Bench Photos (long)

Re: Bench Photos (long)

Alan Bierbaum

>Nice bench. How long have you been using it? What is the height of the top and would you change that (and why)?

Your bench is a much nicer version of what I used to use and it seems to do everything that you want. Thanks for the pictures.

Alan

Whoa there....not so fast.....

Dave (Arlington, VA)

>Hey Dean -

Great bench. Love the pics of the bench in action. That is great. I've always wondered if holdfasts would really come in handy. Now I see how. Are yours cast or forged? Thanks for the pics and prose!

But the "whoa there" comment has to do with your mortising pic. Are you using the grip that Adam describes (Moxon?) but that I couldn't for the life of me figure out what he was talking about. First, I couldn't get the grip... and then I couldn't figure out how you get your shoulder involved.

Any chance you cropped that pic and could back it off a bit just so I could see how your holding that blade. Sorry to change the subject on you. It's just I've been curious for quite some time.

Regardless, I've been looking forward to your pics since the chat with Adam and Chris. Thanks!!!!!

Regards -

Dave

Keeper!

Edward Damewood, Northern Alabama

>Dean,

Thanks for sharing your most excellent bench through an appropriately nice set of photos. I look forward to reading the dialogue that you generate with this post, and you can bet I've bookmarked this as reference material for my own upcoming bench-building adventure.

Regards,

Ed

Re: Fantastic!

David Hammond, in Powder Springs GA

>Wonderful post Dean! This is what, imo, we've needed on the forum here - action shots, pictures of the process, and especially the different benches and how they accomplish the same things. Your pics and explanations really help me put some meat to the drawing and pile of lumber I've got here at the house. Simplicity is a wonderful thing huh? I mean, your bench is so incredibly simple. That's the biggest reason I've listened to Adam, and you, because my original plans were for a Klauz type bench - but what a bloody complicated thing that is! And this bench is so deceptively simple: simple construction, one very simple, versitile vise(maybe more versitile with a wooden screw vise, no garters, but...) and with a few aseccories, the bench performs just about every operation I can think of.

Thanks so much for putting this together.

David

Re: Bench Photos (long)

Pam Niedermayer - Austin, TX

>Great set of photos, Dean, thanks. One little question: Why didn't you install the chain cover?

Pam

Interesting! The metal stops in the vise.

Mark Harrison -- in Sydney, Australia

>Did I interpret your photo correctly? There seems to be metal (well they look like they're metal) pegs above the vise screws. Nice idea actually to keep the piece you're working from sitting on the threads accidentally. I presume you have drilled holes in the vise for these to go in to?

Really informative series

Matti Kuikka

>The bench is quite inspiring and looks like it would last. Congratulations. A couple of questions: When edge jointing, do the board ends get damaged any way by the considerable localised pressure of the crochet when planing? Do you find it difficult/time consuming to slip the workpiece accurately between the jaws of the vice and do you miss the quick release function?

Matti Kuikka

Re: Bench Photos (long)

Jeff Schmidt (KY)

>Nice set of photos, Dean.

You did a beautiful job on your bench. A great example of "Less Is More".

I look forward to similar "process" type photos as you tackle future challenges.

Holdfasts in Legs?

Jeff Schmidt (KY)

>Dean,

You may have answered this in previous bench discussions. Do the holes in the legs that you show with pegs also work with your holdfasts?

Re: Bench Photos (long)

Dean J in MN

>

Nice bench. How long have you been using it? What is the height of the top and would you change that (and why)?

I've only done one project on it, the bench is new.

The height is ~36". I'm a bit over 6'1". My old bench was ~36" and after a few years on that bench I didn't want to change it, it seemed to work for me.

-Dean

Re: Whoa there....not so fast.....

Dean J in MN

>

Hey Dean -

Holdasts - Are yours cast or forged?

Cast, from highland hardware (jorgys). I'm looking for forged.

But the "whoa there" comment has to do with your mortising pic. Are you using the grip that Adam describes (Moxon?) but that I couldn't for the life of me figure out what he was talking about.

Well, that is my interpretation of Moxon. I may well be wrong. Adam/Chris? You guys seem to agree on the grip, is that kinda what you came up with?

Any chance you cropped that pic and could back it off a bit just so I could see how your holding that blade.

Sorry, not cropped. My right shoulder is up against the chisel handle. The chisel is a a Hirsch, the one with the "huge" handle. My left hand is on the handle as well... Arg, yes a photo would be better.

Re: Fantastic!

Dean J in MN

>I'm waiting for photos of your bench!

-Dean

Re: Bench Photos (long)

Dean J in MN

>

Great set of photos, Dean, thanks. One little question: Why didn't you install the chain cover?

Simple -- it doesn't fit. My jaw is only 4-1/4" deep, the cover needs a deeper jaw.

-Dean

Re: Interesting! The metal stops in the vise.

Dean J in MN

>

Did I interpret your photo correctly? There seems to be metal (well they look like they're metal) pegs above the vise screws. Nice idea actually to keep the piece you're working from sitting on the threads accidentally. I presume you have drilled holes in the vise for these to go in to?

Yep, as supplied from Lee Valley. The front jaw does have clearance holes for the pegs.

-Dean

Re: Really informative series

Dean J in MN

>

A couple of questions: When edge jointing, do the board ends get damaged any way by the considerable localised pressure of the crochet when planing?

I have not had any damage.

Do you find it difficult/time consuming to slip the workpiece accurately between the jaws of the vice and do you miss the quick release function?

Not at all difficult/time consuming. But then my last bench didn't have quick release so I don't know what I am missing.

-Dean

Re: Bench Photos (long)

Jonathan Peck - N.Y.

>Good stuff. Can you tell me how you came to choose the twin screw in lieu of other options?

Re: Holdfasts in Legs?

Dean J in MN

>

Dean,

You may have answered this in previous bench discussions. Do the holes in the legs that you show with pegs also work with your holdfasts?

I'm sure they would, but I didn't like the idea if setting one (with the nice smack of the hammer) in the board jack, so I don't use them for edge jointing. You also lose a little feedback if your board is clamped to the leg, it won't tip forward and remind you to pressure the tail of your plane... But no reason you couldn't use them I guess.

-Dean

Re: Bench Photos (long)

Dean J in MN

>

Good stuff. Can you tell me how you came to choose the twin screw in lieu of other options?

That seems like such a simple question... But I'm not sure how succinctly I can answer. It is a question of overall bench design, which it turns out is really not a simple task. With the help of folks here on WC, and info gleaned from where ever I could find it I did the following:

I wrote down a big list of what operations the bench had to support. Then thought about how a bench would have to be set up to do that operation with the methods I use. e.g. I don't have a power jointer/planer, so I have to face and edge joint boards by hand. The bench has to support edge jointing long boards, etc... Another task was cutting dovetails in carcass sides. Aside from a Nicholsen bench with a large front apron and two holdfasts holding your carcass side the twin screw is the only option I could come up with. I spent a long time looking at the bench in Moxon, and studying the Roubo in Landis.

So, that was the thought process...

-Dean

Ditto

Gerry Doll

>Planning on building a hand tool bench. A great deal of info published as to design, vices, dogs, etc. However, very little actual info as to how to use. A picture is worth a thousand words.

Thanks much,

Gerry

Re: Bench Photos (long)

Steve Kubien

>Thanks for the photo essay Dean. I have copied it so I can refer to it when I build my next bench. The 'how-to' shots are especially helpful. I doubt my next bench will have a face vise and it I do, it will be removable. I gotta think it get in the way when working on longer stock.

Again, great work on the bench and the photos. Perhaps someone on the ADMIN side will format it as an article and post it as such?

Steve Kubien

Re: Bench Photos (long)

Stephen Sykes

>Dean,

I learned a great deal from seeing how you use your bench for each project step.

What diameter are the holdfasts holes? I am thinking of a similar design for my bench and was wondering if holdfasts come in 'standard' diameters before I drill any holes.

One method for edge joining two boards (say for a table top) is to plane the common edges at the same time, so differences from a square edge cancel each other in the final joint. Do you think this method would work on your bench without a vice or clamp to keep everything aligned?

-Stephen

Re: Bench Photos (long)

Dean J in MN

>

What diameter are the holdfasts holes? I am thinking of a similar design for my bench and was wondering if holdfasts come in 'standard' diameters before I drill any holes.

3/4" -- but -- Don't drill any holes until you have the holdfasts in your hands. Your holdfasts may be different. And you want to start out with the minimum of holes and only drill more if you need. So no need to swiss cheese your top.

One method for edge joining two boards (say for a table top) is to plane the common edges at the same time, so differences from a square edge cancel each other in the final joint. Do you think this method would work on your bench without a vice or clamp to keep everything aligned?

Yep, thas is how I do it too. I should have included a photo of that. The crochet/board jack still work just the same, you just need to have your clamps above the benchtop. Works like a champ.

-Dean

Re: Bench Photos (long)

George Bustamante

>Dean,

That is a great bench.

Can you give the dimensions of the chrochet and maybe a photo from directly above and the side?

I would like to incorperat a crochet, but the exact layout has been an issue for me.

George

Re: Bench Photos (long)

Dean J in MN

>

Can you give the dimensions of the chrochet and maybe a photo from directly above and the side?

I'll try to take some measurements... I don't currently have any other photos, but in the mix above there is one from pretty much directly above.

As for layout, I just set it low enough for my fenced planes to pass over the top and set the opening to the left of the leg a bit. Peak at The Workbench Book, the Roubo bench is where I lifted the placement. (And if you can make out the hook on the bench shown in Moxon it is shown in a similar setup)

-Dean