tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3554186870925500720.post503088027318443884..comments2023-05-20T10:47:25.792-04:00Comments on Close Grain: Building A Paul Sellers Workbench, part 2Steve Branamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10526202082032043903noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3554186870925500720.post-92032931128830145902015-03-22T10:27:07.336-04:002015-03-22T10:27:07.336-04:00The wedges are the best design feature of the benc...The wedges are the best design feature of the bench to compensate for the compressibility of soft wood. Easy to add when you build, not later! Think long term and preserve your investment with wedges. A rocking bench will just be laughing at you and an endless source of embarrassment!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09584236395773904711noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3554186870925500720.post-4710277374623514542014-11-25T07:59:50.437-05:002014-11-25T07:59:50.437-05:00Paul Sellers answers this question here: https://p...Paul Sellers answers this question here: https://paulsellers.com/2014/01/flush-vises/Keith Petershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17335667155691754929noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3554186870925500720.post-1323272062406502012014-07-30T23:40:14.693-04:002014-07-30T23:40:14.693-04:00Steve, excellent job, for one. I'm currently...Steve, excellent job, for one. I'm currently building my own Paul Sellers as well. I noticed you didn't create the wedge pieces on the legs as he did to prevent future looseness. Is this because you are not disassembling them repeatedly as he was? Has this worked good for you? Still solid, etc..? Mine will be permanent and never moved. In your opinion could I also forgo the wedges?Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16895619005632909951noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3554186870925500720.post-90152209794522383072014-07-16T07:38:56.238-04:002014-07-16T07:38:56.238-04:00Thanks! I like the large tool tray, since it gives...Thanks! I like the large tool tray, since it gives me a spot to set things down reasonably out of the way, where they won't roll or fall off. Because the ends are open, it's easy to clean.<br /><br />The main thing is to not let stuff pile up in it. Discipline yourself to only set the tools you are using right at the moment down in it. When you finish with them, put them back in their regular storage location.<br /><br />The bench is 24" deep total, which is plenty of room. For height, I'm old enough now that I prefer to stand upright as much as possible, so I like my benches to be high enough to have my arm close to a right angle when planing edges or faces. As a hobbyist, I'm not planing for hours at a time, so that position is fine for my arm. But now maintaining back comfort wins out over arm comfort.Steve Branamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10526202082032043903noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3554186870925500720.post-82309135515710394962014-07-11T23:15:52.007-04:002014-07-11T23:15:52.007-04:00Great post! I was considering the Nicholsen bench...Great post! I was considering the Nicholsen bench as its out of 2x12 stock but now I am leaning towards Paul's. I'll buy the 2x12's and rip them down maybe as they look better than the 2x4 stock out here. <br /><br />I am 6' 3" so I like the idea of the taller bench. I have a 36" bench and I think it could be a bit higher. I will take Paul's advice and cut it down by 1/2" sections until its perfect for me.<br /><br />Can you comment on the large tray after having them for a while now? How deep is that bench total? I was thinking 27" or so is all I have room for on my front porch (yes the only place for the bench is the front porch :)) Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3554186870925500720.post-85403530214775798262014-01-22T22:01:17.977-05:002014-01-22T22:01:17.977-05:00(Very late comment)
I'm sure it occurred to y...(Very late comment) <br />I'm sure it occurred to you: If we mount the rear jaw of the vise flush with the apron, we can then put 2 more lag screws to support the vice. (I notice that in the current configuration, 2 bolt holes are left unused due to the thick apron)<br />The good news: You can still add a REAR wooden jaw liner for more finger clearance, if so desired.<br />But of course, there must be a another reason why those woodworking legends don't do that.<br />Any input?Far Eastern Wood Butcherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05586701234948009145noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3554186870925500720.post-7777505478644083842012-05-25T14:36:03.967-04:002012-05-25T14:36:03.967-04:00What an enormous amount of work to set up the scho...What an enormous amount of work to set up the school! Best of luck!Federico Mena Quinterohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03264284104376872936noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3554186870925500720.post-4076175017207139412012-05-21T16:42:21.819-04:002012-05-21T16:42:21.819-04:00Thanks Steve (and by proxy Paul).Thanks Steve (and by proxy Paul).St.Jhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06532261877726034851noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3554186870925500720.post-53082373206120683532012-05-21T08:11:36.588-04:002012-05-21T08:11:36.588-04:00Thanks for posting this. I have all of the parts c...Thanks for posting this. I have all of the parts cut to length and have been planing them by hand when I get the chance. I figure I'm at least a week away from gluing up the top. I'm using fir 4x4's for the legs and construction lumber, spruce, for the rest. This will be a very knotty bench.K P in VThttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16285249467715846830noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3554186870925500720.post-50270477558263435922012-05-20T19:56:37.994-04:002012-05-20T19:56:37.994-04:00One of the reasons why I love the Internet: I emai...One of the reasons why I love the Internet: I emailed Paul and he responds (I'm not sure if he's in the US or the UK at the moment):<br /><br />Hello steve,<br />The reason is very simple. With the fixed vise jaw on the outside of the benchtop and not flush and the added jaw liner as well you can grip your work piece and place it in the jaws and close the front jaw of the vise without trapping your hand or fingers. It is so much easier than flush jaw.<br /><br />Best for now,<br /><br />PaulSteve Branamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10526202082032043903noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3554186870925500720.post-83427144319306745552012-05-20T18:47:55.921-04:002012-05-20T18:47:55.921-04:00St.J, yes, boards held in the vise stand away from...St.J, yes, boards held in the vise stand away from the apron.<br /><br />Thanks, Dyami!<br /><br />The instructions on the Highland website show mortising the vise face into the bench, but they show a wooden jaw over that, so boards still stand away.<br /><br />I mounted the vise the way Paul shows, and I note that Phil Lowe mounted his vise the same way. I also looked at my photos from CT Valley School of Woodworking and N. Bennet St. School, and they also had this style of vise mounted this way. So while I can't tell you why they did it that way, I'll defer to their experience here. Perhaps in use the reason will become apparent.Steve Branamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10526202082032043903noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3554186870925500720.post-38547452574994698812012-05-20T14:43:55.276-04:002012-05-20T14:43:55.276-04:00Steve,
The benches look great. My one question is ...Steve,<br />The benches look great. My one question is the same as St.J's. Why not use the apron as the inner vise face? Wouldn't that make clamping easier?Dyami Plotkehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04048444158221648393noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3554186870925500720.post-58055518373973825822012-05-20T03:09:01.656-04:002012-05-20T03:09:01.656-04:00Steve,
Could you mount the vice so that the fixed ...Steve,<br />Could you mount the vice so that the fixed jaw is behind the apron and the moving section presses against the apron? Then boards would be clamped against the apron.<br />In the configuration you've got do boards held in the vice stand away from the apron?<br />Thanks,<br />St.JSt.Jhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06532261877726034851noreply@blogger.com