10-09-2018, 12:50 PM
It's been 4 years & 3 Doctors in the making!
I bought the wood - birch - from a local supplier about 5 years ago. Let it sit in my shop for a year to accumulate (and to save up the $$ for the hardware. Started on the bench after reading Chris Schwartz's book on Workbenches and visited the Benchcrafted site about a hundred times.
Ordered the St. Peter's vice first, and then the Wagon Vice. (Still working then and had to fit the orders in between paychecks.)
Surfaced the wood and cut to length. Glued up the legs and the 4" thick pieces for the top. then I developed a mysterious medical condition in which I became progressively weaker to the point here I couldn't stand up without help. Doctor #1 said "Hmmm, this is unusual". Fired him. Doctor #2 said: "I have no clue but I'll send you to a specialist that I think can help." Doctor #3 did a bunch of test and had my leg operated on. Started to give up hope and started selling off my tools figuring I was done with woodworking.
Most of the tests were inconclusive but I did get a neat cane and a handicapped placard out of it. Finally, after about 6 months, he decided to treat me like I had an autoimmune disease that was destroying my muscles. Treatments started working and after 6 more months, I could walk without the cane. Went into the workshop (which by then had become the repository for all the junk that was too valuable to throw away but too worthless to use).
Cleaned up the shop (took about a month) and restarted the workbench. Of course by then components were moved (or lost) so I had to make some new ones.
Learned that installing the wagon vice wasn't too hard but getting the rails co-planer is! Finally got shims in all the right places using a few choice words.
Also found that, when using the Veritas Dogs, drilling a 13/16" hole makes the 3/4" dogs move easily. A 3/4" hole was just too tight unless I used a hammer.
Just finished the tool crib inserts for the split top this morning....
Jus had to get one in with my shop dog, Ruger - he points out my mistakes and keeps lions and tigers from getting my way. Also always willing to share lunch.
Planed the top flat, sanded to 200 grit, then finished with BLO. Now I can start making sawdust!
I bought the wood - birch - from a local supplier about 5 years ago. Let it sit in my shop for a year to accumulate (and to save up the $$ for the hardware. Started on the bench after reading Chris Schwartz's book on Workbenches and visited the Benchcrafted site about a hundred times.
Ordered the St. Peter's vice first, and then the Wagon Vice. (Still working then and had to fit the orders in between paychecks.)
Surfaced the wood and cut to length. Glued up the legs and the 4" thick pieces for the top. then I developed a mysterious medical condition in which I became progressively weaker to the point here I couldn't stand up without help. Doctor #1 said "Hmmm, this is unusual". Fired him. Doctor #2 said: "I have no clue but I'll send you to a specialist that I think can help." Doctor #3 did a bunch of test and had my leg operated on. Started to give up hope and started selling off my tools figuring I was done with woodworking.
Most of the tests were inconclusive but I did get a neat cane and a handicapped placard out of it. Finally, after about 6 months, he decided to treat me like I had an autoimmune disease that was destroying my muscles. Treatments started working and after 6 more months, I could walk without the cane. Went into the workshop (which by then had become the repository for all the junk that was too valuable to throw away but too worthless to use).
Cleaned up the shop (took about a month) and restarted the workbench. Of course by then components were moved (or lost) so I had to make some new ones.
Learned that installing the wagon vice wasn't too hard but getting the rails co-planer is! Finally got shims in all the right places using a few choice words.
Also found that, when using the Veritas Dogs, drilling a 13/16" hole makes the 3/4" dogs move easily. A 3/4" hole was just too tight unless I used a hammer.
Just finished the tool crib inserts for the split top this morning....
Jus had to get one in with my shop dog, Ruger - he points out my mistakes and keeps lions and tigers from getting my way. Also always willing to share lunch.
Planed the top flat, sanded to 200 grit, then finished with BLO. Now I can start making sawdust!
Jim
Demonstrating every day that enthusiasm cannot overcome a lack of talent!
Demonstrating every day that enthusiasm cannot overcome a lack of talent!
