Ian Barley
Member
- Messages
- 562
Despite recent PC problems I have actually been active in the shop in the last few days as well. I have finally got round to implementing a vacuum clamping system for the templates I use with my Onsrud pin router.
I always had a vague distrust of vaccum clamping. I guess for two reasons - firstly because I had a bad experience with a cheap system but mainly because - heck - its only a bit of air pressure - how is that gonna hold my workpiece firmly.
Well - I recently got to experience a real vacuum system at W6 - the main woodworking exhibition in the UK - and bought an Onsrud add on kit. When this thing grabs hold it does not let go! It has languished in my shop for the last 3 weeks waiting for me to put a plug on it and set up some new templates. Today I finally got round to it and it is fantastic.
Basically it saves me having to screw through the template into my workpiece and therefore saves time and also reduces manufacturing artefacts in my finished product. I reckon it will save me at least 30 seconds a piece which sound like nothing untill you consider that I cut about 5000 components a year - thats about 42 hours a year saved - nearly half a weeks holiday!
I will try and take some pics tomorrow and expand a bit on this - I just wanted to post something about woodworking for a change!
I always had a vague distrust of vaccum clamping. I guess for two reasons - firstly because I had a bad experience with a cheap system but mainly because - heck - its only a bit of air pressure - how is that gonna hold my workpiece firmly.
Well - I recently got to experience a real vacuum system at W6 - the main woodworking exhibition in the UK - and bought an Onsrud add on kit. When this thing grabs hold it does not let go! It has languished in my shop for the last 3 weeks waiting for me to put a plug on it and set up some new templates. Today I finally got round to it and it is fantastic.
Basically it saves me having to screw through the template into my workpiece and therefore saves time and also reduces manufacturing artefacts in my finished product. I reckon it will save me at least 30 seconds a piece which sound like nothing untill you consider that I cut about 5000 components a year - thats about 42 hours a year saved - nearly half a weeks holiday!
I will try and take some pics tomorrow and expand a bit on this - I just wanted to post something about woodworking for a change!