Tuesday, November 27, 2018

Slab on Base

The base is finished except for clean-up. The tusk tenons are fitted and it is solid, I put the slab on to get a look-see. I'm happy with it.

Next up is blind pegging the base and slab. Once the slab is fitted I'll need to make the vise backer board, cut its tenons, drill the vise screw hole and cut a mortise for the parallel guide. Then make a vise chop and parallel guide. Chop the two mortises for the backer board in the slab and bottom long stretcher. And last make and install a tool tray.

Basically all that is left to do is fiddly work, time consuming with lots of install the slab, take the slab off, reinstall the slab and so on.


It is a heavy sucker and pretty big (see portable bench in background). Everything but the short stretchers are bigger and heavier.

I'm going to walk away from it now. Tomorrow I'll blind peg the sab and figure out what I will use for the vise backer board and maybe make it if it doesn't need a glue up. If it does, do the glue up.

ken

6 comments:

  1. Anonymous12:24 AM

    Impressive.
    Sylvain

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    Replies
    1. Thanks Sylvian,

      I feel good about the build, a few goofs but nothing that matters.

      ken

      Delete
  2. Wow, that is one massive bench for sure. That sucker is not going to dance around the floor while planning,... like I have been known to do planning on a Workmate :-)

    Bob, who is sweating just looking at that top...

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    Replies
    1. Bob,

      Let my back tell you about it :-). As light as the portable bench is, it does not move when planning, this sucker will be solid. I figured out a way to put the base together solo yesterday. I can get the slab on and off by myself as long the portable bench is next to the base. I think I may be able to get the slab off to the ground by myself and maybe even back up as long as the base and slab are close. I just don't want to test it to find out :-).

      Right now I'm not sure I have another full sized bench left in this old body without help with the build. Of course it could be like a woman and childbirth, in a couple of months I could forget the labor pains and only remember the joy of the build. The portable benches are no problem, I could still be building them by myself for a few more years.

      ken

      Delete
  3. Anonymous1:52 AM

    Thing are more easily moved if kept nearly vertical while pivoting them from one corner on the ground and then from another corner. That is how I moved my old freezer alone at the dumps. Of course the corners might need protection if you don't want them to be marred.
    Look at this video where a young lady moves a workbench (not heavy as yours but it is about the moving technique).
    https://paulsellers.com/2017/08/update-hannahs-progress/
    Sylvain

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    Replies
    1. Sylvan.

      That is how MsBubba and I got the slab onto the portable bench and from there to the base of the big bench. Sometimes smart is better than strength.

      ken

      Delete