Saturday, August 17, 2019

Slab Mortises Finished

The slab mortises are finished, I expect I'll do a little more clean up on the bottom before the bench is finished but the slab is ready to mate with the base.


The rectangular mortise is to house the top tenon on the vise backer board and the round mortises will house the base 5/8" dowels holding the slab in place.

One more mortise to chop on the long stretcher to house the bottom tenon on the vise backer board. Once that mortise is chopped the base will go back together, the vise will be fitted, and the slab installed. All that is left is the tool tray and clean up. The fat lady is clearing her throat.

ken

6 comments:

  1. Anonymous6:16 AM

    It looks like you made round trips with your slab between the patio and the workshop.
    Don't you have saw horses, ... I mean light portable Moravian?
    Sylvain

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    1. Sylvain,

      Busted :-). More than anything it is a space problem, there s no extra space in the shop. The reason for the patio move and the patio is almost as tight. Just one more move before the slab work can be done on the base.

      ken

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  2. What is the planned or unplanned intent of this bench?

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    1. Marshal,

      I'm not sure. It is kinda a hybrid bench. The slab is a little heavy to be truly portable although it can be moved by one person. I envisioned building it for someone that wanted a smaller shop bench but also expected the need to move at some time in the future. The heavy slab should make the bench very stable even if it is shorter than a full sized shop bench.

      I started the build because I wanted to try the new Lake Erie 2X wood vise screw. Will Myers threw me a curve when he published his install of a BenchCraft Classic vise screw with the 14" crisscross on an existing Moravian bench. It was early enough in the build to make the 180 and go with the BenchCraft screw and after a couple of weeks of dithering I did.

      From just playing with the vise mounted, not to the bench but just held in place by one of my vises, I think it will be a winner. I'll know in a couple or three day if I can stay out of MsBubba's line of sight and work doesn't interfere too much.

      Bottom line I expect I'll sell either this bench or one of the earlier more portable benches or maybe both so I can build another. I know it is a sickness but what the hell it is only time and money that could be spent on important things like whisky and women.

      Sorry for the long reply, ask the time and I tell you how to build a clock, been that way all my life.

      ken

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  3. I think I understand the chop mortise now. I will wait to see the final pic to see if I get an attaboy for figuring it out.

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    Replies
    1. Ralph,

      The pegs are curing as I type, I expect to install the slab in the AM before work if I do not sleep in. Once the slab is installed the vise can be mounted and all should be clear.

      Right now not much is getting done in the afternoon, it has been over 105F and a few days over 110F for almost two weeks now. One day I saw 115F on the truck thermometer on the way home from work. On those afternoons it is mostly inside with the AC and pool if you have to be outside.

      ken

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