon

 

[Benchwayze]

I had my Paramo plane nicked just after I bought it in the early seventies! It was fine to be honest, but it did go through blades a bit quick-like!

Did you find any dates on your vices Jon?


Now, to my bench:

I managed to track down some timber that will 'do', for a temporary bench top

As this bench is going 'piggy-back' on my existing bench, I'm not being too fussy, but I still matched the timbers as best I can for the moment. I have 'triangled' it though so I think that'll be it! (Ummm.. Maybe the third and fourth from the left can switch places?)

I changed my mind about the vice. I ordered another bench-vice screw from Axminster and I'll use it instead, to make a corner vice, for dovetailing. I'll have to make and get used to a wooden handle, but no problem! I shall reserve the Paramo vice for the final bench.

Hoping to make start on jointing this temporary bench this week.

Breakfast first though!

Cheers.

 

[JonnyD]

I had a look yesterday and both of them are stamped 4/84 which i presume is the date of manufacture there is also a serial type number on them.

Jon

 

[Benchwayze]

Looks like April was a preferred month for Paramo Jon!

I expect I will turn up a serial number eventually. I got some blue enamel yesterday, so I decided to get the vice sand-blasted sometime this week. I might see if that name-plate comes away, and paint that red, just to be different!

 

[JonnyD]

There is a serial number on the top of my vices as well as the date stamp.

jon