Popular Woodworking 2004-02 № 139, страница 78
Sharpening slurry is made up of bits of metal and abrasive that will dig into your bench and later get embedded in your work. And finishing materials (dyes, stains and glazes in particular) can rub off on your work for weeks or years if they spill on your bench. That's why a tray with a low lip is ideal for typical sharpening and finishing jobs. I make my trays from inexpensive plywood with the lip made of 3/4"-thick scrap pieces - plus glue and screws. The best thing about the tray is that it drops into two dog holes, so there's no need to clamp it in place. This makes the tray especially good for sharpening because the tray stays put as you work. 9 A Top Just for Gluing Not all of us have the luxury of a separate bench for assembly, so I end up constructing most of my furniture right on my bench -both at work and at home. Getting glue on the bench is a big problem most woodworkers face. Yellow glue, which is mostly water, isn't good for your top because you're introducing moisture in places where it has spilled. And dried glue can easily mar your work. So I have a removable top that fits right over my benchtop for gluing chores. It's made using VS"-thick hardboard (available at your local home center store) and four cleats that keep it securely in place on the benchtop. Why not use newspaper or a blanket? Well, newspaper makes a lot of waste, and is slow and messy. Blankets, if not perfectly flat on your bench, can actually introduce a little twist in your glue-ups. If you don't want to make a hardboard glue-up top, the next-best option is to buy a thin plastic tablecloth. 10 Vise Blocks Add Bite One of the biggest complaints woodworkers have with their vise is that it doesn't hold the work very well when they clamp using only one side of the jaw. The jaw bends a little bit - especially with wooden vises - and this weakens its grip on the work. Vise blocks improve the holding power of any vise. The dowel prevents the block from dropping to the floor when you open the vise. The solution is so simple I'm surprised that I don't see this more often. Put a block of equal thickness on the other side of the jaw and your problem is solved. I have a set of "vise blocks" in the most common thicknesses I deal with (1/2", 5/8", 3/4,,, 7/8„ and i"). To help me out even more, I drive a 3/4" dowel through each block to prevent it from dropping when I release the vise. This quick and simple fix will save you a lot of future frustration. PW Until I can afford my 3,000-square-foot dream shop, I have to assemble projects on my bench.This cover keeps my benchtop like new. Make sure the cleats that keep the top in place don't interfere with your vises. SUPPLIES BENCH DOGS AND WONDER DOGS Lee Valley Tools 800-871-8158 or leevalley.com • Veritas round bench dogs #05G04.02, $17.50/pair • Veritas Wonder Dog #05G10.01, $23.50 BENCH VISES Lee Valley Tools 800-871-8158 or leevalley.com • Large front vise kit #70G08.02, $69.50 • Record quick-release vise #10G04.03, $149 • Veritas Tucker patternmaker's vise, #05G09.01, $549 •Veritas twin-screw vise #05G12.21, $159 Woodcraft 800-225-1153 or woodcraft.com • Economy 9" quick-release vise #129850, $64.99 • Patternmaker's vise #128748, $219.99 HOLDFASTS Lee Valley Tools 800-871-8158 or leevalley.com • Veritas hold-down #05G14.01, $52.50 • Inexpensive hold-down clamps #16F02.10, $11.50/pair You can find hardboard at your local home center. Prices as of publication date. 76 Popular Woodworking February 2004 |
