Woodworker's Journal 2010-34-2, страница 72
Skill Builder Necessary Workbench By Ian Kirby Every woodcraft has its own version. A proper workbench is essential for hand tool woodworking. The bench gives you feedback regarding your planing technique, allows you to chop mortises with vigor and holds your stock properly in its vise. *MOR€ ON TH6 W€B For a detailed article on building an Arts & Crafts workbench, go to woodworkersjournal.com and click on the More on the Web tab shown above. Or send a large SASE to Woodworker's Journal, Skill Builder 14. 4365 Willow Drive, Medina, MN 55340. Every historic woodcraft has one thing in common: a bench. However, eacli skill had a bench that was peculiar to the work done on it. The cooper, patternmaker, coach builder, wheelwright, et al. could not operate without one. If you are not an accomplished woodworker and decide to design anil build a bench, you gel stuck in a sort of chicken and egg situation. For that reason, I'll describe the lieuch shown above, which has evolved to work best for a furniture maker using solid wood and hand tools. You may be a furniture maker who believes thai everything starts with a green button — this bench works well for you also. As yet, wre haven't seen a bench design specific to the machining of MDF and veneer. The Bench No matter how you push, pull or pound on it, the structure is solid. This gives you the confidence that you can measure and work to fine limits, that you can clamp to it and extend its stability and that it will carry any load. The top is flat in length and in width, and it is out of winding. Flat to a degree that can be achieved with an 07-plane set so fine that the "shavings" are like goose down. This means you can plane stock against the bench stoj) more effectively than any other way — the workpiece isn't distorted by being clamped in a vise or held between dogs as with an end vise. The simple holding device demands that you hold and push the plane in the most effective and efficient way. It also allows for instant "pick up" to check the work with square or straightedge. Clamping up assemblies or butt joints on the bench is a good way to avoid twist in the finished piece. The pounding associated with chopping a mortise is done over the legs at the end away from the vise — every ounce of force goes into the work. When sawing a joint, whether it is a variation of a tenon or a dovetail, the workpiece is held in the vise. In order lo cut the joint accurately, the work must lie held vertical. Its face should be al right angles to the bench top. The cheeks of the vise are aligned lo make this so. They also toe in: that is, they come together parallel, but meet at the top edge first. So the vise, as tightened, deflects to effect a positive grip. 74 April 2010 Woodworkers Jourruil |
