A Bench That Holds Your Work - Your First Workshop

B

uilt on the base of the bench used in the Essential Shop, this bench has all the features you need for advanced woodworking. This uncommon design (suitable for right-handers) uses an iron quick-action vise on the left end that functions as both front vise and tail vise.

A wwooooddeenn eell ccllaammppeedd iinn tthhee vviissee hhoollddss tthhee bbooaarrdd iinn p

pllaaccee ffoorr eeaassyy ccllaammppiinngg aaccrroossss tthhee bbeenncchh ttoopp..

^S^{S U}^{U P}^{P P}^{P O}^{O R}^{R T}^{T B}^{B O}^{O A}^{A R}^{R D}^{D S}^{S F}^{F O}^{O R}^{R P}^{P L}^{L A}^{A N}^{N II N}^{N G}^G

Laammiinnaatteedd hhaarrdd mmaappllee ttoopp iiss p

pllaanneedd aanndd ssccrraappeedd ssmmooootthh,, tthheenn ffiinniisshheedd wwiitthh aa lliigghhtt lliinnsseeeedd ooiill//bbeeeesswwaaxx mmiixxttuurree..

Doogg hhoollee iinn jjaaww a

alliiggnnss wwiitthh bbeenncchh..

Doogg hhoolleess 66"" ffrroomm eeddggee R

Roouunndd ddooggss ffoorr v

veerrssaattiilliittyy

4"" wwiiddee xx 11¹¹//²²"" tthhiicckk sskkiirrtt aallll a

arroouunndd ffoorr vveerrttiiccaall ccllaammppiinngg

Shheellff ffoorr wwoorrkk iinn pprrooggrreessss oorr ttoooollss A

Addjjuussttaabbllee ffeeeett ffoorr uunneevveenn fflloooorrss Q

Quuiicckk--aaccttiioonn c

caasstt--iirroonn vviissee w

wiitthh wwooooddeenn jjaawwss

Sttuurrddyy,, hheeaavvyy bbaassee

The bench shown here makes use of a versatile metal vise on the left end of the bench to fulfill the functions of both a front and tail vise (see the sidebar on p. 80). You can stand at the end of the bench when you need the vise to hold small objects, and work along the front of the bench when working with long boards or planing.

What to buy

Whether you build a woodworker’s bench or buy one, it should meet the size and height

criteria of the Essential Shop workbench (see pp. 8–11). Make sure the rods at the bottom of the jaw are at least 4" below the surface of the bench—if not, you’ll find it difficult to clamp wide boards securely. Look for dog holes 4" to 8" in from the edge. Traditional dogs are square, but round ones are more versatile (see

“Best Bench Accessories” on the facing page).

Most woodworker’s benches have a skirt around the edges; make sure it’s at least 1¹⁄2"

thick to provide adequate footing for vertical clamping with big clamps. Look for minimal obstructions beneath the bench so you can clamp across the underside.

Though in-bench storage seems like a good idea, bench drawers are overrated.

They’re not really that convenient for holding your tools, and they tend to fill up with dust and shavings. Plus, a few drawers full of tools can add enough weight to a bench to make it difficult for one person to move around the shop. Though you’ll store your bench against the wall and often use it in that position, you’ll frequently want to pull it out to the center of the shop for access to all four sides.

If your floor is uneven, you’ll want large, sturdy self-leveling feet.

A light finish seals the benchtop against moisture and makes it easier to clean. An oil-wax or oil-varnish finish works best and is easy to renew.

O

ld-fashioned wooden-jaw vises certainly look nice on a bench, but I prefer the utilitarian heft of a big cast-iron vise. First of all, they’re easy to install using lag screws or bolts. A few inches of heavy, noncompress-ible blocking between the vise and the bench get the rods well below the surface of the bench for easy clamping of wide workpieces.

The polished metal handle just feels good in the hands, is smaller, and doesn’t get in the way as much as the massive wooden ones on an old-fashioned vise.

But the best feature of all is the quick-release lever on the lower right side of the cheek. Put your palm on the center of the T handle, and whether you’re right- or left-handed, it’s easy to squeeze the lever upward with your finger or thumb as your hand tightens to disengage the threads.

Now the vise slides in and out so you can rapidly position your work and tighten the jaws.

T H E A D VA N TA G E S O F A Q U I C K - R E L E A S E C A S T- I R O N V I S E

Woodworker’s Bench 81

B

B E E S S T T B B E E N N C C H H A A C C C C E E S S S S O O R R II E E S S

C LL EE VV EE RR DD OO GG SS

If you go with round dog holes, you have lots of choices when it comes to dogs: short ones, tall ones, plastic ones, and even ones with threaded jaws. Bore another row or two of dog holes in your bench, and you can secure odd-shaped or even curved pieces.

B EE NN CC HH HH OO OO KK

Because of the benchhook’s unique Z shape, you can secure a workpiece to it for sawing with one hand. Simply hold the work against the back edge of the hook with your thumb in front and your fingers in back. Stiffen your arm and push. The lip pressing against the front of the bench keeps everything sta-ble so you can saw.

H OO LL DD FFAA SS TT SS

Holdfasts are a great way for supporting a workpiece in the middle of the bench. The old-fashioned one on the left wedges into place when struck. Turn the big brass knob on the holdfast to the right to lock it down.

COO VV EE RR

Protect your bench with a ¹⁄⁴" Masonite cover.

It’s much easier to clean than your carefully planed and scraped benchtop, and it’s readily replaceable. Put it down whenever you use glue or finishing products and anytime you use your bench for nonwoodworking tasks like fixing the lawnmower.

Spprriinngg ccllaammppss aarree iiddeeaall ffoorr ssmmaallll c

cllaammppiinngg jjoobbss..

Coorrnneerr ccllaammppss hhoolldd ppaarrttss dduurriinngg ffiittttiinngg aanndd gglluuee--uupp..

Weebbbbiinngg ccllaammppss eexxeerrtt eevveenn pprrees s--s

suurree wwhheenn ootthheerr ccllaammppss ccaann’’tt..

^C^{C O}^{O R}^{R N}^{N E}^{E R}^{R C}^{C L}^{L A}^{A M}^{M P}^{P S}^S ^W^{W E}^{E B}^{B B}^{B II N}^{N G}^{G C}^{C L}^{L A}^{A M}^{M P}^{P S}^S

^S^{S P}^{P R}^{R II N}^{N G}^{G C}^{C L}^{L A}^{A M}^{M P}^{P S}^S W

W HH AA TT CC LL AA MM PP SS CC AA NN DD OO

In document Your First Workshop (Page 84-87)