Operation Holtzapffel #6: Making Progress

Damian;

Looks good so far!

lee

-- by Lee A. Jesberger http://www.prowoodworkingtips.com http://www.ezee-feed.com

Big sticks are definitely smaller, now I just gotta make them big again :) Not sure why my SCMS was burning the maple on those crosscuts though, blade flex perhaps, just dull?

-- I am always doing that which I can not do, in order that I may learn how to do it. - Pablo Picasso

Good idea with the vacuum press. I haven’t added that my shop yet, but maybe someday. It’s looking good, keep up the good work.

-- http://theinquisitivewoodworker.com/

Those vacuum presses do come in handy!

-- Gary, East TX -- The longest journey begins with a single step.

Damian,

This is coming along nicely. The vacuum press looks interesting. I will have to look into one myself.

-- With God's help all things are possible- even woodworking. Woodworking is not just a hobby, it is an (expletive deleted) expensive hobby.

this is coming along nicely. good idea with the vacuum press. i look forward to more.

Lookin’ good in the neighborhood

-- Thos. Angle

Looks great.

Maybe the burning is caused by the wood shifting while cutting (of course dull also will do it). Have you tried clamping the workpiece whilst chopping? Could also be caused by the wood relaxing halfway through the cut. Solve this by cutting over sized by a bit and then re-chopping to final length.

I want a vaccum press :(
What did it cost you?

-- Stevethepeeve -- I'm no rocket surgeon

Could definitely be wood movement Steve, I did have the piece clamped, but only one side, and by a little clamp that’s part of the saw. Everything is over sized so I’ll see how the real cuts go.

I think I paid about $50 for the pump, and then another $120 or so for the bits and bobs that make up the kit, on top of that the bag itself was about $150. Not super cheap, but it’s a very versatile piece of kit, and lots of fun to use.

-- I am always doing that which I can not do, in order that I may learn how to do it. - Pablo Picasso

Wow, that vacuum press is awesome! Yet another thing to add to the wish list.

I’m just starting on my Holtzapffel bench, so I’ll be watching your progress with interest!

-- Kevin

I didn’t realize the force you can get out of the press – a ton – literally? Wowzers!

This is really gonna start coming together now! Pretty exciting! I bet this step felt good…LEGS!

-- Dorje (pronounced "door-jay"), Seattle, WA

You get about 11lb/s per square inch from the press when its pulling 22hg of vacuum, each leg blank is about 180 sq inches which means 1980lbs of pressure per leg, 20lb’s short of a ton but pretty close :)

-- I am always doing that which I can not do, in order that I may learn how to do it. - Pablo Picasso

Amazing.

-- Dorje (pronounced "door-jay"), Seattle, WA

I kind of wanted a vac press before this post, now I REALLY want one. Thanks for the great idea Damian.

Hi Damian.

I’d also like to see more on your vacuum press when you get a chance. The plan by joewoodworker looks really nice. How did building it go for you?

-- johnjoiner