08 March / / tools

Workbench

Well, can’t build things without a workbench.

Fortunately Barbara and I gave Larry a Veritas Miniature Bench Vise for his birthday last year. At the time I expect he was a little concerned what he might actually do with it.

miniature bench vise

But, I do believe he has slowly sorted things out. This past weekend, I received a series of pretty much one-liner e-mails from Larry regarding an “ongoing saga". I had suggested he document his buidling of the dollhouse. I guess that was his way of doing so. It went something like:

  • Got the first miniature tools very cool.what to do next ???
  • Used the first tools - still very cool!
  • More miniature tools. Still really cool!
  • More miniature tools ok - plans taking place.
  • Now a miniature vice. Ok - now what?
  • Miniature vise - what to do with it?
  • Must need a miniature workbench!!!
  • Where to get one?
  • No answer for miniature workbench!
  • Only solution - design one!
  • Only like the Swedish Sjöbergs workbenches
  • Getting complicated!
  • Much research - have an idea?
  • Lots of wood - might get somewhere?
  • Ok - the wood is here!
  • After much cutting wood appears to look like a project. - duh? miniature bench vise kit and cut wood
  • Looks like the bench worked out - now to apply the finish. Now need a wall cabinet for all the miniature tools! Fortunately have met a guy who has every large tool known to man and will let me use them to build whatever comes into my little mind! bench ready for finishing
  • You started it - be happy!
  • I really like Ferraris!
    • I replied that I really couldn’t afford a Ferrari, but that if I could I would certainly buy him one.
  • Finished - bench dogs made from stove bolts with threads cut off - front mounted vice - support dogs in legs for longer wood held in vice - sweep out tray at back for tools while working - bench is twenty inches long - adjustable feet - finished In teak oil view of bench another view of bench another view of bench for now final view of bench

And in reply to my poor is me e-mail, I got the following from Larry (edited):

Now, waiting on the photo showing the name plate.

Update 2021.03.08 Afternoon

So my friend showed me how to make laser cut nameplates - pretty interesting and moving along well - so far have made some out of maple and some out of simulated ivory - the ivory burns a little - the maple pretty good - we’ll see.

Update 2021.03.09 Evening

So I now have the name plate (laser engraved on maple) installed on the front stretcher - also added a couple of hold down clamps that were actually for a full size bench but work ok here.

  • Front view full view of bench with nameplate
  • Little closer look a the nameplate close up of nameplate
  • Better look at the hold down clamps better view of bench top

Categories tools

Tags bench vise workbench

koach Written by:

koach has a few skills up his sleeve. But we've yet to figure out what they might be.