Thread: Things, they are a changing...

The new bench is now up and virtually complete. All that's left to do is mount the nine inch quick release vice on the right hand end. The cut-out has already been cut, but I need further input from TBO to crawl underneath and bolt/screw it up to the bench.



Huge thanks have to go out to our very own Tea Lady and . I provided CAD drawings of the vice screw blanks, then Tea Lady selected some Merbau, and between her and , they so very kindly knocked up the blanks for me.



I cut the threads in the blanks and made matching 'nuts' which are screwed to the back of the apron.

The other vital requirement is a pair of turned tommy bars for the vice screws, but they will have to wait until I make the lathe cabinet/stand and install my new lathe. In the mean time I'll get by with a couple of lengths of dowel with masking tape 'knobs' to prevent them from falling through the holes in the capstans.

Rather than use the traditional forked or split garters to lock the front vice chop to the screws (so it retracts in unison with the screws), I employed a method I have used before which is simply a bolt which engages each vice screw. It's easy to disassemble and provides a cleaner look than traditional garters with zero chance of seizing up due to trapped dust etc.



The main timber in the bench is pine, but the vice chop is Victorian Ash.



The bench top is two layers of MDF with a further half width across the front just to make the dog holes deeper. I plan on using holdfasts, so I wanted to ensure they got a good grip. I've tested them and they do grip exceedingly well. If I insert the end of one of the holdfasts into a dog hole and drop it, I need to use a mallet to release it again. Both ends of the dog holes are chamfered to strengthen the edges of the holes and prevent the holdfasts from deforming them. I've done this before and it works flawlessly.

The whole bench received a coat of oil-based sealer, though not before I managed to christen the right hand end of the top with an acid spill – don't ask!



Now that I have a vice, I can achieve all sorts of things. I desperately need more storage in such a small space, so under-bench cabinets/drawers are high on the list as are rolling cabinets for the bandsaw, drill press, SCMS and jointer/thicknesser.

That is a very functional looking bench

There appears to be a slight splay of the legs for wracking, is that right or is it my eyes? Who cut the threads and how? Was it one of the Carba-Tec style threaders or another method? What about the female thread, how was that done?

I note the base is knockdown in design but the top appears more permanent (dowelled plugs in holes). The skirt is the English design with a few dog holes for either dogs or holdfasts.

I like the shaping of the ends of the skirts, nice touch!

Lastly, what have you done with the vice screw blanks? Near the capstan there is a groove that looks like it is designed to capture the vice face so it travels with the screw head, but I can't see how it engages the vice face. Is there some sort of flange holding the screw on the inner face? Enquiring minds want to know

Great work Woodwould, I am glad I have to delay my own bench building so I can shamelessly plagiarise from others.

Yes, the legs are splayed out 5° (see the CAD drawings further back in the thread).

The bench evolved somewhat during its build, so yes, the base is of knock-down design, but when I got to the aprons, I screwed them to the legs too. Still, by poking four plugs out, the apron can be unscrewed and the whole bench dismantled. The screw holes in the rear apron aren't plugged.

There are two 5" x 3/8" bolts that are screwed into the vice chop from below which tangentially intersect the vice screws, engaging the coves in the necks which in turn captivates the chop so it winds in and out simultaneously with the screws.

The bolt holes are first counterbored (to hide the heads), then drilled full depth with an 8mm long-reach bit and then opened out with a 10mm bit to the depth of the plain shank of the bolts. Thus the bolts pass through the holes, across the coves in the vice screws and then the threads bight into the smaller 8mm section of the holes and basically cut their own threads in the chop so they don't fall out.

PM me if you would like the plans for this bench.

Very clever solutions. You can always learn something on these forums. Good, simple and workable solutions.

obviously haven't been following this thread close enough you've come along way WW

perspective of the bench makes it look real short

The bench is 1620mm long. Judging by the amount of stuff I used to have piled up on my old 2200mm English Beech bench, I only used about 1500mm of it, plus the new shed is only three metres wide!

Wouldwood,

The bench is great Makes me think I'd better get and finish mine sometime. Can't do it yet as I am erecting trellis around the gareden, (hate the stuff) and a fall off the roof has slowed me for a while. When you find time it would be wonderful if you could explain how to make wooden threads.

Jerry

Originally Posted by Woodwould

The bench is 1620mm long. Judging by the amount of stuff I used to have piled up on my old 2200mm English Beech bench, I only used about 1500mm of it, plus the new shed is only three metres wide!

WW, I think you may have hit on something there. I pile a shyte load of stuff on my bench and then have to move it to do any work and only then do I use part of it. Going to make a smaller bench now and this will give me more room in the workshop (1 1/2 car garage) to move around. (gotta learn to put the shyte away)

Thanks

Originally Posted by The Bleeder

(gotta learn to put the shyte away)

I have become painfully aware of this recently and am hell bent on making as many multi-purpose cabinets as necessary.

My focus has always been on antiques restoration and making copies of antiques, so the largest component I would be likely to encounter would be a 6' or 7' long table rail. For the most part, I deal with chair components and chest furniture with all the corresponding drawer stuff (hence the wide front vice). However, I'm not going to be making much large stuff nowadays.

I made a red japanned corner display cabinet from all the nice Scots Pine (Baltic to you) crates that I shipped all my belongings in when I immigrated here. I would dearly like to replace that now with an Oak, Mahogany or Walnut version, but time will tell. Apart from that, I'll only be making small pieces of furniture.

The vice screws; I forgot! There's no trickery involved at all, I just cut the threads with a Beall jig. The threads are a little finer than I would have liked for the vice (although they'll be perfect for my adjustable shop stool). But then again, the vice will spend 99% of its time in the 1/2" to 2" open position.

BTW, if anyone wants any threading done let me know as I have the whole Beall range and I'm hoping to make a 2" version too.

Beautiful-looking work, Woodwould, much beyond my capabilities, but inspiring. Thanks for the pics.

jerryc, at our ages falls from roofs are not recommended. I hope you recover quickly.

Wouldwood,

Apology for hi jacking thread for a second.

Old Farmer,
Got to say that a fall from a roof at any time is NOT recommended.

On a lighter note. At the hospital the nurse made a note of my age and asked in all seriousness, Do you use a walking frame?" My excuse for my answer was that I was dosed up with morphine when I answered, "I never use a walking frame when I climb a ladder."

Jerry

Take care Jerry and don't go climbing around any more. That's what Tradies are for!

G'Day WW

Thanks for the great inspiration and great photos. I was going to say don't ever get frustrated when working but it is obvious you never will when looking at your bench!
Seasons Greetings

Bernie