I’ve been making slow but steady on my bench. After getting my jointer knives sharpened I set about milling the stock for the legs. I’d noticed my dust collector wasn’t running as well as it once did and wondered were all the dust I’d been collecting since I bought it had ended up…
Turns out it all goes into that big sack! So after getting that working I face and edge jointed all the parts for the base. Once that was done it was time to glue the two pieces that comprise the legs together. I’m not a man of many clamps so figured I’d crack open my vacuum press to do the job all in one shot.
This is my trusty vacuum press, built per joewoodworkers plans.
Here it is in action..
I could really do with some proper breather mesh for the top but I’ve found it works just as well if I throw some rags in there which is what you can see on top of the legs.
The vacuum pressing worked really well, producing a ton (literally) of nice even pressure on the legs. Which you can see at the bottom of this pile.
So now I have all the bits for the base pretty much ready (and I’ve rough cut most of the pieces for the top too). I’m going to drum sand them to final thickness next week (I think) because my initial plan to use the planer was causing too much chip out in this crazy grained maple. After that I can get down to some joinery.
-- I am always doing that which I can not do, in order that I may learn how to do it. - Pablo Picasso
15 comments so far
Lee A. Jesberger
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2204 posts in 385 days
posted 120 days ago
Damian;
Looks good so far!
lee
-- by Lee A. Jesberger http://www.prowoodworkingtips.com http://www.ezee-feed.com
Damian Penney
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593 posts in 397 days
posted 120 days ago
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
Mike Lingenfelter
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363 posts in 520 days
posted 120 days ago
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.
-- Mike - "Creativity is allowing yourself to make mistakes. Art is knowing which ones to keep." (Scott Adams)
GaryK
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8274 posts in 394 days
posted 120 days ago
Those vacuum presses do come in handy!
-- Gary, East TX -- The longest journey begins with a single step.
Scott Bryan
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8049 posts in 228 days
posted 120 days ago
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.
teenagewoodworker
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1739 posts in 174 days
posted 120 days ago
this is coming along nicely. good idea with the vacuum press. i look forward to more.
Thos. Angle
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3243 posts in 368 days
posted 119 days ago
Lookin’ good in the neighborhood
-- Thos. Angle, Owyhee Design, Oregon
SPalm
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674 posts in 288 days
posted 119 days ago
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
Damian Penney
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593 posts in 397 days
posted 119 days ago
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
kem
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42 posts in 124 days
posted 119 days ago
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
Dorje
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1711 posts in 403 days
posted 119 days ago
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
Damian Penney
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593 posts in 397 days
posted 119 days ago
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
Dorje
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1711 posts in 403 days
posted 119 days ago
Amazing.
-- Dorje (pronounced "door-jay"), Seattle, WA
lclashley
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223 posts in 520 days
posted 118 days ago
I kind of wanted a vac press before this post, now I REALLY want one. Thanks for the great idea Damian.
johnjoiner
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142 posts in 299 days
posted 117 days ago
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