Project Information
Hopefully you are like me and love looking at benches. If not sorry for posting yet another bench. I seem to like contemporary clean lines and I also like everything to fit together so when building this bench that is what I was focusing on. I notice that lots of times people do not match the bench/chop/sliding deadman and things look off (at least to me). Another thing that intrigues me was the idea of having an asymmetrical chop, EVERY design I have seen have kept it symmetrical. I assume this is for balance but after seeing the hardware I was working with I decided to see if it would work.
I actually started the bench with a single drawing of a few chop ideas (one of the images). From there I went about building the chop and base making sure they worked and were smooth. After that I made the top. For the last step I was having trouble coming up with a sliding deadman that made sense so I took a novel approach. I took a picture of the bench then drew different ideas on the image (final drawing included). After I came up with something I liked I went about making it. Overall I think the project came together well and looks cohesive. The asymmetrical chop does not affect the action or holding power.
As a side bonus I had a little extra wood so I made the moxon vise and carvers vice (although the carvers vice does not match the contemporary design). I also want to modify the moxon vice to have a lambs tongue maybe I will do that soon.
I still need to make a taller vice using the "classic" hardware to work closer to eye level and a La Forge Royale Miter Jack. I have both the kits but not the time. Actually the La Forge just seems a little intimidating and over my skill level so that is my excuse there.
I actually started the bench with a single drawing of a few chop ideas (one of the images). From there I went about building the chop and base making sure they worked and were smooth. After that I made the top. For the last step I was having trouble coming up with a sliding deadman that made sense so I took a novel approach. I took a picture of the bench then drew different ideas on the image (final drawing included). After I came up with something I liked I went about making it. Overall I think the project came together well and looks cohesive. The asymmetrical chop does not affect the action or holding power.
As a side bonus I had a little extra wood so I made the moxon vise and carvers vice (although the carvers vice does not match the contemporary design). I also want to modify the moxon vice to have a lambs tongue maybe I will do that soon.
I still need to make a taller vice using the "classic" hardware to work closer to eye level and a La Forge Royale Miter Jack. I have both the kits but not the time. Actually the La Forge just seems a little intimidating and over my skill level so that is my excuse there.