Project by jusfine | posted 03-08-2016 01:22 AM | 2770 views | 17 times favorited | 7 comments | ![]() |
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This day started as a sharpening project, I got together all my old chisels and whatever needed touching up. Then took a break for coffee and I came across this article in my latest copy of Fine Woodworking – it was exactly what I needed to put off the sharpening.
When I bought my work bench, the old cabinetmaker had two, so I bought a second one for a friend of mine, so decided I would make a set for him first (practice) and try them out.
Instructions were very easy to follow and the resulting dogs were great! I built two sets while cleaning a bit in the shop in an afternoon. My wife picked up the cork for me at Staples, it is very dense which is what works best here. Lots of leftovers, doesn’t use much.
One tip I would offer; enlarge the template from the magazine (I think I used 162%) to match the actual measurement he describes for the dogs, that way it’s an easy trace and cut without having to do any other scaling.
The second set (for myself) was a little less attractive, I was getting impatient, the glue set up a bit quicker than expected, the cork somehow was a bit shy on one face, etc.
I placed a piece of 4/4 rough cherry in between the dogs to try them out, tightened it just a bit, and it holds very solidly. Has room to hold a good thickness and works with any shape. If one was going to really reef on these things, it would be advisable to use a mechanical fastener instead of just glue – a dowel through the two pieces, maybe a Domino, etc.
This gives the tail vice on my old bench a whole lot more versatility and range, I am thankful that the article was available and I had the time and beech scraps to put them together.
They are finished only with a light coat of wax.
Hope you build some and can get some enjoyment out of them.
Fixed the photos… Thanks for looking!
-- Randy "You are judged as much by the questions you ask as the answers you give..."
7 comments so far
Andre
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4285 posts in 2814 days
#1 posted 03-08-2016 02:41 AM
Yup look good in the pictures too! Not to be picky put I noticed that the kerf in one of the dowels is of a bit? Or is that some finger prints?
-- Lifting one end of the plank.
Mikhail
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#2 posted 03-08-2016 07:19 AM
Here is the article:
http://www.finewoodworking.com/how-to/these-bench-puppies-have-bite.aspx
Interesting.
HillbillyShooter
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#3 posted 03-08-2016 01:25 PM
Cool! Look great and like they’ll do the job.
-- John C. -- "Firearms are second only to the Constitution in importance; they are the peoples' liberty's teeth." George Washington
hoss12992
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#4 posted 03-08-2016 04:18 PM
That is really cool. Great job
-- The Old Rednek Workshop https://www.facebook.com/theoldrednekworkshoptn
jusfine
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#5 posted 03-08-2016 04:50 PM
Andre, I would like to take credit for placing a fingerprint…
While assembling, I put some glue on the dowel and in the kerf, put it in the dog, went to orient it to 90 degrees to the block and the glue tacked up so fast I couldn’t even twist the dowel. Didn’t want to mangle it with pliers, so left it offset… thanks for noticing!! :)
Of course, the first set I made were perfect and gave them away.
-- Randy "You are judged as much by the questions you ask as the answers you give..."
SteveGaskins
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#6 posted 03-09-2016 01:15 AM
I read this same article. Still need to build some. Thanks for posting.
-- Steve, South Carolina, http://www.finewoodworkingofsc.com
Andre
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4285 posts in 2814 days
#7 posted 03-09-2016 02:42 AM
LOL! Never noticed when I was holding them?
-- Lifting one end of the plank.
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