Well, my new woodworking bench is not completely done, but close enough to post another batch of pics.
First some stats-
Design:
Still yet to do:
End view:
Sliding tail vise, quarter view.
Lee Valley twin screw, full width, tail vise, quarter view. (Wait, that doesn't look like the Lee Valley vise!?! Yes, it is, stay tuned . . . )
Some details:
The adjustable legs and ratchet assembly:
Front vise jaw thumbnail profile and apron dovetails: (the balls are for the ends of the vise handles.)
End vise thumbnail profile:
So tell me about the Lee Valley end vise?
The sprocket and chain cover supplied with the vise looks like the one in this photo:
My vise jaw is already 3" thick, so I would lose some clamping capacity if I mounted the vise per plans. Plus the stock sprocket and chain housing and handles would stick out into valuable shop real estate. So, I routed recesses in the vise jaw for the hardware and made a new low profile cover- it sticks out only 1/8" and is held in place by hidden rare earth magnets. There is still 1-3/4" of maple jaw left. I painted the cover black. [STRIKE]and plan to ask [/STRIKE]Rob Lee of Lee Valley [STRIKE]if he will send[/STRIKE] is sending me a new label for it!! What a great company! Here are a few shots:
Sprocket and chain cover removed:
Sprocket and chain in routed recess. I need to buy an additional 7" of chain.
Another view of the cover. The back of the cover is rabbeted so it sets into the recess and overhangs the back of the vise jaw for a neat appearance.
The cover is only 1/8" proud of the back of the jaw. I left openings below each lead screw so I can lift and remove it easly.
First some stats-
Design:
- A mix of elements from Lon Schleining's "The Best of Old and New" bench from his book and Fine Woodworking article. Elements include his thumbnail profiles on the feet and jaw faces, etc. and my own designs including the adjustable height trestle base. The adjustable trestle base is a new twist on my assembly table adjustable height legs which will be the subject of a forthcoming article in American Woodworker.
- Top, aprons, vise jaws- hard Maple
- Adjustable trestle base- American Beech.
- Trestle base- mortise & tenon and Titebond III
- A mix of pinned-blind and wedged-through M&T joints
- Aprons (and sliding tail vise) joined with hand-cut, half-blind dovetails - 6 sets!
- Long side aprons are attached to the top with glue only (long grain to long grain)
- End aprons, to allow for seasonal changes in the cross-grain direction, are held in place with threaded rod, nuts, and barrel nuts. No through bolts or plugs are visible on the end vise face or free end aprons of the bench. Nuts are accessible from underneath to allow tightening.
- Top: (not incl. vises): 33-1/2" wide x 74" long x 2-1/2" thick- Yes, it is BIG!
- Aprons: 1-3/4" thick x 5" high
- Height: adjustable: 30-1/2" to 43-1/2"
- Weight: TBD, but HEAVY!!!
- Lee Valley twin screw, full width tail vise (20" between lead screws) (3" thick jaw)
- Quick release front vise (3" thick jaw)
- Sliding tail vise (w/o shoulder)
Still yet to do:
- Drill holes for bench dogs. I will use Lee Valley round bench dogs and pups.
- Add 2 deg. bevel to the movable jaw faces of the twin screw and front vises.
- Turn handles for both the sliding tail and face vises
- Make and install a release pedal for the adjustable leg ratchet mechanism
- Final sanding
- Sealing
End view:
Sliding tail vise, quarter view.
Lee Valley twin screw, full width, tail vise, quarter view. (Wait, that doesn't look like the Lee Valley vise!?! Yes, it is, stay tuned . . . )
Some details:
The adjustable legs and ratchet assembly:
Front vise jaw thumbnail profile and apron dovetails: (the balls are for the ends of the vise handles.)
End vise thumbnail profile:
So tell me about the Lee Valley end vise?
The sprocket and chain cover supplied with the vise looks like the one in this photo:
My vise jaw is already 3" thick, so I would lose some clamping capacity if I mounted the vise per plans. Plus the stock sprocket and chain housing and handles would stick out into valuable shop real estate. So, I routed recesses in the vise jaw for the hardware and made a new low profile cover- it sticks out only 1/8" and is held in place by hidden rare earth magnets. There is still 1-3/4" of maple jaw left. I painted the cover black. [STRIKE]and plan to ask [/STRIKE]Rob Lee of Lee Valley [STRIKE]if he will send[/STRIKE] is sending me a new label for it!! What a great company! Here are a few shots:
Sprocket and chain cover removed:
Sprocket and chain in routed recess. I need to buy an additional 7" of chain.
Another view of the cover. The back of the cover is rabbeted so it sets into the recess and overhangs the back of the vise jaw for a neat appearance.
The cover is only 1/8" proud of the back of the jaw. I left openings below each lead screw so I can lift and remove it easly.
