New jaws for an old Workmate type bench
New jaws for an old Workmate type bench
Outdoor workbench for the allotment house.
Hi there,
This little blog series, will be about restoring and making upgrades, for Workmate type benches.
Not that I'm a big fan of them, in fact I used to laugh at them…, but I have come to realize, that they DO have their place, especially for the armature woodworker, who are doing house repairs, as a real workbench NO. They should be called work tables, not work benches, as work benches they only have a place in hell, laugh.
Its been a while since I was last on LJ, life is sweet and busy, health is good, even I have quite a lot of pain these days, coming from my operated neck, but I have nothing to complain about, now where we are under the pandemic and I spend as much time as I can in my tiny house, building, repairing, fixing, making and gardening, so as a retired, the crisis are just a period without hugs, besides that, its much the same But I send my best thoughts, to all the families that lost a member, due to this little virus, that has changed our world as we know it.
Some of you know I bought an old allotment / tiny house and with this came not just one, but two workmates, one of them an original, with flip up legs, so it can be used low and high, this is really cool with my old table saw on top. The other is a copy cat, its the copy cat I will give new jaws, as they seemed to have been outside in the rain once to may and MDF dont really like that…
But as you see on the picture, two of these and a generator, makes a wonderful little outdoor workshop, on this picture I make panels for the house, out of recycled materials.
Just so you know what we are making, here it is, the copy cat with new jaws and even a router table attachment, to put on top, but this will be for a later blog.
In fact some of you might remember I had one of these before
Yes it was back in the Paris days, I bought one to have in my GF's apartment, I was missing woodworking, when I was there. Laughs.
(I were in Paris 56 times in total, during those years often ten days at the time).
Yes my little Paris workshop.
Even cut French dovetails, with good red wine.
But that story came to an end.
Back to the story MaFe!!!
At the allotment, using the workmate with my Circular saw jig, for 90 and 45 cuts, but in fact I have used it a lot there, since its wonderful to work outside in the sun and my big Scandinavian bench are not easy to carry outside, smiles.
New Jaws MaFe!
Yes here cutting some plywood, its left overs, from a project I just did with my daughter.
Just same width and length as the original.
Then 45 cuts for holding tubes and pipes, yes even my smoking pipe can fit in there.
Here the old jaws, this is what happens when MDF meets water.
But as they have been used a lot, I think they have served their purpose.
Marking up for the holes, using a gauge, to avoid measuring too much, since this will increase the imprecision.
Marking up for the holes.
Again transfer and not re measure, jaws put how they will be on the table, then any fault will be on both jaws, in the same way.
Boards taped together, so it will not move.
Now try to hit the centre as good as your eyes will let you.
So the Forstner bit will be guided, when you drill it.
It went well.
Drilled almost through, so the centre of the bit came out, then from the other side, like this I got zero tear out.
Tadddaaaa, we got jaws!
Marking up for where they will be mounted on the back side.
Front.
Im not happy with the sharp edges on the holes, this will make a tear out, when taking bench dogs in and out.
So the get a 45 round over.
Using the new cordless Makita router I love that thing!
A pair of stretchers to put under, so the jaws can take some serious beating.
Since this is made in my real workshop, I cant cut them to length as the workmate is in the allotment.
I also grind the end stop of a pair of clamps.
So they can be used on the jaws, to stick through the holes.
Back in the allotment, the copy cat was put outside.
Yes they are well used or shall we say, used well…
Better?
The table were put upside down and the jaws could be attached.
Fresh screws.
It was put to use right away.
I never owned one of these before, we have not had a tradition of using them, but Hultafors has started making them and I love it together with the cordless circular saw, so fast and easy to make straight cuts.
The stretches were fitted to the possible length and screwed in place.
Clamps are super useful and easy to use.
So I'm a happy monkey.
And monkeys hang out.
See you soon, for more on this workmate series.
Hope it can be to some inspiration.
Best thoughts,
MaFe
New jaws for an old Workmate type bench
Outdoor workbench for the allotment house.
Hi there,
This little blog series, will be about restoring and making upgrades, for Workmate type benches.
Not that I'm a big fan of them, in fact I used to laugh at them…, but I have come to realize, that they DO have their place, especially for the armature woodworker, who are doing house repairs, as a real workbench NO. They should be called work tables, not work benches, as work benches they only have a place in hell, laugh.
Its been a while since I was last on LJ, life is sweet and busy, health is good, even I have quite a lot of pain these days, coming from my operated neck, but I have nothing to complain about, now where we are under the pandemic and I spend as much time as I can in my tiny house, building, repairing, fixing, making and gardening, so as a retired, the crisis are just a period without hugs, besides that, its much the same But I send my best thoughts, to all the families that lost a member, due to this little virus, that has changed our world as we know it.
Some of you know I bought an old allotment / tiny house and with this came not just one, but two workmates, one of them an original, with flip up legs, so it can be used low and high, this is really cool with my old table saw on top. The other is a copy cat, its the copy cat I will give new jaws, as they seemed to have been outside in the rain once to may and MDF dont really like that…
But as you see on the picture, two of these and a generator, makes a wonderful little outdoor workshop, on this picture I make panels for the house, out of recycled materials.
Just so you know what we are making, here it is, the copy cat with new jaws and even a router table attachment, to put on top, but this will be for a later blog.
In fact some of you might remember I had one of these before
Yes it was back in the Paris days, I bought one to have in my GF's apartment, I was missing woodworking, when I was there. Laughs.
(I were in Paris 56 times in total, during those years often ten days at the time).
Yes my little Paris workshop.
Even cut French dovetails, with good red wine.
But that story came to an end.
Back to the story MaFe!!!
At the allotment, using the workmate with my Circular saw jig, for 90 and 45 cuts, but in fact I have used it a lot there, since its wonderful to work outside in the sun and my big Scandinavian bench are not easy to carry outside, smiles.
New Jaws MaFe!
Yes here cutting some plywood, its left overs, from a project I just did with my daughter.
Just same width and length as the original.
Then 45 cuts for holding tubes and pipes, yes even my smoking pipe can fit in there.
Here the old jaws, this is what happens when MDF meets water.
But as they have been used a lot, I think they have served their purpose.
Marking up for the holes, using a gauge, to avoid measuring too much, since this will increase the imprecision.
Marking up for the holes.
Again transfer and not re measure, jaws put how they will be on the table, then any fault will be on both jaws, in the same way.
Boards taped together, so it will not move.
Now try to hit the centre as good as your eyes will let you.
So the Forstner bit will be guided, when you drill it.
It went well.
Drilled almost through, so the centre of the bit came out, then from the other side, like this I got zero tear out.
Tadddaaaa, we got jaws!
Marking up for where they will be mounted on the back side.
Front.
Im not happy with the sharp edges on the holes, this will make a tear out, when taking bench dogs in and out.
So the get a 45 round over.
Using the new cordless Makita router I love that thing!
A pair of stretchers to put under, so the jaws can take some serious beating.
Since this is made in my real workshop, I cant cut them to length as the workmate is in the allotment.
I also grind the end stop of a pair of clamps.
So they can be used on the jaws, to stick through the holes.
Back in the allotment, the copy cat was put outside.
Yes they are well used or shall we say, used well…
Better?
The table were put upside down and the jaws could be attached.
Fresh screws.
It was put to use right away.
I never owned one of these before, we have not had a tradition of using them, but Hultafors has started making them and I love it together with the cordless circular saw, so fast and easy to make straight cuts.
The stretches were fitted to the possible length and screwed in place.
Clamps are super useful and easy to use.
So I'm a happy monkey.
And monkeys hang out.
See you soon, for more on this workmate series.
Hope it can be to some inspiration.
Best thoughts,
MaFe