Stocking bench

[ddoyle]

Some months ago I was lucky enough to get a chance to purchase a set of plans that a member was offering for sale.  Below is my version of the H________ from Pennsylvania stocking bench. If the plans are still for sale they are worth the money if not to copy  exactly than as a starting point for customization.

Major divergence in that I shortened the feet, added a leg vise and laid up the laminate a bit different.  Also built in mounting on the over hang end for a machinist vise/Anvil. Barrel Vise, Bench Grinder etc. It also mounts a live edge 2 foot by 4 foot 3 inch thick cedar slab for assembly work or for use as furniture.

Vise has about 5 inches of travel so it will grip 8 inches. Handle is held on by magnet so it can be reset once the vise is tightened. Forewent the traditional pin on the lower guide and instead use slotted pieces of   1/8,  ¼ , etc ply as spacers. Not pictured are vise inserts that use a central dowel in a groove to give angled grip.

Bill of Material worked out to:

 3x 16 foot 2x6 spruce, 1X 14 foot 2x6 (99% used, nothing but dust left over)
One litre of glue
100 3 inch screws
One litre of paint
1x8 tpi threaded rod
1x8TPI coupling nut
1x8TPI regular nut
half a grinder wheel
2 washers
6 feet of oak
8 square feet of cedar


No major beta tests yet but it seems like what I wanted rock solid. Original plan was for it to be screwed to the floor but does not seem to need it.

If given a choice I’d prefer a proper bench but we are vagabond/gypsies and this fits in the truck. Wife has given it the nod as living room furniture so that is worth something.







 

[okieboy]

 Yes, and now MY wife wants aquilt/blanket stand just like yours!

[ddoyle]

Build her one, it would make a great b-day/mother's day/anniversary present

[BJH]

Nicely done! You took a idea that I borrowed, and modified that originated with a bench Ian Pratt brought to Dixon's a number of years ago. Then you made it your own. Neat workmanship, and redesign ideas.  Where is your version of the steady rest block? Curious minds want to see. BJH

[ddoyle]

Mr Habermehl,

My steady block is at this moment a stack of 2x lumber with a wrap of duct tape and piece of floor mat from an 82' malibu. Piece of threaded rod goes thru them and into the slot on the table, tightened with a wing nut underneath.  ( I hid it from the photographer cause it is pretty ugly)

 One of the things that I lost in not following your plans exactly was that nice set of rails to secure the steady and to keep tools from rolling away.
I planned on doing it like yours but after picking thru every lumber pile in town I got tired of the splinters before I found a 2x10 that was usable.

I am starting an inlet this afternoon and once I get a bit of experience with the bench I'll refine my steady along with my vise jaws.

Really enjoyed working with your drawings/ideas. It is a lost art to be able to write instructions and to draw plans so that they are usable. You have that skill.

[BJH]

Credit the drawing " skills" to my junior high mechanical drawing teacher.   The instructions took a few rewrites though. Some of our members were kind enough to point out some of my goofs, you got the benefit of a later edition of the instructions. I planned out the bench for quite a while in my head then went to paper. It was surprisingly challenging to write instructions for the project, because when your doing a project somewhat intuitively, you forget some of the steps you take and why. BJH