Thread: WIP Chris's 21st Century Bench

Originally Posted by Chrism3

Have finished the dog 'oles and the oiling except for the bench top surface, and the old floor boards came up well for the shelf - see pic.
I have now started to install the Hovarter face vice hardware, and to assist the steel transfer bar to slide against the underside of the bench top the maker calls for paste wax to be applied to the bar. According to info on the web, paste wax stays soft, so this makes sense. My question is, what is the equivalent to paste wax for this purpose in Australia?
regards
Chris

I bought a can of paste wax at my local hardware store here in Melbourne, so I think its around.

Originally Posted by Chrism3

. My question is, what is the equivalent to paste wax for this purpose in Australia?
regards
Chris

Paste wax. Try our sponsors, (U-Beaut) traditional paste wax. I use it on my saws and other tools both for 'dry' lubrication and as a rust inhibitor (note 'inhibitor', not 'preventer' - nothing is 100% where I live!)

Cheers,

Thanks folks, got some U-beaut trad wax - couldn't find anything else in hardware stores.

A milestone today with the installation of the Hovarter face vice hardware. Very clever stuff.
Have cut the front jaw, and only have to sand and finish before installing. The jaws for both the face and tail vices are Sydney Bluegum - a beautiful timber to work with. Routing and driling were both very smooth.
The end is in sight!

Good progress.

Can I have some more.

Well, it's time to break out the bubbly.
Here's pics of the finished product.
The Hovarter face vice gives 310mm of open jaw, 18 1/4" between the rods.
The tail vice is a 175mm quick release Groz.

The McJing hold downs work exceptionally well - only have to give them a tap with my fist.

Now I'm under pressure from someone to make something 'useful'.

Thanks to all for the help and encouragement.

Great Job
That is a bench to be proud of and it will last you many years.
You'll be constantly amazed at how good it is to work off a decent bench.

Looks like the real deal - well done!

I have a small reservation about that extended 'wing' on the face insert of your tail vise, though. I suspect you will get excessive twisting if you put much pressure on anyhing held so far away from the centre of the vise. The guide bars on these types of vises are very close together, and they only minimally resist wracking, IMO.

Originally Posted by Chrism3

Now I'm under pressure from someone to make something 'useful'.

I know that feeling well. But if you produce items as up to the mark as the bench, you should soon be in the good books.

The trick is to keep the 'useful' items coming out at a sufficient rate to satisfy the minister for war & finance, but squeeze in a few 'fun' jobs for yourself.

Cheers,

That is usefull.

Well to us it is.

Originally Posted by Christos

That is usefull.

Well to us it is.

Yairs, Christos, we all know that, but convincing us is no challenge. It's the 'significant other's' opinion that counts when considering the minor matter of domestic harmony....

Mate, that looks awesome. great job!

How did u fasten the Groz Chris? Batten screws/coach screws or bolts with plugs covering head holes? I've just gained a Dawn for my bench, so I'm interested in what others have done

I used 4 coach bolts for the Groz. The Groz box didn't contain any recommendations. The plan I was following used 2 coach bolts from underneath, and two bolts through the top, but I couldn't see why I needed to do that, so I settled for 4 coach bolts. If that ever fails, and I can't see why it would, I can still drill through, and yes, I would tend to plug them afterwards.
Chris

Originally Posted by johnredl

How did u fasten the Groz Chris? Batten screws/coach screws or bolts with plugs covering head holes? I've just gained a Dawn for my bench, so I'm interested in what others have done

I used 4x ½" coach screws as well. It's not going to fall off any time soon. I managed to snap 2 of them when installing. My pilot hole was a bit small. Luckily I had a spacer under the vice so was able to remove the broken screw with vice grips, redrill slightly larger and install another screw.