LeeValley Bench Slabs

Re: LeeValley Bench Slabs

Gary Miller

>I bought the whole bench w/ cast iron legs over a year ago, and find it to be very sound and functional. It's also quite attractive, which is important to both me and LOML since this bench is used inside the house in my handtool workshop (what is normally a formal living room to a non-neander).

As everything I've acquired from Lee Valley, the slabs (and bench) are well designed, constructed and work like they are supposed to.

I do suggest when you build the bench you use the Veritas "twin screw vise--it's excellent.

Gary

Re: LeeValley Bench Slabs

Brian in Merritt

>I was planning on buying the twin screw as a tail vice and also mounting a Record 52 1/2 on the front left hand corner. Thanks for the recomendations.

Re: LeeValley Bench Slabs

Don Thompson - Cutler Ridge, Florida

>The twin to your bench is awaiting assembly in my shop. The slab seems to be sound and straight.

What are you going to do for a base?

Re: LeeValley Bench Slabs

Brian in Merritt

>I have some old growth fir that my father gave me sitting in my garage that I plan on using. This is fir that was cut over 100 years ago and then sank to the bottom of lakes. He runs a small mill that takes these out of the water and cuts them into beams for high-end houses in a ski resort town north of Vancouver. These pieces I get are the waste parts, but are perfect for what I am doing with them. And the best part, they�re free!! I take some pics and post them.

As for the design, I plan on a simple trestle design. I think that the design that Lee Valley uses is the simplest, but I�ll make the base using some of their Bench bolts rather than the torsion rods. I�ll make sure I document the process.

Re: LeeValley Bench Slabs

Don Thompson - South of Miami

>I bought the same bolts and barrel nuts (now I have to find where I put them). I have to get some wood for the base, and let it acclimate to my shop (air conditioned) moisture levels.

Re: LeeValley Bench Slabs

Dan Clermont in Burnaby

>Hi Brian,

I don't have the Veritas bench but do own the Twin Screw vise and am quite happy with it. I have it mounted on the end of my bench and had to place my bench up against the wall making it difficult to use when sawing.

If I was to do it again I'd place the Twin Screw vise on the side of my bench similar to a Joiner's bench.

I don't know your room configuration but thought I would throw that out there.

If you do use the Twin Screw as a end vise it does make a great planing stop. Clamp a scrap in the end vise and you've got a stop.

Free wood at a ski resort north of Vancouver ehh!!!! Lucky Bugger ;)

Take Care,

Dan Clermont

Re: LeeValley Bench Slabs

Brian in Merritt

>Hi Dan,

Actually the wood comes from the Sunshine Coast out of Sakinaw and Ruby lakes. I'll take some pictures of the stuff that Dad brought up last summer. The grain is spectacular.

I have enough room around the shop to have a record cise on the side and the twin screw on the end. It will be just like the pictures on the web or of coarse in the store demo models. I think that I'll have to get the plans from Lee Valley for their bench before I make my base so that it will accomodate the twin screws. Let you know how things go. BTW, the planes are all sold to that place I mentioned. Total bill was 5000 canadian. I am putting on a workshop sometime in the spring on how to refurbish a plane at the Coquitlam or the Vancouver store. I'll let you know when. The planes will then be given away to a deserving person (student??) as part of the agreement. Take care.

Brian