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Thread: Travel bench, now with tools

  1. #1
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    Mar 2012
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    Travel bench, now with tools

    This project started down in the ‘Woodworking projects’ area here https://sawmillcreek.org/showthread....vel-work-bench
    ths a continuation of that build as I am now fitting the little bench with hand tools. If you haven’t seen the other thread this is what the bench looks like.
    AC8BD3EE-0DF7-4730-B21D-5B7EDF2E0EAD.jpg
    It is small, the top is 6”x14” and it stands 7 1/2” tall. I want to outfit it with all the primary tools to build a box or cave a peg head for a dulcimer or any other task. For those following along from the beginning here is the last page of the article that lists the tools the original bench carried.
    EE13BF74-EE2C-4A93-9680-53A41B24A8D5.jpg

    My needs are not gunsmithing so I will pack it with tools useful to me. Space is at a premium, only .21 cubic feet as in the original handles have to be removable and multi use.
    the top drawer hold most of the measuring and marking tools, I won’t name every tool so if you have questions just ask.
    FBBF7CDE-6315-459A-B009-73B02494EF83.jpg

    6C618508-453D-41C0-91DA-617FA0520F4B.jpg

    Next is lower drawer, three palm planes. The flat sole one has a rabbeting blade. 5 palm handled micro carving tools. Two of the tiny Veritas marking gauges, a larger bevel gauge a blued steel scraper and a drill gauge.

    810E5111-6C5F-46C5-B7E0-A8F4CE7F622A.jpg

    95BF5090-07C4-4AD2-872A-D2EDC0EBF91F.jpg
    Sorry, I don’t know why some pics are sideways. Much more to come.
    Jim
    Ancora Yacht Service

  2. #2
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    Next comes the ability to drill some holes should the need arise. When I saw this Insti bit holder I thought it was perfect, compact and flat.
    0647BC4D-AC78-4B16-8016-C5383A61C1A9.jpg

    But then I realized since the drawers were inset from the edges since they are hung on the legs, the bits would fit along the side walls. They do not interfere with the drawer opening.
    D6B9E92E-6B2E-4231-8049-F624BE401967.jpg

    A0D02234-C20C-48BC-AB13-3249651DC420.jpg

    Now something to power the bits. A Yankee eggbeater was the best choice for ratchet function and like the original a removable handle so it will actually fit in the bench.
    233A151C-118F-4931-9B73-2951A73E3FA3.jpg

    7EEFCAAD-1C9A-43ED-9D1D-ACCCEEAFB6D9.jpg

    Continuing in this theme are a couple more drill bits and screw driving tools.

    5FBC11C8-478D-4CBD-AEB2-5D16DE7E621E.jpg

    That block of bits and and things will live here.
    1E798BBA-FC19-440F-9A6B-F94B9CF0B262.jpg
    That little ratchet shown in the holder is a wonderful tool. It is made for hex bits and very versatile.
    Jim
    Ancora Yacht Service

  3. #3
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    On to the cutting, carving and chisels. This is a set from Warren Tools. I fitted into an Altoids box lined with felt so as not to damage the edges. Two, possibly three handles will go in the box to minimize tools changes.

    6879C395-58C8-4EF9-A57B-03DF3F604D5F.jpg

    AB73B3D8-9AA7-4F74-A9D7-2BB680A88529.jpg

    86D86B68-06BC-46CD-81A6-AD105327129A.jpg

    Also in an Altoids box is a 1/4” socket set.

    5B2AE190-7A56-4908-A329-76B216C73FF4.jpg

    C7D2BF02-F287-4242-B533-447141EA66D6.jpg
    A couple more tool categories to go.
    Jim
    Ancora Yacht Service

  4. #4
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    Along with the little palm planes in the drawer I can also fit in these planes.

    003A974D-F77E-4A4C-976F-68586CD445A1.jpg

    And they live here.
    D1788AE8-0DC7-463B-9CDC-C5B93C595E7A.jpg

    To keep the edged tools tools sharp I have chosen two CBN hones with 4 different grits and I made a double sided strop that can be charges with two different grits.

    1A90B4A0-7454-4B1D-AD7D-26B670110EEF.jpg

    6E90ADAF-B81B-44AB-BFB4-3859F0F57ADC.jpg

    Again I apologize, I don’t know why these pics are sideways.
    Jim
    Ancora Yacht Service

  5. #5
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    Since I can’t fit my bandsaw in there I have a fretsaw, a multi purpose handle and a thin aluminum tube with a variety of blades.

    968ABB89-76EF-4BD3-A2C6-1E2345410A1F.jpg

    For other cutting tasks these will fit in.

    A1C1AC71-6D3B-4620-9598-641E046A2DF9.jpg

    03CE490E-2EE2-45F9-A4E2-7298A023B2FF.jpg
    The handle for the Zona saws is very small but the blade will also fit in the multi holder handle.
    and then there is this vintage blade holder that can hold any variety of sawzall blades.

    14D2246B-10B4-4C7F-AE84-EBB3DDDE47EF.jpg

    Jim
    Ancora Yacht Service

  6. #6
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    Jan 2019
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    Fairbanks AK
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    Will you be able to rig some sort of shoulder strap or side handles for moving it around? Or can you just lift it by the bench top?

  7. #7
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    Hi Scott. I don’t expect to carry it very far at this point in time. The barn to the dining room table, barn to the deck, barn to the car. That sort of thing. I had thought of making a canvas bag to put it in and it would have handles, but at the moment I’m not worried about it. I did rout recesses along the sides of the base to be able to get my fingers under it. The top mortise and tenons are only glued so although I used epoxy I wouldn’t want to stress them.

    AA5DAB15-B018-4734-AD1B-5D1FBAA7F716.jpg

    Jim
    Ancora Yacht Service

  8. #8
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    Jan 2016
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    Longmont, CO
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    quite clever and beautiful.

  9. #9
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    Thanks Adam.
    Jim
    Ancora Yacht Service

  10. #10
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    Sep 2007
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    Longview WA
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    It is a very beautiful mini-bench.

    Is the Lie-Nielsen plane a #1?

    jtk
    "A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty."
    - Sir Winston Churchill (1874-1965)

  11. #11
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    Yes a LN #1 in bronze. I bought it years ago, possibly through the classifieds here. They are crazy expensive now. This has been on my todo list as I said in the other thread for almost thirty years and I always had my eye out for tools to put in it. Some were inherited most were bought used. The only new money I spent was for the Zona saws and the little ryobi saw. I just bought that yesterday from Shelter Institute and my wife came along for the ride. She knows how obsessed I’ve been with this project. On the way home she asked “what are you going to use it for” I replied does an obsession need a reason? She just laughed.
    i might make a little Krenov style plane with a Hock 1” iron I have so who knows. The #1 was part of the original kit so that is why it is in for the moment. The leg vise is able to open up enough to hold it upside down to use as a jointer if need be.
    Jim
    Ancora Yacht Service

  12. #12
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    Jan 2019
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    I wondered if the relief in the feet might work as handles, but you are packing that thing tight full of tool steel.

    It is a beautiful thing, curious to know final loaded weight. Could you get a dolly under it if need be?

  13. #13
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    Morning Scott. If I need a dolly I over did it. It weighs 12 pounds empty, I’ll load it up and give a total weigh a bit later today.
    Jim
    Last edited by Jim Ritter; 06-17-2021 at 10:29 AM. Reason: spelling
    Ancora Yacht Service

  14. #14
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    Here are the last few tools for the bench.
    Three little spokeshaves in a storage tin that still needs to be felt lined.
    17C2B20F-479B-438E-87F5-859C3C887163.jpg

    Some clamps, I’ll most likely have two of the machinist clamps.
    B66561E7-D40D-4623-B4F5-704C96A72D67.jpg

    A palette knife, a disc of metal to pound on if needed. (I still need to fit a handle to a small ball pein hammer head). And four rubber pads to put under the bench if it will be on the dining room table.
    4BF59F3A-E0D4-4C3B-9607-D6AE7BC24EDF.jpg

    And here it is loaded with all the tools listed above.
    AC183943-CFB3-46D9-A28D-1E056972000B.jpg

    99E24372-AE0F-4857-A169-8DD6CB91B94F.jpg
    The recesses on the bottom boards let me get my fingers under the whole bench to carry that way.
    total weight at this time is just over 23 pounds, I guess when I get the hammer made it will be 24 pounds.
    I have a machinist tool chest of unknown origin and not that fine an example of a chest so I will most likely dedicate it to holding all of the tools that didn’t make the cut and a place to store these tools if don’t need them when swapping tools for a specific job.
    Jim
    Ancora Yacht Service

  15. #15
    Join Date
    Feb 2004
    Location
    Perth, Australia
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    Jim, does the leg vise have a chain drive?

    Nice work. I think that you have been following in my footsteps ... which means I understand the obsessional thinking that went with this build!

    Regards from Perth

    Derek

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