39 - Modular Wall Storage , страница 4

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TIPS & TECHNIQUES

Readers' Tips

Auxiliary Vise_

WORKBENCH

■ Occasionally, an extra bench vise would come in handy. But since they're fairly expensive, I could never really justify buying another one.

So instead, I made a simple auxiliary vise that cost next to nothing, see photo. All it takes is a couple of scrap pieces of plywood and a pair of bar clamps.

The plywood serves as the front and back "jaws" of the vise, see drawing. And the bar clamps provide all the clamping pressure that's needed, see drawing.

There's nothing complicated about making the vise. The bars on the clamps fit in narrow slots cut in the jaws. This way, when you loosen the clamps, the slots

keep the clamps from falling to the floor.

One thing to be aware of is the location of the slots. They need to be far enough clown from the top edge of the jaws to clear the bottom of the bench.

mount vise. After routing a chamfer around the edges of the jaws, it's a simple matter to mount the vise to the bench.

The back jaw is screwed to the

front edge of the bench. Just be sure that it's flush (or a hair below) the top of the bench. Also, don't forget to countersink the screws so they don't damage a workpiece when it's tightened in the vise.

Finally, all that's left to do is slip the clamps in place as you add the front jaw.

Pat Pelkey Osivego, New York

BACK JAW (3" x 1S")

FRONT JAW (&" x 10")

NOTE:

JAWS ARE MADE FROM 3/4" PLY WO OP

CUT'/V'-WIDE SLOT 2" LONG

Edge-Gluing Tip

■ When edge gluing several boards to make a panel, I always place the boards on the pipe clamps to make sure the clamps are properly spaced and adjusted. Then I stand each board on edge to apply the glue.

The only problem is that a board on edge (especially a wide one) will tip over at the slightest

4 ShopNotes

bump. And when one board goes, all the others fall like dominoes.

To solve the problem, I clip a spring clamp on one end of each board, see photo. The spring clamp props the board up above the pipe. And the handles of the clamp serve as a stand.

Jerry Brightbill Tonasket, Washington

No. 39