A cabinetmaker's workbench (in pine) #2: two flitches done
First two flitches have been run through the Delta thickness planer:
Bowling Alley Workbench #14: Chop Chop Laddie. (the leg vise)
This project is a fine example of the 80/20 concept. it takes 20% of the project time to complete 80% of it, and then, 80% of the project time to finish the last 20% of the project. As it gets to the details, things take longer to think through, plan out, cut…mill…glue… and finesse. this time it’s the leg vise Chop, and although not completely finished (still need to trim, round off, and apply BLO), it’s construction is done. I was originally planning to us...
Workbench #8: Is Lee Valley great or what?
I just sent Lee Valley an email (and they answered TODAY) requesting to purchase some parts for my twin screw vise, a replacement speed knob cause I lost it, a new handle and new brass screws cause I buggered them installing the cover. They are shipping them to me grattis. I didn’t even ask, they offered!!
Bowling Alley Workbench #7: Moving forward at 0mph
It’s interesting how it feels like you’re standing still when you’re working on already dry-fit parts for additional features. After all – at the end of the day when you look at all the parts – they seem to look just the way they did in the morning. bummer. but even though things don’t seem that way somethings. Progress IS progress, and is one step closer to the finish line. Today I implemented the hardware for the leg vise in the right leg (I’m...
Bowling Alley Workbench #6: There is more than 1 way to skin a cat - not so with bowling alley floors though - finally success
Yes. Finally some light at the end of the tunnel, reverse thinking, and this project seems a bit more doable, and even not much trouble at all. Originally I tried to get the (2.5” hardened) nails out by using a cat’s paw and a hammer to pull each nail out of the 2.5 laminated hard-rock maple strips. I figured once I get all the nails out of the top strip, it’ll just free it from the lamination, and be nails free… one strip at a time, until I have them all cleared ou...
Roubo Workbench #4: Which Vise Do I Nurse in My Bosom?
Bear with me. It’ll make sense eventually. I’ve got two vise screws. One was generously donated by a “homeboy” from the Porch, Bill Taggart, when I visited his place a couple few years ago. The other was a $10 eBay purchase. I’m trying to decide which one to use in my leg vise. Allow me to present the two candidates, and then leave your verdict in the comments below. Candidate A is a standard metal vise screw. I dunno, looks like about an inch or so thick, ...
Bowling Alley Workbench #2: Design B...B...Because I said so. -more criticism please
So after giving some food for though, and going back and forth between 2 designs – my original one: and the Roubo Bench (the one I was drooling over was Jameel’s bench from handcrafted vises), I decided to take the things that would work best for me today, based on materials that I have available today – while keeping an open door for future changes. here are the features I am going for: 1. wagon vise – tail vise abilities, without the sagging, and without...
Bowling Alley Workbench #1: Conceptual Design 1 - feedback appreciated
So after we've got the bowling alleys. now it’s time to put them to to use (not really ‘now now’ but … you know what I mean). So, I really would like to make this one a keeper, and not have to redo this bench unless I really fancy it in the future with lots of extra time on my hands and nothing better to do with it (hence – not likely it’ll happen), and in order to do that, I figured I’ll make this one as close as I can to the ‘ultimate’...
Workbench Buildup #1: Desmond-Stephan Vise Restoration
Not exactly a woodworking project, but will parlay into a workbench project to come. This is an old vise I got from my dad’s shop. I don’t know too much about it, but it says Desmond-Stephan Mfg Co. on the left side and Urbana, Ohio on the right. I restored it to useable condition and will mount it on my new workbench after building it. Before Restoration. A rusted mess! I used an “Electrolytic Rust Removal” process to remove the bulk of the rust. I couldn...
Building The Holtzapffel Workbench #15: The Finished Bench!
Well it was a longtime coming but I have finished the bench. I’ve been having an issue getting the main face vise to operate smoothly. It worked just fine when I had it mocked up, but once I added the final chop it was grabbing and binding. It took some trouble shooting to find the problem, but in the end the problem was me trusting that power tools can do an accurate finish job. More on that later. First I thought the problem was that the new chop was bigger and heavier. I thought th...
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