New workbench thread

[Paul Chapman]

That's looking really good, Karl.

Cheers :wink:

Paul

 

[Karl]

Managed to get a little more done tonight on the workbench.

Fitted the Veritas vice, complete with new Oak jaws

I changed the mounting centres of the screws from 22" to 16". I didn't really use the massive distance between the vice screws, and I expect that the 16" centres will give better clamping force, particularly for smaller items held upright in the vice.

Still haven't fitted the chain - can't get the bugger to work. There is too much slack on it to work effectively - every few rotations it will "slip" on one of the cogs. But it isn't slack enough to use the 1/2 link which is supplied with the kit. :?

At the moment the rear jaw is held on with two countersunk bolts which screw into hidden nuts in the top. I have another pair of these fixings and think that I will add them for extra security. The jaw feels very solid as it is, but better safe than sorry hey!

Also drilled out a row of dog holes for my substitute tail vice

I had thought about fitting a vice on the end of the bench, but there are two problems with that. Firstly, I walk in and out of the 'shop via the door at the end of the bench. So I know that I would be constantly bumping into the new vice. Secondly, when cutting a board by hand, I often use that end of the bench. So a vice would get in the way.

I will add further dogholes at a later date, once i've sorted out my planing arrangement. Next job for now is to make a start on the base units. End panels, kickboard, doors and a few drawers.

Cheers

Karl

 

[Paul Chapman]

Still haven't fitted the chain - can't get the bugger to work. There is too much slack on it to work effectively - every few rotations it will "slip" on one of the cogs. But it isn't slack enough to use the 1/2 link which is supplied with the kit. :?

How about fitting a hardwood dowel between the two cogs for the chain to run over, thereby raising the chain between the two cogs and taking up the slack?

Cheers :wink:

Paul

 

[Karl]

Nice one Paul. The kit did come with a screw and a plastic bush which could be used to take up the slack on the chain, but there was too much slack to take up and I thought I must have been doing something wrong. But i've just been to the bench and fitted two screws under the chain, therby increasing the tension. Hey presto, it works!

I'll get a bit of platic tubing to cover the screws tomorrow.

Cheers

Karl

 

[Mr Ed]

Looks excellent Karl.

Have you seen this new surface clamp from Veritas - would make an excellent tail vise on this setup. I fancy one when they come out here in the UK.

http://blog.woodworking-magazine.com/bl ... erica.aspx

Ed

 

[Paul Chapman]

:wink: :wink:

I must get one of those twin-screw vices when I can afford it - I reckon they are the dog's whatsits 8)

Cheers :wink:

Paul

 

[Karl]

:wink: :wink:

I must get one of those twin-screw vices when I can afford it - I reckon they are the dog's whatsits 8)

Cheers :wink:

Paul

I had this one for a few years before I fitted it to Mk1 bench.

I've just had a further tinker with it and fitted the "speed" handle, which just attaches to one of the existing handles. Works a treat now - even clamping pressure right across the jaws (ie both sides close up at the same time).

Cheers

Karl

 

[Karl]

Looks excellent Karl.

Have you seen this new surface clamp from Veritas - would make an excellent tail vise on this setup. I fancy one when they come out here in the UK.

http://blog.woodworking-magazine.com/bl ... erica.aspx

Ed

Cheers for the link Ed - I hadn't seen that. Looks like a much better idea than using the wonder dog i've got at the moment!

Bet it won't work out cheap though......

Cheers

Karl

 

[Mr Ed]

Bet it won't work out cheap though......

Well probably not - things never do seem to get to the UK and stay a reasonable price. If it was just the Sterling equivalent of the $79 he says it will be then that would be quite reasonable...we'll have to wait and see.

Ed

 

[Paul Chapman]

Looks like a much better idea than using the wonder dog i've got at the moment!

While it's an OKish idea, I think it would have problems in use. The main problem is that it's always going to stick up a certain amount above the bench top (and in some cases higher than the piece of wood you are working on) - unlike traditional dogs in the bench top and vice, which can be raised or lowered as much as necessary. Better than nothing but nowhere near as good as traditional dogs, IMHO.

Cheers :wink:

Paul

 

[Mr Ed]

Maybe, but its a quick and easy way ofgetting 90% of the functionality of a tail vise if you don't have one on your bench.

Ed

 

[woodbloke]

Looks like a much better idea than using the wonder dog i've got at the moment!

While it's an OKish idea, I think it would have problems in use. The main problem is that it's always going to stick up a certain amount above the bench top (and in some cases higher than the piece of wood you are working on) - unlike traditional dogs in the bench top and vice, which can be raised or lowered as much as necessary. Better than nothing but nowhere near as good as traditional dogs, IMHO.

Cheers :wink:

Paul

...and that's the thing that I'd be worried about. A tail vice (either the traditional sort like I use) or a vice mounted at the end of the bench (like Paul's) is always IMO going to be better simply 'cos the dogs can be located below the surface of the workpiece
What happens if you want to plane a piece of timber that's only say, 6mm thick? using the V wonder dogie things...no can do. Not impossible but some other method (such as a planing board) needs to be used - Rob

 

[Mr Ed]

Well you can hold thin stuff - you just need some thin battens (mine are oak in various sizes) to act as spacers.

I'll save you the trouble of telling me that if you have to make your own wooden spacers that its not a complete system (ref - honing guide discussion) :lol:

I'm not disputing that a traditional tail or wagon vise is better, but if you don't have one I reckon the wonder dogs or the new surface vise are a good option

Ed

 

[Karl]

I agree it isn't an ideal solution, but as Ed says, thinner work can be shimmed.

Next problem - I want to make a couple of drawers for hand tools, and they will be full width (ie 970mm wide), but the one carrying the larger planes will be only 400mm deep (so as not to intefere with the holdfasts). I will probably make them with 18mm ply bases - I reckon this will be strong enough. Maybe a muntin?

Cheers

Karl

 

[woodbloke]

Well you can hold thin stuff - you just need some thin battens (mine are oak in various sizes) to act as spacers.

I'll save you the trouble of telling me that if you have to make your own wooden spacers that its not a complete system (ref - honing guide discussion) :lol:

I'm not disputing that a traditional tail or wagon vise is better, but if you don't have one I reckon the wonder dogs or the new surface vise are a good option

Ed

Ed - in the pic, which piece are you planing? If it's the middle bit (which looks about 6mm thick) it's clearly below the brass bit of the Vdog - Rob

 

[Mr Ed]

No its the other bit - you cannot see the dog beyond the end of the piece.

Ed

 

[woodbloke]

No its the other bit - you cannot see the dog beyond the end of the piece.

Ed

Thanks Ed...all is clear - Rob

 

[Karl]

Been busy with work since my last post, but managed to get some MDF panels cut to size for the doors and end panels. Should have took them to Brad for spraying - feel like i've been painting them for ages (even though it's only 2 undercoat and 2 gloss on each side of each panel).

There are a couple other panels out of shot which are dry.

The kids are away for the weekend from tomorrow morning, so hoping to get the 'bench finished before we go to collect them on Sunday. Unless SWMBO drags me to the boozer all day tomorrow

Cheers

Karl

 

[Karl]

Nearly finished........

Made myself a planing stop too.

Need to work out the spacing for the final row(s) of dog holes, and give the edges of the doors/end panels a light sand a final lick of gloss.

Cheers

Karl

 

[Paul Chapman]

Very smart, Karl 8)

Cheers :wink:

Paul