first project of 2013......

The first project of 2013 actually started on the last day of 2012.  I got antsy and I couldn't wait until the 1st nor did I have something else I wanted to start working on.

I may be branded a heretic but I am not putting a leg vise on my workbench a la roubo.  I am taking off the shoulder vise I've been using for the last 20 years and I'm replacing it with a face vise. I started doing it and I quit a short time later. This chest cold I have is beating the snot out of me. Ten years ago I would have kept right working through it. Today I decided a little light headedness isn't a good thing. I'll pick this up later but I did get a few things completed before that.

It was interesting to look back on how I built this bench as I was taking it apart. I left a lot of my layout lines, all in pencil, all over the place. At this time I didn't fully grasp the importance of a good marking knife and how it helps makes good joinery possible. I'm also glad that I didn't go nutso and glue and screw everything together. Trying to deconstruct something like that would be murderous.

before I deconstruct I have remove my toys

I have toys attached everywhere

the last pieces to come off

2 -  #7's

Most woodworkers I know prefer the high knob on their planes. Me I go against the current on this too. I like the low knob and especially the bun/mushroom one like the #7 in the back has. This type 11 plane is heavier then the type 17 in the front. The type 17 is set for a heavy cut - wide mouth and the type 11 is set with a tighter mouth.

my workbench drawer

I find this drawer to be very useful. I keep my japanese hammers in here. I use the smaller one to adjust the irons on my planes laterally. I also keep my off cuts from my sawing in here. I use them as protectors when I have something in my wagon vise. The bigger pieces I use when I'm using my clamps to clamp something up.

my plane platform

I made this so I could utilize the space underneath it for something else. The something else here is the home for my bad axe bench hooks and my carcass saw. I also made it the home for my new bench chisel box. I am now thinking of doing this on the other side for my other planes - I think I might have enough room to squeeze them in if I use the same platform idea here.

screw gone (bad pic)

I don't remember making this recess for the shoulder vise. It isn't necessary for it to work but it provides a positive attachment. I must have done it with a router and a chisel because I can see evidence of both of them being used.

vise parts

This vise board is the second one for this bench. The first one broke and I put up with it wobbling about until I fixed it. I reinforced the tongue with a piece of aluminum angle iron. That's the part that broke on the first one.

the space the tongue rode in

did I glue this end?

No - I screwed it from two directions

practice saw cut

I bent the screw trying to bang this end off so I had to saw it off. I took that as an opportunity to practice for the other cuts I'm going to make. This isn't too bad considering I did it by eye . I should do better with some layout lines to follow.

the shoulder vise parts

shoulder vise former home

I cut this dovetail with a 36" bandsaw at the navy woodshop (sweet). I did it this way because Frank Klausz did it that way. The glue didn't hold up too well because this came apart with just hand pressure. I used the biscuits to register the bench and end caps flush. I'll have to put in a dutchman to cover the hole.

Yikes!

Oops. Somebody wasn't paying attention when this went together. The far end is off by a 1/2" from the front end. When I get this ready to go back together, I'll be able to fix this. The overhang of the trestle base isn't going to be so easy to fix. I originally had a tool tray here. That lasted less time then it took me to remove it. Figuring out how to remedy that isn't going to be easy. I may have to live with a couple of horns hanging out.

how I attached the top to the base

I used a 3/8 insert in the underside of the top held down to the trestle base in an oversized hole with a 3/8 bolt. I did the same thing on the opposite side. Frank Klausz held his bench top in place with a couple of bullet shaped dowels. I went this way mostly because of the space I have between the ends of the top. It's held up for 20 years and I'll use it again when I put it back on.

2nd casualty of the bench re-build

The first casualty was me not being able to work on this for more than an hour. I broke this handle trying to remove a spiral nail from the leg. I knew I shouldn't have tried to use it but I was too lazy to walk to the other side of the cellar and get my framing hammer.  I paid the price for that not making that trip.

left over from when I plugged my holes - forgot all about it

underside

I'll have to fix/fill in the void on the bench stop I put in the top of the bench. I got some pretty big blow outs here. I am also going to put another bolt on the end caps to tighten them up a little more.

twenty year old bottoms

the other side

For sitting on concrete for 20 years they look alright. No evidence of rot or decay and they are pretty solid. The glue line is still tight even though these is a little gap in the middle.

debris entry point

This is a definite fix for the drawer. This opening here is a funnel for the debris I generate as I work on a project and it all seems to end up inside the drawer.

piece of 1/4' plywood closes this off

tad on the proud side

jack plane

My #5 made quick work of getting this evened out and flush. It also took a lot out me doing it. A simple task and I felt like I was moving a ton of rocks. This was the start of me calling it quits.

drawer runners

I remember the fun I had putting this drawer in. Laying on the deck and screwing upwards and not having enough room to move around. Not mentioning at my age I don't like doing this if I can avoid it. Before I do anything else on the re-build, I'll make sure that I have the drawer runners in place before I do anything else on this deconstruct.

It was really nice being able to look back and see how I built this bench and thinking about how I would do it now. I think that I would keep my original thoughts on it but I would probably do a better job on the joinery. a few of my tenon shoulders are a tad off and not one of my post and rail connections are flush to each other. But this was 20 years ago and in spite of the less the perfect joinery, it's held together.

accidental woodworker

"The important thing is not to stop questioning"
Albert Einstein