Workbench Finished

Here's Anothrer Pic 

Hank Knight in SC

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End Caps

Hank Knight in SC

>The end caps were a pain, but I finally got them square and flush. Here's the end result.

Re: Levelers

Hank Knight in SC

>The levelers are probably the only unique thing about my bench. My shop floor is anything but level so I needed some heavy duty levelers. I ordered some heavy duty machine levelers from MSC Industrial Supply. I was concerned about mounting them in 1/2 X 13 connectors imbedded in the legs because the connectors have a very small cross section when turned on end. I was afraid the weight of the bench would eventually split the legs. I had some leg end plates fabricated at a local machine shop. They were turned down from 1 3/8 steel plate to leave a 3" X 3" bottom plate that covers most of the cross section of the legs and gives me 9 sq. in. of bearing surface. They have a 1" long threaded stub that is recessed into a hole drilled in the leg. The whole thing works great. The neoprene feet stick to the floor like glue and, with the weight of the bench, I can't push it out of place. The threaded levelers also give me about 4" of vertical height adjustment for the bench. Here's a pic ot the levelers and the leg plates .

Re: Twin Screw Vise

Hank Knight in SC

>I was worried about comments that the rear jaw of the Veritas Twin Screw Vise drooped when opened fully, so I mounted some 1/2" UHMW between the vise screws and the bench top for the screws to ride on. It works great -- no sagging jaws. Here's a pic.

Re: Levelers...Hey Rob Lee!

Joe Rogers, Northern Virginia

>Nice Hank. This is just the thing that a progressive toolmaker could bring to market to save the effort of a trip to the machine shop. Could even be aluminum with a steel insert for thread strength. What a well thought out solution to a universal problem.JR

Re: Levelers

Hank Knight in SC

>Here's a better picture of the levelers and the leg plates.

Re: Levelers...Hey Rob Lee!

Hank Knight in SC

>Thenks Joe. Fabricating the leg plates turned out to be more expensive than I planned, but I was too far into it to back up. Now that I've swallowed the cost, I'm very happy I went ahead with it. Cry once, etc.

Re: Twin Screw Vise

Chris Knight

>Hank,

A lot of care and though went into that bench - very well done! I admire the end caps and applaud your way of stopping the tail vise droop.

I note your call to Rob on levellers and that is a good idea but I would like him to go one better in the bench stakes - I am keen to have a very heavy moveable bench that is jacked up with air pressure from my compressor and then wheeled or easily skidded to where I want it (turning through 90 degrees on the way there) then set down.

Chris

Re: Thanks

Hank Knight in SC

>Chris, thanks for your kind words. Actually it was Joe Rogers' suggestion to Rob Lee about the levelers, but I think it is a good new product idea. I too would like to have a moveable bench and I thought about ways to do it. But alas, the concept for such a heavy bench was beyond my engineering capabilities and pocketbook.

Wow, they're really nice, great bench, too.

Pam Niedermayer - Austin, TX

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Re: Twin Screw Vise

William Duffield, on the Cohansey

>I made levelers from half inch NC threaded rod, threaded connectors and a few nuts and washers when I built my bench, several years ago.

Three issues:

First, I think mine are plenty stong enough for a very heavy bench that gets very heavy use, even without the custom made plates. I've never had a failure. The threaded connectors are buried up in the legs, and are supported on a fender washer also buried in the leg. There is three inches of half inch diameter hole in the leg below the bottom of the threaded connector, which provides all the lateral support the bench needs. This hole also extends a few inches above the connector and washer, to allow room for the top of the levelers when fully retracted. I glue up my leg posts, which allowed me to easily cut all the holes for the leveler hardware. Cutting the two halves of the slot for the fender washer was about the best use I've found yet for a biscuit jointer :^)

I have a concrete floor, and find that pads made from hardwood plywood provide enough sliding friction that the bench will not move unless I decide to move it (as described below). To make the pads, I glued two pieces of 3/4" x 4" x 4" plywood together face to face, drilled a hole through the center to accept the end of the threaded rod and a nut, and then drilled a larger hole about a half inch deep to accept a washer that carries the weight of the bench. I bolted the washer between two nuts. All the hardware I used was available for a few bucks at the Borg. If you want to be structurally overinsured, and want to use 3/4" threaded rod and connectors, you can get what your need at McMaster-Carr.

To move the bench, I roll a couple of furniture dollies underneath, and put blocks between them and the trestles. Then, with an open end wrench, I raise the leg levelers, using the upper support nut, that sticks out the top of the pad, until the weight is resting on the dollies. I move it wherever I want it, and then crank the levelers back down, lifting it off the dollies.

Thanks Pam

Hank Knight in SC

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Very nice bench Hank

Scott Burr in Ben Lomond,CA

>The thought that went into it and it's design are great IMHO. A job well done.

Great bench! &vise question

Jim Cosgrove

>You've made yourself really nice looking bench. Wow! Let us know how you like the twin-screw vise. I bought one to put on my new bench, but am having second thoughts now. (I have not installed it yet.) A friend has one on his vise and finds he cannot clamp wood tightly enough unless he REALLY cranks down. Apparently, his vise jaw racks top to bottom (not side to side). I'm not sure if this is an incorrect installation issue, or part of the vise itself. What are you finding?

Re: Great bench! &vise question

Hank Knight in SC

>Jim, I've used my twin screw vise some already and I'm not having any problems. It seems to clamp just fine. Thanks for nice words about the bench.

Thanks Scott. I Appreciate the Feedback

Hank Knight in SC

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Different Strokes for Different Folks

Hank Knight in SC

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Re: Twin Screw Vise

William Duffield, on the Cohansey

>Sorry, Hank, I didn't mean to imply any criticism of your innovation in bench hardware. I think it's a very good solution to a difficult problem. Additionally, yours has advantages over what I did, since you can easily install it in a solid wood leg, with only a brace and bit to drill the central hole. For any of us who don't weld, finding a local welding shop that will do that part of the job inexpensively should be a viable option.

No Offense Taken

Hank Knight in SC

>William, no offense taken. Actually, I have seen your posts on your bench leveler system and considered it. My problem is that I should be in the business of designing tanks; I always overbuild. The machine shop suggested that I just weld a nut onto a steel plate to accomplish what I wanted, and it would certainly have been less expensive. But I'm also hardheaded. I had decided what I wanted and nothing was going to change my mind. I have the comfort of knowing that it's bombproof, and it was easy to install.

Re: Great bench! &vise question

William Duffield, on the Cohansey

>Most metal woodworking vises have that "problem" or "are designed that way". Tell him to reread the installation instructions carefully. In particular, the wooden jaw faces need to be shaped so that they close at the top first. Usually about a 2� angle, vertically, between faces is called for. I'm not sure if 2� is the spec on the Veritas TSV, since the instructions on mine are on file out in the shop. Last week, I did just that adjustment to the latest vise I installed.

Yep, @ deg.

Scott Burr in Ben Lomond,CA

>The same for their face vices too.

Oops! Make that 2 deg.

Scott Burr in Ben Lomond,CA

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Your Welcome!

Scott Burr in Ben Lomond,CA

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Loxahachee Levelers?

Don Thompson - Cutler Ridge, Florida

>Sir William,

Howzabout making an illustrated article about making and installing your famous bench leg levelers?