Carving Bench For End Grain Work

**Robson Valley** · 16th December 2012, 09:07 AM

I've put off half a dozen carvings because I had no practical way to hold any of them in a vertical position.
Mostly shapes the size of pieces of fence post. Some were WRC fence post.
A good friend contributed the entire design concept. I decided that I'd do my best to build it from off-cuts and shop junk = buy nothing new. I was able to do that, even the light had a broken plastic pivot base.
1. Top is 16" x 18", a glue up of 2 x 10 with dowel pegs. The hole is 4.5" x 4.5".
Front leg is vertical, back legs are canted 10 degrees out on 45 degree corners. Extra leg 2x4 under the deck.
The shelf can be raised/lowered in 2" increments, Two 1/4" iron rods into pairs of holes in the vertical part.
2. One of a pair of Dragonfly dishes in the hole, snugged up with simple cedar wedges. The shelf, the vertical and 2 sides of the hole have some foam, non-skid matting hot-glued in place.
3. The deck is just 28", short for a table, BUT, I need the carving to be at a comfortable working height, not the bench top.
4. The Frog Story pole in the hole. You might see that the shelf has been lowered. My cast glass model frog. I have not touched that carving in a year. It's next.
= = =
After a week of carving on this bench for a couple of hours each day, I'm pleased at my work speed. There's no swivel needed, I can move my chair or turn the entire bench. Never the plan to make this violently bash-worthy. When I need that, the relevant junk is under the snow, outside. If I need ballast, I have either concrete blocks or the 2" x 2" x 16" iron bars from my trebuchet counterweight.

**copeau** · 16th December 2012, 09:55 AM

good evening Robson.

Seems nice to me, and the light must be very practical.
But what if you have a bigger or a smaller piece ?
Wouldn't it be nice to have a bigger hole and a few removables tops to reduce the size of the hole, or something like that ?

**Robson Valley** · 16th December 2012, 12:18 PM

Thanks copeau:
I have 6 different carvings which fit this little bench. I can now finish them this winter.
There is so much to do, it will be spring by the time I finish.

I have 4 much larger and much stronger benches outdoors that I use for stone work.
Now that I know how to make a useful bench, I will cut a hole in one of those benches
for some larger carvings (12 x 30 x 30 cm) and attach the underneath shelf.

Today, the wind is breaking the branches off my trees. It is only -5C but I can wait.

**copeau** · 16th December 2012, 12:57 PM

Alright. At least it may be an idea to think about for people who want to make one.

I just found a second hand vise like this one a few month ago. It's quite nice and turns in any direction, but it's the same problem for the top.
I don't use it right now, but thanks for giving leads to solve the problem.
z830S1_1.jpg
If you're workshop is warm, carving will make spring come faster !

**Robson Valley** · 16th December 2012, 01:15 PM

Yes, same puzzle = how to do the ends? I can do all the side with no troubles at all.
When the carving is secure, I can move my chair or turn the little bench.
I did not buy anything new = all off cuts and junk, screws included.

Possibly, there are many different ways to improve upon this design.
I finished the bench a week ago. I have tried to carve on this bench
1-2 hrs/day to understand what else might be needed.
Each morning, I changed one thing only.
a) the strong light,
b) the foam anti-skid rubber fabric,
c) new and thinner cedar wedges.

This bench gives me the chance/opportunity to finish carvings that I could not work on before.
I know how to do the Dragonfly faces. I know how to do the Dragonfly tails.
I can make the face on the caterpillar for the inlaid shells for eyes and jaws/mouth.
I will carve the adult frog for the story pole.
I can shape the head & shoulders for the rainbow Raven.

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