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I have been wanting to laminate some thin strips of wood for making some sculpted boxes…mostly 6-7 pieces of alternating contrasting and different woods that are 1/8" thick and 5-6 " wide and 48" long. I tried laminating some thin pieces a while back using just about every small clamp in my shop and somehow managed to get gaps in the glue up that were unsatisfactory so I scrapped that method.

I saw a veneer press that Shipwright (Paul ) made and it inspired me to make this setup. I made the frames by gluing up 3 layers of 3/4 birch ply and mortising and tenon end joints. An old desktop that was 1 1/4" thick particle board ended up being cup up to make the bottom plate, top plate and center press.
I bought the four vice screws from Lee Valley (my only expense since the ply and desktop were free) and this is the end result.
This laminating press is one heavy piece…I can hardly lift it. It is 16×18x48 and has an inside capaccity of 10" wide x 6" tall and 48" length. The bottom plate is lined with a piece of 1/4" UHMW to keep glue from sticking.
I have a bench I need to clear off and it will be the permanent spot for it to sit.

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Hello

This is an impressive press

I have to make one but very smaller !!!
Thanks for sharing
 

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Greg, that's a great looking press, I am looking forward to seeing completed boxes.
 

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Nice build! This didn't come up in my email as most of your sculpted boxes do? How often might you use this beastie? Most of the plywood in box stores is too thin for anything other than kitchen cabinets?
 

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Sorry..It just came up! LOL!
 

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I am also very interested in the new creations we may soon behold. Good job sir
 

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this is an impressive press, it looks great, and it will do the job, im not worried about that….great build greg
 

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Nice press…uber useful, i'll bet! Can you comment on the tightening process with respect to turning 4 vice screw handles at once! How exactly do you keep the pressure equal across 4 separate vice screws?
 

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That's awesome Greg. I want one also, but I'll have to go for the miniature version.
 

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Thanks …I am looking forward to using it and see the results. I had planned to use it today but my wife bought nine large bushed and trees the other day and I won the bid for shoveling dirt and doing the manuel labor.
I just completed three and am already worn out…six more to go.

DiggerJack…it ws simple and easy ro make and only took about 3/4 of a day.

Tom…I used regular 3/4 birch plywood and just glued and screwed the 3 thicknesses together. Real easy to make the mortises and tenons that way.

Charles…the two end screws are attached to the movable board and the 2 center ones are floating. This makes it easy to tighten the end ones and then snug down the center ones.
 

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Very good idea! Doing some new mug ideas and this will be something I will consider making.Space is an issue and it needs a spot to permanently sit. ...thanks for sharing!
 

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Danal…I made this one large because I use one contioious board for my box sides… A smaller version with one screw vise would be more practical for alot of work.
 

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Looks very well made Greg. The inter-laid plywood makes the best finger joint possible. It's the basic joint in my new workbench (V8) works great.You're going to love it.
 

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Paul…I think the way I built this was definitely overkill for laminating what I need …but I don't think it will fall apart anytime soon. I have a piece of 4/4 oak that is quite cupped and warped so I thought I might test this and see what it could do. It completely flattened it with minimal effort…! Of course, it went back to its warped and cupped shape as soon as I took it out….but I at least know what it is capable of doing.
Tomorrow I will give it a good test with some glued up pieces.
 

· In Loving Memory
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Great job on your shop built press. I've been wanting to see you sculpt some laminated boxes. Can't wait to see what you come up with!
 

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great idea! i don't do boxes, but have been wanting to make a better clamping system to ease glue up….this gives me some great ideas!
 

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Andy…thanks…I look forwars to scyulpting some laminated boxes as it is something I have been thinking about for quite a while. I have 2 commission pieces to finish and then I hope to sculpt my first one.
 

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Greg,

What did the vice screws cost?
 

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Tom…I paid $29.95 each plus shipping from Lee Valley. the shipping for all 4 was around $12
 
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