Bench on a bench

[Vaughn McMillan]

Looking good, Dennis.

I could see building something along the same lines to attach to the bed of my lathe (Powermatic 3520B) to use as a small workbench and clamp. I've got a 1 1/2" thick piece of melamine-covered particleboard that I set on the bed occasionally to use as a small benchtop, mostly as a flat place to set tools and finishes on. It doesn't even attach to the lathe and I still find it handy. I can see how having something more substantial with a vise (and that can be clamped to the lathe) would be useful.

[Dennis Ulrich]

The unit is basically assembled except for the vise. I'm waiting for the screws; when I get them I can finish this and use it for the next project.

[Tom Becnel]

MAN! That looks GREAT! Very nice!

Is that dog holes in the top?

[Dennis Ulrich]

MAN! That looks GREAT! Very nice!

Is that dog holes in the top?

Yeh, I'm thinking that hold fasts will work slick for holding the horizontal piece while the vertical piece is in the Moxon when laying out dovetails. For me, the toughest part of making dovetails has been holding the two pieces solidly and at right angle while marking. The Moxon vise (and modern twin screw vises) and Roubo bench are both examples of the really old guys that earned their living with the tools we play with had it together when it came to work piece holding.

[Dennis Ulrich]

It's finished and ready for the next project.

[Tom Becnel]

Looks great Dennis! I bet that will be one heck o a back saver for dt's! How far out do those veneer screws open up?

[Dennis Ulrich]

Looks great Dennis! I bet that will be one heck o a back saver for dt's! How far out do those veneer screws open up?

The screws are 9" and the jaws are about 2" each. Open, there should be about 5" clear.

I have an old drafting stool that I sit on to do joinery. That made the height of my bench about right. Now I will be able to comfortably stand; but I think the biggest advantage will be in securely holding work pieces when doing layout of dovetails.

[Mike Cebula]

Nice work Dennis.

[Dennis Ulrich]

If the upload worked correctly, here is a version that I made some time ago. It is made with plain old fir and I used cheap pipe clamps. If you look closely, you can see that there is a 2x2 clamped in the main workbench vise - it has two 3/4" dowels that extend up into the front of the legs. That's what secures it into position. When stored, that 2x2 is flipped over and stored in the top of the same two dowel holes in the legs. It has proven nice and sturdy and handy.

I've been asked whether or not the clamps stick out too much. I leave them on the front for convenience, but if they get in the way, I reverse the clamps. Also, if I need more than the 4" gap the vise provides, I can use longer pipes for whatever depth I need. Also, I have pulled the clamps out to use elsewhere temporarily. Versatile setup.

Mike Cebula

Mike,

You have to tell us about the front vise on your main bench. From what I can see in your picture; it looks really neat and creative.

[Mike Cebula]

Basically the same as the little bench. Pipe clamps, usually just two. The front of the vise is a 2X6 notched so it drops over the pipe clamps wherever placed and is the full length of the bench. When you open it up, you have to manually pull the 2X6 back, but that's only because I chose not to screw the clamps to it or to the other side of the bench. That leaves it open for locating the clamps in any of the slots. Can use shorter lengths of 2X6 if necessary. Also, the clamps are available for use elsewhere. The right end of the bench has the same setup. That clamp setup has the clamps screwed to the 2X6 and the far end of the clamp underneath the bench (about 12" in") is screwed in place - more permanent setup.

Mike