Steve's workbench build

[Steve Maskery]

It's been a while, now where were we? Ah yes, the tail vice. This has caused me a few headaches.

There is a steel plate screwed to the bench, which supports the sliding rails which carry the jaw of the tail-vise. This is the plate.

You would would think that just copying something that already worked well would be a doddle, wouldn't you? Well, I would. But I have made things a bit tricky for myself.

I decided that I wanted the foremost run of dogholes a bit further away from the front of the bench than they were previously. The clamping position was usually too far forward from optimum. Not a problem in itself.

But the corresponding dogholes in the tail-vice must also be in line, which means moving them back as well.

There is a dirty great bracket and nut in the middle there...

... a right-angle bracket and the nut for the screw

... which limits how far back the core of the vice can go.

So I've had to reduce that front wall of the core box to about 4mm

I did that on the TS, Two passes and then separated the waste off with a handsaw.

That saw has a screw missing, anyone know where I can get a replacement?

Now that sounds very slim indeed, but it's about to have a dirty great big chunk of wood glued to it. I made the front part of the vice by gluing together some chunks of mahogany (my neighbour's discarded double-glazing - looked horrible until I cleaned it up...) and cutting a row of dogholes using the same jig that I used when I made the top. I didn't need an indexing peg, I just did it by eye.

So the next task will be to fix the doghole chunk (technical term) to the core and hope that everything lines up...

 

[MikeG.]

.......That saw has a screw missing, anyone know where I can get a replacement?...

Thomas Flinn & Co.

 

[lurker]

.......That saw has a screw missing, anyone know where I can get a replacement?...

Thomas Flinn & Co.

Steve,
PM me the size, I have a stash.

 

[Max Power]

Dieter Schmid Fine Tools

https://www.qy1.de/img/blackburn-322600.jpg

They do medallions as well, not cheap though

 

[Steve Maskery]

I think I'm being sorted, thank you.

 

[Steve Maskery]

Unfortunately, the photo I took of the doghole block being glues to the core has not come out properly and it's too embarrassing to post, but the next piece to make is the cap strip. This goes over the top steel rider, so needs a cavity to take it.

I do this on the RT, using a couple of stop blocks to limit the travel, moving the fence back for each cut until I have reached the right width.

And clean up the ends with a chisel

It's then glued over the core and then the pocket that is created just slips over the top steel rider.

The handle end of the vice is a mish-mash of various bits of face grain and end grain. Also the hole for the screw is much bigger than it needs to be. It's very difficult to work out exactly where it needs to be before glue up, and I can't mark out through the nut, so it is a 35mm hole for a 25mm screw. It's a good job I did leave so much clearance, I needed it.
A cap end, however, fitted with a 26mm hole, can be glued in place, covering all that ugly grain and keeping the screw snug.

I made it a bit oversize, trimmed it back and fitted the split collar.

I also fitted an MDF cheek, well-countersunk so that the screws cannot mar a workpiece.

 

[Steve Maskery]

I've given everything a coat of BLO and I need to make some dogs and attach the ramps at the ends of the tool-well, but apart from that, this project is finished. Yippee!

Tomorrow's job is to dismantle my old bench and get it out of the workshop, before this year's little devils decide to make an appearance.

 

[Racers]

That looks very nice Steve.

Pete

 

[Doug B]

Looks very good Steve =D>

I hear you’ve been knocking the racking about at the Woodyard (hammer)

 

[Steve Maskery]

Yes, I decided to find out if the RSJs that hold the timber get damaged if you head-butt them. They don't.

 

[MikeG.]

Yes, I decided to find out if the RSJs that hold the timber get damaged if you head-butt them. They don't.

Not immediately, but the blood, skin and associated gore can cause a spot of corrosion in the medium term. That's one good reason not to headbutt the steel.




Nope, can't think of any others.

 

[Steve Maskery]

Just few loose ends to tie up. I've had this in place for a few days now and I can report that I am absolutely delighted with it. It is everything I had hoped for, definitely the best bench I have ever had.

I've made a few bench dogs, of differing heights, so I can clamp

or I can clamp

I have holdfasts, so I can clamp

I have face dogs, so I can clamp

and because the apron is at the back, I can clamp

or I can remove part of the tool well and I can clamp

I have a configurable tool well, in four sections, so it can be anything from full length to totally flush. Here it is as 3/4 tool well and 1/4 flush

You can see by the SF* level that I am quite pleased with it.

*Smug Factor

 

[Steve Maskery]

I missed out the sliding deadman, so I can clamp.

I've also got onboard power. I've bought a trailing socket that has the outlets at an angle, and this allows me to plug in things that have the cable coming out of the bottom of the plug or the top of the plug without fouling anything else or getting bashed.

All in all, I'm happy.

That was just to emphasise the SF.

 

[Doug B]

So not only can you never have enough clamps but also ways of clamping, looks excellent Steve =D>

 

[Steve Maskery]

Getting rid of the old bench was harder than I had imagined. My TS is not quite deep enough, so it was out with the handsaw afterwards

I got a couple of barrowloads of firewood out of it

And I think I did the job none too soon. Absolutely riddled...

I have been filming this and usually I edit as I go along, but for some reason I have done no editing, at all, so I think I have a massive amount of work to do.

 

[transatlantic]

What have you named her? She looks like a Mandy to me. Or perhaps a Terry

 

[Steve Maskery]

Ooh now that's an idea. I'd not thought of a name. I do call my drill press Lulu, as she was built in the same year that her namesake had a hit with Shout!
I shall have to have a think.
I did once know a rather lovely lady (in every respect) called Manda, but that might be a bit too..... something-or-other.

 

[Orraloon]

Really great bench you built and a good explanation of everything along the way. I liked those face dogs too. Was a bit taken aback seeing the old bench being carved up until I saw the woodworm.
Regards
John

 

[Trainee neophyte]

I have noticed a disturbing proliferation of hand tools during this build - I hope you are not moving to the dark side.

[youtube]hNv5sPu0C1E[/youtube]

 

[Steve Maskery]

Trailer:
[youtube]yr74Ih7drGI[/youtube]