Thread: WIP - Groggy's Workbench

Originally Posted by Geoff Dean

Is there any reason why you didn't drill the individual pieces on a pedestal drill, before putting the top together?

You may have mentioned it earlier, but I can't be bothered going back to check thru 59 pages.

Me either

Since lining them up accurately would be an issue I decided to go this way. I probably should have pre-drilled the skirt line of holes but hindsight is really only of practical use to time travellers.

Originally Posted by Groggy

....... but hindsight is really only of practical use to time travellers.

Or as they say, the trouble with learning by experience is that the test comes before the lesson.

The auger bits I was referring to are made for power drills, Groggy - they have a hexagonal shank rather than the diamond end. I have a set that I acquired in dribs & drabs over the years. They don't get a huge amount of use, but are occasionally very handy. Get a decent quality one if you do decide to go that route.....

BTW - they are NOT for use in a drill press unless the job is well tied-down! The self-feeding, which is very handy for hand-held drilling, can cause a few split seconds of unwanted excitement on a drill-press. And yes, I was once foolish enough to think I could get away with it, , but I haven't tried it since!

Cheers,

Originally Posted by IanW

The auger bits I was referring to are made for power drills, Groggy - they have a hexagonal shank rather than the diamond end.

I've got one sitting in the drawer, been used a few times in it's long life. Can't read the price tag on it anymore, so I'm not sure if it's cheaper to buy or borrow, but if you're over this side at any time you can borrow it.

Another suggestion, (which I was planning to use to do the additional holes for holding sheet stuff), is plunge router, and up-spiral bit.

regards

Originally Posted by Groggy

Ian, I actually bought a plunger stand late last year just for this task. In practice it was not suitable (too slow, hard to line up etc) and I've put it back in its box. I'll be on-selling it soon.

If you can't clamp a piece of scrap under the bench, measure the distance from the underside of the bench to the shelf/floor and cut a strip of wood to that length and jam it under the piece of scrap. I don't think it will lift the bench up.

How about a pilot hole about 4mm diam, then use a 19mm/ 3/4" spade bit - either clamp a piece to the bottom as suggested or drill upwards for the last bit. I've found a spade bit will follow a small pilot very nicely.

Originally Posted by Woodwould

If you can't clamp a piece of scrap under the bench, measure the distance from the underside of the bench to the shelf/floor and cut a strip of wood to that length and jam it under the piece of scrap. I don't think it will lift the bench up.

Quick hijack ahead..... I read about using scraps of timber as prop-type "clamps" earlier this year, and have done it numerous times since - must be one of the best kept secrets around! Invaluable at times too.....

Originally Posted by Astrodog

Quick hijack ahead..... I read about using scraps of timber as prop-type "clamps" earlier this year, and have done it numerous times since - must be one of the best kept secrets around! Invaluable at times too.....

Continuing the hijack; I also use multiple sticks between caul and roof or collar-tie to clamp down veneer.

Originally Posted by Woodwould

If you can't clamp a piece of scrap under the bench, measure the distance from the underside of the bench to the shelf/floor and cut a strip of wood to that length and jam it under the piece of scrap. I don't think it will lift the bench up.

A goberge (go-bar)? Good idea, thanks WW!

If you already have a few holes, is there any reason you can't use a holdfast on the underside to hold some scrap? Would be easier I think.

Originally Posted by kman-oz

If you already have a few holes, is there any reason you can't use a holdfast on the underside to hold some scrap? Would be easier I think.

or a nail gun.

Originally Posted by Woodwould

If you can't clamp a piece of scrap under the bench, measure the distance from the underside of the bench to the shelf/floor and cut a strip of wood to that length and jam it under the piece of scrap. I don't think it will lift the bench up.

I know some car hoists that wouldn't lift THAT bench up!

Originally Posted by kman-oz

If you already have a few holes, is there any reason you can't use a holdfast on the underside to hold some scrap? Would be easier I think.

I confess that did not occur to me, holdfasts used under the bench - nice bit of lateral thinking there Dave

Originally Posted by Alastair

Another suggestion, (which I was planning to use to do the additional holes for holding sheet stuff), is plunge router, and up-spiral bit.

regards

As suggested by Christopher Schwarz

If you are interested in this and don't have a 3/4" up spiral bit (I don't) do you want to go halves in one?