My New Work Bench arrived today (sort of)

[harry strasil]

My New Bench arrived sort of today. Some of the materials anyway. I had it sawed up at a Living History show I was demoing at, by a miniature Sawmill powered by a miniature Steam Engine. It stared out as a salvaged Pin Oak log 5 ft long.

Its been stickered in storage inside a friends Quonset building for 7 or 8 years. He needed the space so he delivered it today.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v81/irnsrgn/wood/nubnch001.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v81/irnsrgn/wood/nubnch002.jpg

1 - 4¼ by 10¼ by 5ft
2 - 2¼ by 7½ by 5 ft
1 - 2 1/8 by 6 by 5 ft
1 - 2 3/4 by 7½ by 5 ft
1 - 1 by 7½ by 5 ft
1 - 1 by 9½ by 5 ft
1 - 1 by 6 by 5 ft
1 - 1 by 5 by 5 ft

It will reside in my basement for a month while it aclimates to the temp and humidity, 58° and 28% , should give me time to figure out how to work it up into a bench.

I have some 4 by 4 oak dunage material from steel shipments in the past, but to keep the weight down and conserve my precious supply of Oak, I think I will make the foundation from pine 4 by 4's from the lumberyard.
I have no idea of the brd ft in the pile.
In my mind at the moment it will have a regular leg vise like the old benches on one side at the end, an emmert clone by Columbia on one end, and two regular old vices from school benches on the other long side. Still debating if I should put a tail vise on it.

[Terry Beadle]

I agree with your decision to use 4 X 4 pine for your legs and under structure. I used 4 X 6's for my bench legs and used 4 X 4s' for the cross pieces. They are treated too. I was worried about the arcenic possible out of the treated wood, but I cut the open dove tails by hand and that was a decade or so ago. No ill effects. Any way, the treated pine timber is really heavy. That bench stays put.

By the way, I bought one of those Woodcraft tail vice specials for $45. Sure wish I hadn't. I recommend if you put a tail vice on her, get the LN. Much easier to mount, more stable in use, and stays aleigned. IMHO. There's 2 cents in there too! Hoot!

[Steve Rozmiarek]

Nice boards Harry, pardon my ignorance, but what is pin oak and how is it different than red or white oak?

[harry strasil]

its a relative of red oak. http://www.thejump.net/hunting/plant-id/pin-oak.htm

[Phil Thien]

Aw common, those boards are all dirty, and stained. I can trade you some nice, clean construction grade lumber for those. :D

-Phil (who is looking forward to another nifty thread bench in about 60-90 days).

[gary Zimmel]

Harry

Can't wait to see the finished bench....

[Steve Rozmiarek]

its a relative of red oak. http://www.thejump.net/hunting/plant-id/pin-oak.htm

Thanks Harry, I learned something there.

[Mark Roderick]

Man, those are beautiful timbers. One thing is, I'm not sure a month is going to acclamate (sp?) wood that thick to your shop.

[Chris Padilla]

Man, those are beautiful timbers. One thing is, I'm not sure a month is going to acclamate (sp?) wood that thick to your shop.

Those aren't freshly cut green timbers...they've dried down to more or less the local environment so a month is plenty to acclimate to a new (to them) shop. :)

Harry said a month so he can take his time designing his bench and we'll have to wait forever for this thread to be updated! ;)

[Mike Cutler]

Harry

That's a fine looking bench you have there, just waiting to be made.

[George Sanders]

Nice haul Harry. Great link too. I know where I can get a barn full of wood like that if I just tear down the barn. I too, am accumulating the makings of a bench. I like your vise ideas for the versatility and have been thinking along the same lines. I have 2 vintage quick release vises and I will bite the bullet and buy a good leg vise. I just don't see the advantage of a pattern makers vise at this time. Good luck on your project.

[harry strasil]

I have the vise, it was a gift so why not put it to work.

[harry strasil]

rough drawing of what the bench will look like, it will probably be wider to accomadate the 18 inch wide patternmakers vise.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v81/irnsrgn/bsmnt%20shop/workbench.jpg

vises (a) are 7 inch wide normal wwing vises that are now on the end of the present bench.

vise (b) is an old style wwers leg vise, I have an old double lead screw for it.

vise (c) is a holding vise, that some are calling a wagon vise. I just ordered a tail vise screw for it from Lee Valley.

vise (d) is the Emmert Clone made by Columbia.

The top side will have an apron full length with holes similar to my demo vise.

For holding long stock I can use all 3 front vises, both a's and b.

[Charles Jackson III]

Very nice stock.

[David DeCristoforo]

Sweeeet. All you need now is a couple of saw horses.....

YM

[harry strasil]

I have lots of saw tables from short short ones to tall ones and also a board jack. I always make saw tables (horses) or as the old timers called them (tresles) in pairs, also did the same in my blacksmith shop.

[Jason Morgan]

Harry,

A little off topic, but my folks live in SE NE, in Auburn. You do any smithing at Indian Cave St. Park? Went there last summer and saw the exhibits. Very well done and informative. Kids loved it.

[harry strasil]

I started the smithng at Indian cave, 18 years ago. did it all week so on week ends was too much, one of my proteges a lady smith does it now. I occasionally take my mid 1800's wood shop up there and demo woodworking.

[harry strasil]

my bday present to myself arrived from Lee Valley, tail vise screw.
But workbench is on hold for awhile, had to take my wife to Horsepistol on my Birthday. Got Dr. to make a house call so she wouldn't be exposed to flue people in office. A whole 3 blocks to hospital. luckily its not Influenza, really nasty strain going around, and its not pneumonia. some kind of minor viral thing which combined with her COPD from hairdressing and teaching it for 20 years starting in early 60's makes breathing difficult. She is responding well to treatment and lung capacity and blood O2 is improving. I stay with her at night to keep anxiety attacks from getting the best of her when she has trouble breathing.

[harry strasil]

Jason, if you visit again, let me know, I will bring my demo WWing shop and you can help set it up and play with my toys.

[harry strasil]

Free lumber again, Neighbor brought me over 10 - 2x6x80 inches and 4 - 2x4x80 inches and 2 4x6x48 inches. it was packing crate lumber, SYP, lots better lumber than I can by at the local yards. only one of the 2x6's is bowed. each one had 12 nails in it. Nails pulled, mud and grass cleaned off, and its stickered on my shop floor to dry. More bench parts. I Love it.

[harry strasil]

Update on the workbench project.

My daughter and S-I-L showed up and he helped me run the timbers thru the lunchbox planer to get the rough off, but he was more interested in sweeping the little bit of shavings that were on top instead of holding the end of the timber up, so I got some bad end snipe.

I went ahead with constructing my outfeed support among other projects, and changed the blades in the planer yesterday. After setting up the outfeed support and adding some stabilizing rods I finished up the planing today, ending up with them all 1.840 inches thick according to my Wixey planer DRO. One side is real smooth and I left the bottom side with some imperfections.


The outfeed support.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v81/irnsrgn/wood/outfeedsupport003.jpg

In use.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v81/irnsrgn/wood/outfeedsupport002.jpg

The stack of timbers now.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v81/irnsrgn/wood/outfeedsupport001.jpg

Instead of cutting them up and glueing face to face, I have decided to use them as is, for a lot less work in assembly.

The outfeed support will be used with the table saw to square the edges, and with the 6 inch jointer prepping the edges also. Its adjustable for height.

[Jim Dunn]

Harry does the outfeed support reduce snipe? And as to sweeping up chips tell him it's easier of the cat's feet than concrete:)

Hey I just noticed that stainless aluminum tree in the box. You should put that on the bay and sell it to some of those retro people.

[harry strasil]

Yes Jim, with the column locks and the outfeed support there is no snipe.

[Jim Dunn]

I just remembered that you retro fitted your planer with some type of newer column locks. As I remember you were trying to work out a deal with Delta weren't you?

[Russ Hauser]

Harry:

The Emmert vise you have has dogs, why not drill a double row of holes down the length of the bench and use it as an end vise when you need one? I have mine set up like that.

Russ

[harry strasil]

there will be a double row for the patternmakers vise too as well as a row for the wagon vise that will have a row on each side spaced halfway between the ones for the wagon vise, I use the wedge system a lot like I do on my demo bench.

[harry strasil]

I made lots of chips today. LOL

I brought my 8.5 ft 1/4 by 3 Aluminum straight edge home from the shop and cleaned it up to use as a router guide to edge the Pin Oak Planks for my Nu Bench and also used the router to square them to width also.

The first pass with an old B&D Router and an edging bit and the straight edge to do the first half. Lots of chips so I made some ALuminum brkts to clamp one of my 2.5 inch Vac Nozzles to the routers.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v81/irnsrgn/wood/nubnch8-22-08001.jpg


Flipped over and the second pass with my new Sears 2 hp router that also came with a plunge base, and a Bosch bottom bearing edging bit.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v81/irnsrgn/wood/nubnch8-22-08001.jpg

Sure beats running them thru the table saw and then the 6 inch jointer to get nice square clean edges.

One of the planks has a really bad spot in it and I will need to rip it down to get the bad spot out.

As it stands now I have enough planks 5 ft long to make up 41 inches in width, but the finished top will be 24 inches + wide.

I will update the progress as the bench progresses.

[harry strasil]

Oops, second picturee is a dupe. Should be this one.


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v81/irnsrgn/wood/nubnch8-22-08002.jpg

[harry strasil]

bench update 8/29/08

Drilling holes for doweling together.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v81/irnsrgn/nu%20bench/dowelholes.jpg

[Steve Pirrelli]

I'm enjoying your writeup on this Harry. Do you use the dowels to keep them aligned during glueup?

[harry strasil]

Yes Steve. The 2 inch long 1/2 inch dowels on 6 inch centers are for alignment, one of the planks warped a little after planing to thickness. The dowels will not be glued in, but the planks will be glued together. I was originally going to use splines, but the difficulty of routing the grooves and keeping them straight in an experiment and the ease of drilling the dowel holes preciselly won out. I am going to take the two planks that need 14 inch long grooves for the sliding Wagon Vise up to the Blacksmith shop and make them with my Bridgeport mill to maintain accuracy. I will glue the planks up in sections and then glue the final joint last to make things easier.

This is a picture of the initial dry fit up. Finished size will be 27 3/8 by 60 + inches when I get the end battens on. I found out a local cabinet shop has a 36 inch drum sander, so I will take it to them for the final flattening.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v81/irnsrgn/nu%20bench/1stdryfitup.jpg

[harry strasil]

I know it sucks, but here is my Super Router at work making one of the 1/2" wide by 3/4" deep slots in one pass. LOL

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v81/irnsrgn/nu%20bench/superrouter.jpg

You can't trust a Neander with a Blacksmith shop full of toys, not to use them when needed.

[harry strasil]

I hope Dave the Moderator don't come down to heavy on me for using what I have to get the job done, even tho some of it isn't real Neander stuff, but its not CNC, so I might slip by.

[harry strasil]

I used closely spaced dowels for the slides on the sides of the Wagon Vise moving part to keep dust and swarf from binding the slides.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v81/irnsrgn/nu%20bench/vicegibs.jpg

[Steve Pirrelli]

Now that's a serious router. LOL!

[harry strasil]

8/31/08

I went to the shop this afternoon and got a partial bar of 1 inch brass rod left over from a job and bored, counter bored and tapped 3/8 NC and cut them to length some brass nuts, then faced them with the lathe for hidden bolts and nuts to secure the end battens to my Nu Bench. Nothing fancy just a quick and easy job with the Bridgeport Vertical Mill and little lathe.


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v81/irnsrgn/nu%20bench/bnchendbttnnutsandbolts.jpg

[Don Orr]

Nice to se so much progress on the bench. Sure must be handy to have some specialized tools and the skills to operate them. Those leg bolts look great. I think most of us will let you slide using non-neander tools. I wish I had the knowledge and access to such cool machines. Nothing wrong with letting a few electrons fly now and then:D.

Looking forward to more progress.

Hope the Mrs. is doing better.

[harry strasil]

not leg bolts, they will be used to fasten the Battens on the ends of the work surface.

[harry strasil]

Nu Bench Glue Up photo.

1. I temporarily fastened 2 short 2 by 4's to my table saw and leveled them both by shimming, then covered the area to be used with Saran Wrap to prevent glue squeeze out from sticking to the levelers. Glued it up piece at a time to let glue dry, clamped and with 2 more short 2 by 4's on top clamped to bottom ones to keep them flat as possible. There is some slight warping of the planks after planing to thickness and aclimating before glue up prep.

Next item is prepping the ends and fastening battens on the ends prior to having the top sanded.


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v81/irnsrgn/nu%20bench/glueup.jpg

[Don Orr]

That bench top is looking good Harry.

I have a question about the handscrews hanging in your shop. You have a piece of wood clamped in them. What is the reason for it ? I have some and wonder if I should do the same.

[harry strasil]

Don, they are hung with a piece of twine on one jaw, the scantling is just so the other jaw doesn't flop around.

The smaller ones are just clamped to a scrap of 2 by with a screwed on scrap base. I alter the handles so they can be accessed easily.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v81/irnsrgn/wood/clmprck.jpg

[Don Orr]

Great storage ideas there.

[Corvin Alstot]

I found out a local cabinet shop has a 36 inch drum sander, so I will take it to them for the final flattening.


Hope you have some strong neighbors, that top looks very heavy.
Good idea about the drum sander as flattening that top with planes is slow work.

[Alan DuBoff]

I hope Dave the Moderator don't come down to heavy on me for using what I have to get the job done, even tho some of it isn't real Neander stuff, but its not CNC, so I might slip by.A bench in itself is one of the greatest hand tools ever! ;)

It certainly isn't easy to build a workbench with hand tools only, and especially as one gets older...I can attest to that...darn wood is heavy...

Tell me though, what's the Strasil box, looks like it says "JR's Portable Shelving, Handle With Care". I can't tell if that says "Shelving" or not...I figure it's something you take for demonstrations, but curious what it is.

[harry strasil]

LOL, its an old metal kitchen cabinet I got at an auction and used for storage in the basement shop of our second rental home. When I was ride foreman for a Carnival in the late 60's, I learned sign painting from an old Carney Sign Painter. I usually practiced on a scrap piece of plate glass, didn't have one at the time so I practiced on the cabinet door. Its a cross between Script and Old English letters for putting on my Service Truck doors. Jr's Portable Welding is what it says. and then at a later date, "Open with Care". JSUWN

PS Carnival sign painting is usually what is "Bastard" lettering, Gaudy and attention getting because it uses different lettering styles in the same word. LOL

[Alan DuBoff]

Harry,

It's obvious that my back is not the only thing taking a toll with age, but my eyes also!:rolleyes:

That's something I've actually been wanting, a portable welding unit, I don't have a lot of needs, so small tanks would do. A friend of mine made a TIG welder out of an old microwave, mainly using the transformer from it. It wasn't pretty, but it worked...

One thing I've been pondering is some type of lifting setup, where I could lift sections of wood into place, in building larger projects like a bench, for instance. I keep thinking there's probably a fairly easy solution, possibly employing some type of hoist. I'm sure I'm not the only one that would welcome something like that...I do occasionally use an engine hoist, but it requires a lot of space when moving larger items, and won't fit in the area I do hand tool work. Most projects it doesn't matter, it's only when the timbers start getting bigger (bench top is a good example) that this becomes a problem for me. I do most of my work alone.

[harry strasil]

Pattern maker Vise end, with batten secured.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v81/irnsrgn/nu%20bench/nubenchtogether001.jpg

Wagon Vise end with End Vise Screw laying in place over Wagon Vise Sliding part.

Setup for drilling holes for 1inch round brass nuts that hold ends on.

This End Batten is only a temporary one for sanding, The real one will extend below the bottom for fastening the End Vise Too.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v81/irnsrgn/nu%20bench/nubenchtogether002.jpg

Overall View of Bottom of Bench.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v81/irnsrgn/nu%20bench/nubenchtogether003.jpg

Oh, the Black parts are where a deer hunter drove a nail into the tree when it was young and left it. The Sawyer hit it but not enough to damage the blade inserts. LUCKILY

[harry strasil]

Nu bench sanding.

First pass off the bottom.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v81/irnsrgn/nu%20bench/nubenchsanding001.jpg

Finish Sanded Top.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v81/irnsrgn/nu%20bench/nubenchsanding002.jpg

[harry strasil]

Well, got Ma's Crocheting and Knitting Center done, and now working on NuBench again.

First order of work, get that darn heavy top off the floor and onto my table saw so I can work on it. Bad Back - Heavy Oak Top, back to my rigging experience. 2 pair of C Clamp Vise Grips and 2 small chain comalongs out of service truck and waaalaaa.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v81/irnsrgn/nu%20bench/Nubnch11109002.jpg


Almost 40° outside, so up to closed up Blacksmith Shop with the Tail Vise from Lee Valley to modify it with the Lathe by machining a groove for a brass stop to keep the screw from backing out and being a hazard when working around the bench. I mounted the Nut to the sliding part of the Wagon Vise.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v81/irnsrgn/nu%20bench/Nubnch11109003.jpg

Stop in place.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v81/irnsrgn/nu%20bench/Nubnch11109004.jpg


Now Screw don't stick out when vise is retracted.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v81/irnsrgn/nu%20bench/Nubnch11109005.jpg

[Douglas Brummett]

This bench is coming along nicely. That vise addresses the issue I had with using something like a standard veneer press screw. I am not a fan of protrusions around the bench if they can be avoided.

[harry strasil]

1/2 inch wide, Old oak foot mortiser chips,

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v81/irnsrgn/nu%20bench/mortisingchips003.jpg

Pile under the Foot Mortiser,

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v81/irnsrgn/nu%20bench/mortisingbenchfeet001.jpg

From the 1.75 deep mortises in the bench feet for the legs.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v81/irnsrgn/nu%20bench/mortisingbenchfeet002.jpg

Really nothing like the sound of a sharp chisel cutting thru old hard oak and making chips instead of dust.

[Bruce Page]

Harry, I think you're having too much fun with this!

[Jim Becker]

I agree with Bruce...way too much fun going on there, Harry... :)

[harry strasil]

If it's not FUN, why do it!

[steve swantee]

Good looking scarf joint in the third piece from the left Harry, your bench is coming along nicely.

Steve

[harry strasil]

Its a flub up Steve, if you look closer I cut it wrong, been awhile since I laid one out, I had another piece I could have used for the 4th leg, but it is in a stack out in my garage where I keep my blocking for rigging and winching jobs I used to do, but it was not where I could get to it easily, so I used a short one and a cutoff from one of the other legs, and just went ahead and glued it up anyway as it was a tight fit and then added 4 thru pegs for security, I need to plug the key hole yet. This Bench is all salvaged lumber/timber so far and I just can't see wasting material.

[harry strasil]

As the floor in my basement was poured at different times and whoever poured the sections did not have a high priority for making it level, I am mortising in 1/2 square nuts in the feet of the NuBench and using 1/2" by 2" carriage bolts for levelers on all 4 feet, the square shank under the head of the bolts makes it easy to adjust them with an old thin tappet wrench I have. The holes are 2 ¼ deep. The domed heads will not make holes in the floor, but yet should have enough friction to keep it from moving around. And as an added advantage the feet are up off the floor in case I get some water leakage from my old limestone basement walls.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v81/irnsrgn/nu%20bench/benchleveler.jpg

[Carlos Cabrera]

Your bench is really looking great. Would you mind telling me who makes the drilling guide that i see in some of your pics and also if you think it works well.

Thanks, Carlos

[harry strasil]

not sure who makes it, I got this one from Lee Valley, but the others carry it too.

Its good for light drilling, I use it quite often, it also has some pins you can screw into the bottom and twist the drilling jig and it will self center on the edge of something so you drill dead center. I have seen all different prices for it from different suppliers.

[harry strasil]

update 1/22/09

I got the Nubench Apron cut to length and rebated for the legs. Apron is one of the 10 inch by 1 3/4 inch Pin oak timbers that I didn't use to make the top. I sawed kerfs just short of the depth needed and then broke them off and used my Tenon Router to clean them up to the proper depth.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v81/irnsrgn/nu%20bench/Nubenchrebates001.jpg

The tops of the 2 legs the Apron will span were also rebated so that the Apron will be flush with them and the top to give me the widest possible foot print for stability.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v81/irnsrgn/nu%20bench/Nubenchrebates002.jpg

I kerfed and broke away the waste on the legs, then used my Tenon Router to pare away the waste, but on the legs due to the length of the rebate (10 inches), I did half first, then did the second half so as not to get a taper to the rebates.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v81/irnsrgn/nu%20bench/Nubenchrebates003.jpg

I have found out that when routing tenons or rebates crossgrain that skewing the cutter and taking small cuts that I get a shearing action and thus smoother cuts even in this extremely hard old salvaged oak I am using.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v81/irnsrgn/nu%20bench/Nubenchrebates004.jpg

I also got the bottom stretcher for the opposite side between the legs done. I am figureing the Apron will give enough stability that I won't need a stretcher at the bottom on the front side.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v81/irnsrgn/nu%20bench/Nubenchrebates005.jpg

[harry strasil]

Well almost a year has passed since I recieved the dried timbers for my NuBench on 02/09/08. After many delays, other more important projects, and health issues for both me and my wife, The NuBench is nearing completion.

Before the Leg Assembly is actually secured to the top, the Vise Squad needs to do its thing while its still upside down and can be handled.

The Apron ready to be trial fit to the top with 1/2 dowels to prevent warping, the dowels will not be glued in place. In fact the only glue used in the Bench will be the actual glue joints in the top working surface.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v81/irnsrgn/nu%20bench/012309Nubenchaprondowels.jpg

The first trial fit of the legs to the top.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v81/irnsrgn/nu%20bench/012309Nubenchlegfituptrial.jpg

Progress has been slow, but its finally looking like a real Wood Working Bench.
One of the benefits of this project is all the new tooling I purchased and made to get this project this far along. :lol:

[harry strasil]

Guess what I got accomplished today. I forgot how heavy that Turtle Vise is. going to need help now to get it back off.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v81/irnsrgn/nu%20bench/turtleback.jpg

Sure makes it look like I am making progress tho.

[David Keller NC]

Hmm - Interesting color - don't think I've ever seen a white one. Is that an Emmert, a King, or one of the other early 20th century copies (so that's why it's white?), or did the pattern maker that had it think white was cool?

[harry strasil]

Its a Columbian, and that's the way it was when my old neighbor gave it to me. I can't complain, David.

[Dave Anderson NH]

I'm not sure about a Columbian's construction vs that of an Emmert. You would make your life a lot easier Junior if you installed and uninstalled it in pieces. When I installed mine, I installed only the inner jaw with the hinge and then did a separate installation for the tilt bar tightening assembly. My beast is 85 lb but doing it 20-30lb at a time not only was easier, but it improved the accuracy. Your back will thank you if it's done in pieces.

[harry strasil]

I did it that way Dave, just the height on top of the table saw and the close fit made it dificult to put the jaw section in for me. I actually usedd a pair of C clamp vise grips on a floor joist and a small 4 part block and tackle to wrastle it in place for the picture and then removing it, just that due to my back injury, things that used to be simple are now difficult for me. I am not afraid to call for help if I need it. Nice to have friends I have helped in the past who owe me favors.

[Bob Strawn]

http://toolmakingart.battlering.com/images/PMVise/PMVise01%20Normal.JPG

I set mine up left handed, but the pattern makers vise, set up in a recess on the table, allows it to be used as a face vise as well.

One problem with putting a pattern makers vise on the end of a short table, the weight of it combined with a large chunk of wood and downward pressure, can tip the table. I should have set up this table with the legs closer to the ends of the table.

As it is, I am about to build a few drawers for the other end, to add ballast.

I think you have the makings of a great table there!

Bob

[Alan DuBoff]

Bob,

Looks like you also have a clone. I have seen comments from folks recently saying that the clone is not worth buying, but I have had nothing but good experiences with it.

What has your experience been with yours?

[harry strasil]

Bob you say you set yours up left handed, I am right handed and it looks to me like yours is set up right handed so you can saw close to the vise with your right hand.

The main and only vise on my demo workbench is a Woodworking leg vise set up on one end of the narrow 12 inch wide top, so I guess it could be used by either a lefty or a righty.

This is my Grandfathers Coachmakers Vise, I guess its a right handers vise.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v81/irnsrgn/wood/Holland9412offsetcoachmakervise01.jpg

I have been toying with the idea of making some kind of under top slip in mount, so I am able to use it on my NuBench.

[george wilson]

Hello,my first posting here. I was at Colonial Williamsburg 39 years as Musical Instrument Maker,and later as Toolmaker. I made a pair of sawhorses that are on the Fine Woodworking website,as Col. Wmsbg. sawhorses. I made them so that their splayed legs would allow them to stand vertical when set on end. Also,on end,they were the same height as the workbenches I had made. Then,in combination,a very long board could be supported nicely while sawing it into whatever lengths were needed. We were working only with 18th.C. handtools,of course,but the setup would work as well for dealing with long boards with skill saws,etc.

[harry strasil]

Vises 3 and 4 are mounted.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v81/irnsrgn/nu%20bench/vises3-4.jpg

[harry strasil]

Bench progress slowed down to almost a halt. First floor of house renovation and plumbing and electrical took priority, but today I spent all day moving the old bench to a new location and getting the Nu Bench off my tablesaw so I could use it again.

Lots of holes to drill now and some bolt holes to plug and finish the old style bench vise is the next order of business.

It Looks Much Better setting right side up on the floor. LOL

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v81/irnsrgn/nu%20bench/bnchmove004.jpg

[harry strasil]

I attempted a close up pic of the tight grain of the pin oak at a place I scraped. And the saw cut in wagon vise opening.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v81/irnsrgn/nu%20bench/pinoakcu.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v81/irnsrgn/nu%20bench/pinoaksawcut.jpg

yeah, burn marks, it was some hard stuff after 8 years air drying.

[David Gendron]

If I can ask, wy so many vices on the banch??
David

[David Keller NC]

Harry - If you've the time, I (and perhaps other Creekers) would be very interested in some close-up photos of the wagon vise design. There's a lot of variations on the way the guides are handled, and I'd be interested in your solution.

I've another bench design (number 6 for me) rattling around in my head, and I'm thinking "wagon vise" after the last bench with a tail vise. After I finished it I swore I'd never make another tail vise ever again - way too much PITA.

[harry strasil]

As to why so many vises, I guess I just like vises, but each one has it's uses, still have to finish the old style one and I have the screws for a face vise yet to make it.

As to some close ups of the wagon vise, they are already in the thread, I took pics as I made things. The only problem with making the W V screw so it doesn't move out when opened is that you have to turn it counter clockwise to close it and clockwise to open it, but I will get used to it.

Here are the pics again.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v81/irnsrgn/nu%20bench/vicegibs.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v81/irnsrgn/nu%20bench/Nubnch11109003.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v81/irnsrgn/nu%20bench/Nubnch11109004.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v81/irnsrgn/nu%20bench/Nubnch11109005.jpg

[harry strasil]

FWIW, if I were to make a tail vise, I would use a sliding dovetail for it to move in, using about 4 inch thick material to cut both the female and male section in, but then I have a Bridgeport Mill at my Blacksmith shop and a large metal cutting cutter to use. I used dowels for my slide to get around the slot getting sawdust etc in it and siezing up the movement.

But then as you may have noticed, I think outside the box a lot. LOL

[David Keller NC]

Harry - Forgive me for being lazy and not looking through the complete thread - one (small) disadvantage of the forum format is that threads that are good can get quite lengthy.

That's an interesting garter set-up. Never really occurred to me to make a garter arrangement - I had just thought of using the shoulder vise screw out of the box.

My objection to tail vises is that major pain they are to construct. I've built a couple that were completely wood except for a metal vise screw, and the last one (to save time, I thought) was a commercial screw/guide arrangement. The problem was that it was difficult to measure the proper dimensions for the infill, cap, and end-chop with the hardware laying on the bench, so most everything needed to be cut oversize, then carefully worked with chisels, rasps, etc... to get everything fitted up.

Considering that I don't pinch work between dogs to plane it (I plane against a stop almost exclusively), the only reason I wanted the tail vise was for the occasional dissassembly job or to hold a chair leg straight out from the bench. Neither purpose was worth all of the fussing to get the vise built up and mounted.

The next bench I build may have either a wagon vise, or no vise at all in the end position.

[harry strasil]

Well it was back to the Blacksmith shop to get a tool to work on the bench, (portable drill and press) then back again to get an auxiliary chuck to make the bit long enough to drill the dog holes. I am drilling the dog holes 13/16 as I use 3/4 Hot Rolled Round for the shanks of my dogs. Its oversize and has a more or less rough finish which holds in the holes better.

This is the set up I am using to drill the holes. The plywood has crosshairs drawn on the top, then a 13/16 hole was bored at their intersection. I line up the crosshairs with the lines drawn on the bench top then clamp in place, then position the drill in the hole and clamp it down, then drill. Boy that tight grained Pin Oak is some tough stuff.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v81/irnsrgn/nu%20bench/drilling.jpg

[harry strasil]

April 15/09 update

The NuBench is nearing completion finally. I have most of the dog holes drilled and made 4 bench dogs this morning at the Blacksmith Shop, the holes don't show up very good in this picture, but there are 4 rows of holes up and down in the Apron with 6 holes to a row then a line was drawn from the top hole of one row to the bottom row of the next row and 4 holes drilled along this line in the same plane as the holes in between up and down.


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v81/irnsrgn/nu%20bench/dogholes001.jpg

Also the new style lock for the leg vise bottom slider works quite well, and I left out the metal part in the top of the slider.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v81/irnsrgn/nu%20bench/viselock002.jpg

I have always had a problem with one of the old green school bench vise Maple liners, it has never lined up well with the inside liner. I have tried planing it to fit several times to no avail and today I decided to Kert it in, and that worked quite well. I placed a thin sacrificial piece below the liners and used a D-8 Panel saw with 12ppi and of course lubed the blade up with a Paraffin candle.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v81/irnsrgn/nu%20bench/kerf.jpg

A few more holes to drill in the top so I can use my Wedge Vise System and make and mount the Face Vise on the Apron side, and then to apply a Danish Oil Finish and I will be done.

[harry strasil]

Vise #6 is made.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v81/irnsrgn/nu%20bench/viseno6001.jpg


The mounting.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v81/irnsrgn/nu%20bench/viseno6002.jpg


It's a Light Tap Fit.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v81/irnsrgn/nu%20bench/viseno6003.jpg


In use, with the old style leg vise holding the other end and Oak Dogs holding it up and one of the new Holddowns securing the middle.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v81/irnsrgn/nu%20bench/viseno6004.jpg


BTW, the piece its holding is part of a floor joist from a 100+ year old house that was given to me for firewood for my shop. Part of it is going to end up as legs for our new Gateleg Dining Table.

And the Vise itself is Burr Oak from an Old Corncrib.

Jr.

[harry strasil]

Vise # 7 is made and mounted, NuBench is now done except for a few more holes to drill , a few more dogs and wedges to make.


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v81/irnsrgn/nu%20bench/vise7.jpg

Thanks for viewing this thread.


Jr.

[harry strasil]

The finished (maybe) Nu Bench with the 5 permanent vises on it, and a coat of neutral Danish Oil, all except the feet.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v81/irnsrgn/nu%20bench/coatedbench050809.jpg

[Bob Easton]

Congratulations Junior!

That's a great workbench. It looks like you should be able to hold almost anything (except maybe 20 foot long boat planks :) ) Lots of interesting ideas to copy. I really like the removable crochet.

[harry strasil]

NuBench at Work, Wedge Vise in use.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v81/irnsrgn/nu%20bench/nubenchatwork001.jpg

[John Keeton]

BTW, the piece its holding is part of a floor joist from a 100+ year old house that was given to me for firewood for my shop. Part of it is going to end up as legs for our new Gateleg Dining Table.

And the Vise itself is Burr Oak from an Old Corncrib.

Jr.Ol' waste not, want not, Harry!! The end is in sight. This has been a great journey, and a lot of knowledge to pick up on the way for us less experienced kids!

[harry strasil]

My idea for the bottom adjuster didn't work out as planed, so I went with a 1.5 inch screw and a knob like the steering wheel of a ship, I put 6 pegs around it, and its easily adjustable with my foot now.

[David Gendron]

You don't find it in the way? Keep us posted on how you like it on the long run!
Thank you
David

[harry strasil]

its been like that for a month, and I love it.

[David Gendron]

I like the no bending over to move that pin!! Even if now I'm use to it!

[Jeff Wittrock]

Harry,

I like the "ships wheel" idea. I use a screw on mine as well, but since its 3/4-10, it takes a lot of foot stomping to move it a little, and with a smooth surface it is even worse. Maybe I should put some pegs in it like yours, or saw some groves in it like knurling.

-Jeff

[harry strasil]

jeff make the hand/foot wheel larger and cut some notches, 6 or so or put dowels in it.

Your Vise is Much better looking than mine.

[harry strasil]

My old iron bench screw is a double thread and one revolution moves it 1/2 inch, it looks like 4 threads to the inch but is actually 2 threads to the inch, that's why I get all the old vise screws I can find. I still have one more that I have collected.

[bridger berdel]

having wanted some kind of overhead lift for a long time I made sure to include it into the current shop. I overbuilt the roof and slung an iron T beam from the rafters. a trolley and chainfall provide the lift and roll. I figure it has about 600 lbs. capacity, not enough to move the big machines but plenty for pretty much anything I'll build. pretty cheap solution to a real problem.





Harry,


One thing I've been pondering is some type of lifting setup, where I could lift sections of wood into place, in building larger projects like a bench, for instance. I keep thinking there's probably a fairly easy solution, possibly employing some type of hoist. I'm sure I'm not the only one that would welcome something like that...I do occasionally use an engine hoist, but it requires a lot of space when moving larger items, and won't fit in the area I do hand tool work. Most projects it doesn't matter, it's only when the timbers start getting bigger (bench top is a good example) that this becomes a problem for me. I do most of my work alone.

[harry strasil]

Bench update 9/1/09

Just finished my Auxilary Face Vise for my NuBench, that uses vises #3 and #4.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v81/irnsrgn/nu%20bench/auxfacevise.jpg

On the off chance I have the main one busy and need another.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v81/irnsrgn/nu%20bench/auxfacevise001.jpg

That makes 7 vises not counting the Crochet and the holdfasts and dogs and wedge system.