for the love of wood...

The Sliding Leg Vise

2009-08-09T00:43:00.000-07:00

I've come to realization that in the online woodworking community there are only 3 documented workbenches with sliding leg vises. If there are any more I'd be keen to know.

An old picture. Blogged at Lost Art Press.

Bill Liebold's. Blogged at Popular Woodworking.

Angle iron is used to re-enforce the top.

Jameel (Khalaf) Abraham's Blogged at Khalaf's Oud.
Angle iron on both sides. Big Wooden Vises.

The Design so far...

2009-08-05T19:27:00.000-07:00

I've decided an Schwarz inspired French Roubo bench.

Size: 24"x100"x4" top. 5"x5" legs. 31" high.

Vise: BenchCrafted wagon, leg, and probable sliding leg vise.

Timber: Coastal Blackbutt (Australian Hardwood Network)

(Work in progress sneak peak. I'll have more progress pics soon.)

Why I chose this design?

I wanted it solid. I've had two benches; the one shown on the left, which to use you need to brace with a foot and a knee and the other a old chipboard desk. I wanted a bench that I don't have to hold or brace to plane and that doesn't shake when chiselling. (Blackbutt at dry weight 900kg/m3 makes this about 200kg. ) I was tempted to make it 10' but my kind wife informed me that was excessive in a single garage... and I agree.

I've changed the vise configuration in my head at least a dozen times. Originally, planning on twin screw vise (for dovetailling and its lack of wracking.) It's capacity is limited. A sliding leg vise gives you the capacity to hold work up to 6' wide. Although, the big wood vise, is traditional I didn't like the slack and wood movement in it. I tried a cheap Carbatec one and it was a struggle. The bench crafted ones are smooth and I expect to last 100 years.

Blackbutt is locally grown, not too expensice, rock hard, a nice light colour, and I've used it before.

The two biggest design struggles at this stage are: storage and the sliding leg vise mechanism.

The Big Bench

2009-08-05T18:45:00.000-07:00

No one wants to spend more time on the computer than in the shop. However, I learnt an important fact during my time as an Army Cadet - the 6 P's - Prior Preperation Prevents Piss Poor Performance. A bench of this size and weight and design requires good planning. I want this to last 3 generations.

To start with I did some research. I searched the net; read articles and watched pods. Being one that collects books; I picked up two.

The Old Luthier the blog I've been most impressed with.

The Schwarz not the official name for the blog, but one I follow.

The Workbench: A Complete Guide to Creating Your Perfect Bench by Lon Schleining. This is a comprohensive book covering a varity of benches, vises and techniques for a varity of purposes by a variety of people. It covered traditional benches and modern ones (man-made materials, twin screw vises etc.)

Workbenches: From Design And Theory To Construction And Use (Popular Woodworking) by Christopher Schwarz. This book focuses on two types of benches. Eventually I decided on the roubo bench in the book. (With a few modifications.) This book than the other focuses on the 'use' of the workbench.

Workbench Dicussion thread:

Woodwork Forums Thread

Birthday Wish List - Machinery

2009-06-28T16:54:00.000-07:00

WoodFast - WPT - 12" Thickness Planer/Jointer

Silverglide

Carba-Tec® 1HP 12 Speed Heavy Pedestal Drill Press

Forstner Bits

Pro Drill Press Table

Carbatec 2HP Dust Extractor - Standard, Trade, or Cyclone

Router Iron Top

Router

Bandsaw

Birthday Wish List - Measuring Gear

2009-06-24T20:24:00.000-07:00

Squares
Above we have some Australian made squares by Chris Vesper (left) and Colon Clenton (right). There are several differences: handle - brass with wooden inlay vs. wood with brass frame, blade - stainless steel vs. brass, and special feature - support clip vs. calibratable. Asthetically Colon's is nicer but it's your responsibility to square it. Chris's support tab is quite nice. Avalible at Chris Vesper and HNT Gordon.

Sliding Bevel
Chris Scwartz recently gave good review to these little gems. The 4" would be perfect for special angle joinery and dovetailly.

Sliding Square
Chris' original square was an all metal sliding square. Handy for joinery.

Overall my choice would be: 6" Colon Clenton square (in sheoak), 4" bevel, 4" sliding square, and 10" Vesper Square. It is a wish list after all.

Marking Knife
The only vesper tool I currenlty own. Picked it up at the Sydney Woodshow.

Birthday Wish List - Sharpening Equipement

2009-06-24T17:51:00.001-07:00

Tormek Slow Speed Grinder
Tormek was being demostrated at three stands at the Sydney Wood show. I have to say it's impressive. The big brother version is more expensive but has more features and is metal rather than plastic. Backed by 7 year warranty. Avalible at Carbatec.

Lobster Brand Waterstones
An alternative to the Norton synthetics are the natural Lobster stones avalible from HNT Gordon. 1000 and 6000 gt. Comparible in price, thicker stones, not as durable and needing more flattening.

Norton Synthetic Water Stones
Avalible from Lie-Nielsen are the Norton Waterstones. Unlike the natural ones these are synthetic for durability. Last longer, cost more. 1000 and 4000 grit avalible.

Diamond Stones
Diamond stones come into thier own for flattening of water stones, initial sharpening and sharpening of hard steel. DMT DuoSharp 8" Fine / Coarse Whetstone would cover most jobs. Avalible from Carbatec or Lie-Nelson.

Birthday Wish List - Books

2009-06-24T17:34:00.000-07:00

Colin Brown
New International Dictionary of New Testament Theology (4 Volume Set). This dictionary stands out because of its diachronic approach to language; containing Classical, Koine, OT, and NT meanings for greek words. Jesus was a woodworker. Avalible at amazon.

Shaker Furniture

I do like the simplicity of shaker furniture. After being more than pleased with my first shaker trestle last year and with the next in the planning stages I'd like to learn more. (Particularly re: chairs.) This book stood out to me as it not only contained pictures but had rough diagrams including measurements and proportions. Avalible at: Australian Wood Review and Amazon.

Birthday Wish List - The Workbench

2009-06-23T14:12:00.000-07:00

My workbench remains my major project for 2009. I've acquired the wood that I need (near 200 superfeet of coastal blackbutt, maybe more than I need.) Now it's time to choose some hardware.
Everyworkbench requires a vise, preferably two. The plan is for a standard leg vise and a sliding leg vise.

Glide Leg Vise
The new glide leg vise from BenchCrafted.com looks very smooth. A recommendation from teh Scwartz. However, at US $325 + postage, these may forever remain on the wish list.

No-Name Vise
The cheapest (and nastiest?) avalible at Carbatec.

Big Wood Vise
These from BigWoodVise are classic. At AU$375 (for 2, including postage).

Vertias Workdogs

Simple.

Vertias Hold-Down

Useful.

Wonder Pups

Vertias products avalible at Carbatec and Lee Valley.

2009 Major Project - The Workbench

2009-04-13T17:42:00.000-07:00

Before you get too carried away, no this isn't my bench, it is however, my inspiration. You'll find deatils of it here http://oudluthier.blogspot.com/2008/07/bench-3-finis.html. The distinctive features are: co-planer frame for clamping (similar to all french workbenches), wagon vise, 8' length, and 2 leg vises. It's the leg vises that are most interest as it includes a sliding tail vise.

Summer Road Trip

2009-01-01T18:44:00.000-08:00

Google Maps.

There hasn't been much happening in the way of woodworking at the moment. However, I have managed to test out our new suburu forester. 3200km in fact. A week at our favourite beach spot, a day of horse riding at a mate's property, and then a long trip south to visit nearly every family member I have and quite a few family friends.

Good times.

http://www.hntgordon.com.au

2008-12-26T21:24:00.000-08:00

During our big Christmas road trip we made it to Alstonville on the North Coast of New South Wales - The home of HNT Gordon planes. Despite Australia being a small producer of tools, we are fortunate to have some of the best.

Fortunately for us, Terry Gordon, the plane maker himself, was in the shop when we dropped in. Which was a good thing, as I've always used iron bed planes, the wooden ones took a little getting used to. After a 30min demo, we got the tour of the shop. From wood storage, preparation, shaping, and final finishing. Top bloke that was more than happy to show us around.

Built from tough Australian woods for tough Australian woods.

Today's the day...

2008-12-11T13:08:00.000-08:00

Today's the big day. Delivery of the table.

Once I screw down the top its complete.

Only challenge now is to fit it all in the back of the car... All those years of tetris will finally pay off.

Here's some pics.

When I've got more time I'll do a write up and talk about what I would have improved.

Feel free to post comments or email me any suggestions or comments.

2008-12-11T13:02:00.001-08:00

2008-12-11T13:01:00.000-08:00

2008-12-11T12:59:00.000-08:00

Rounding Off

2008-12-03T12:13:00.000-08:00

While in Sydney, I made it to Carbatec to purchase a lovely 1/8" CMT round over.

Makes the project gentler and a lot nicer to the eye and hand.

Glue up in the kitchen. (Flatter than the shed.)

Blogging delay... nothing to do with wood.

2008-12-02T23:44:00.000-08:00

It's been an interesting week.

We travelled down to Sydney for my graduation. It was also my wife's birthday which was a good opportunity to go to the "theatre" and saw "My Fair Lady." Which was lovely. Then spent the rest of the week seeing family and friends.

So far so good...but on the way home a new problem developed.

My faithful transportation system... my 2000 model falcon wagon... also known as "hungry hippo"... had a slight problem. And now... It's not feeling too well right now. (No one was injured other than some whiplash that's settled down.)

That was our second Falcon. Below was our first one was a 1992 model.

It also died. Also related to the weather. This one died in hail.

And if all goes well... the replacement. Strangely not a ford.

More progress...

2008-11-14T21:08:00.000-08:00

Dabbling Tabling

2008-11-11T00:11:00.001-08:00

Leg Joinery

2008-11-10T23:44:00.000-08:00

With the top well underway, my energy is diverted to the legs.

The choice of joinery in this case is through tennons, and wedges formed from our secondary wood - rosewood.

As there are curves involved there are a few tricks. My tools of choice for this task is my trusty makita drill with a 1/2" bit, and to keep me on the straight and narrow, a stanley no. 59 dowel jig.

Before getting started, you need mark out the mortise. So that I don't blow out the bottom I've actually removed 1/8-1/4" material on the underside - remember this is curved side will be visible (to thier feet anyway.)

This a twist or brad point bit aim to overlap your holes but drill every second one before the overlap. This technique allows symetrical forces on the bit and helps reduce the change of the bit skipping into the hole next to it.

I then clean the joint with hand tools. Bench chisels remove the bulk of the material but chopping, then paring. Then finally I use a rasp to smooth the inside careful not to roll or damage the edges.

(A side note. I was at the Lie-Nielson site the other day and saw these joinery floats. I know little about them, but assume they work very similar to a rasp, and could be very handy at times. Let me know if you have any experience with them.)

Rosewood Turnings...

2008-11-08T19:12:00.000-08:00

To be honest I'm not really much of a turner. Occasionally however the need arises.

Today, I made about 80cm of 8mm dowel.

The timber is from an old, half burnt, rosewood weatherboard.

I think these will be a very nice touch. More to come.

More progress

2008-11-03T16:06:00.000-08:00

Wood shopping...

2008-10-31T16:15:00.000-07:00

Boutique Timbers

Once you graduate from Bunnings bought Radiata Pine you’ll want to explore the world of Australian Hardwoods and Softwoods. I’m fortunate enough to have a good local timber merchant. Mal Ward of Boutique Timbers has always offered me good variety (I've purchased from him Tas. Blackwood, Tas. Mrytle, Huon Pine, Silky Oak, Northern Silverash, River Redgum, Jarrah...) all at a good price. His small mill trades mostlyin slabs rather than boards, and all the wood I’ve purchased has been air dried on his property. He travels to a variety of woodshows around the country. If you come across him mention my name.

My purchase

After discussing the project, quantity of , and my budget - Mal showed me a few timbers and we eventually deciding on Coastal Blackbutt. Blackbutt is a very heavy and dense wood akin to Red River Gum (my last large project.) Why Blackbutt? Although a relatively plain wood, I chose it because it is grown locally (you see it everywhere around here) and I liked that. I also wanted something strong enough to handle the curves I want to make. One thing I wasn’t prepared for was – although my tools don’t seem to mind it, my back does, this is a really heavy wood.

4 boards, 3m long, all wedge shape 350mm-400mm, and 50mm thick – total $300.

Rough marking, making sure all the parts will fit.

The rough tabletop.

Benches, stretches and everything else.

2008-10-29T00:39:00.000-07:00

A few progress pics, write up to come.

Discussion at http://www.woodworkforums.ubeaut.com.au/showthread.php?p=832242.

Tabletop Construction pt. 2

2008-10-25T17:07:00.000-07:00

As a woodworker, you won’t be able to escape the essential skill of forming flat boards. For our large tabletop we’ll need to join several boards together. There are several techniques at your disposal. The choice of your project will often depend more on your available equipment and time than issues of strength and design.

The simplest option is a “rub joint”. This simple joint is formed by jointing the surfaces so they are flat and smooth and gluing the long grain together. Simple.

This joint is not often used as it has a problem. With seasonal variation and the natural movement of the wood the wood can warp and the boards can move reletive to each other. Not a good look.

This movement can be prevented by using a "mechanical joint." This is where in addition to glue the boards are physically limited by a piece of wood which crosses the joint.

Dowels or loose tennons are a simple option. Simple to install with a dowel jig and drill.

Biscuit joints are one of the most popular options. With the use of a biscuit joiner they are faster to install then dowel and provide good alignment and strength.

Spline joinery is also simple and effective. A groove is cut in each piece on a table saw, router, or biscuit joiner. An additional piece is cut to match and glue in place. Splines with grain perpendicular to the boards provide addition shear strength.

A sliding dovetail joint is an attractive alternative to the spline. It is more difficult to cut but provides mechanical stength vertically and horizontally.

Tongue and groove joinery doesn't require additional wood but it does come at the cost of width of the origional boards.

If tongue and groove is too boring for you then there are now avalible a variety of router and shaper bit which form more complicated interlocking joins.