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If you prefer not to read, the video is here. Complete with a bevy of mistakes and tomfoolery.

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So with the limited space I have I've found it difficult to have a good size work bench. So I endeavored to find a way to get the maximum amount of versatility and work space with the limited space I have on my 3rd floor balcony. I needed something simple, but effective.

A thick topped bench was out of the question, I didn't want to make a 300 pound monster that I'd eventually have to carry down 3 floors with no elevator.

The answer I found was in the traditional planing beam as written about by men like Toshio Odate. The beam is really just a thick beam supported by a single horse with a block at the opposite end. To make the beam rigid rather than just sheer weight and support systems, the beam is butted against the wall of the workspace/workshop. This way when you plane with a kanna you can use gravity as an ally and it allows you to plane a bit harder when you have rough sawn boards that need to be planed down. Traditional craftsmen in Japan have built countless items in the past using a beam like this and a few saw horses.

The key for me, as was with the craftsmen of old, is to make the absolute most of the absolute least.

Since I also use western style planes (mostly for hardwoods) I plan on having different heights of blocks to have the beam be level for using with a western plane. This is still a work in progress but I'll come up with something that lets the height/angle be changed with ease for the different planing styles.

The vise is a feature that you will not find on traditional planing beams. This is to make it work for my particular work style. And for planing edges it makes life SO much easier. For very long stock I can simply attach a clamp across the bottom to hold the stock with the vise at the other end acting as an anchor.

The beam is much easier to store when it's not in use, since it's only 6"ish wide I can easily stand it up in a corner and have the support horse next to it. And at only about 80lbs and 7ft long moving it isn't a massive ordeal. The wife is very pleased with this arrangement.

I am still working on a work holding system for it that I can move up and down the beam, in the meantime I just use screws to create stops for using a kanna, the thickness of the stock dictates the thickness of the stop.

I also plan on adding some notches to the support horse to help the beam sit more squarely in the space it's provided. This will be the first thing I add after I build a better support block for it. But I ran out of money and time for this one, but it is perfectly functional but to optimize it will just take a little longer.



Thanks for reading/watching!

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That's very cool.
And when you're done you just sweep the mess right off the balcony! (just kidding of course)
 

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That s very cool.
And when you re done you just sweep the mess right off the balcony! (just kidding of course)

- fivecodys
Absolutely! What's the point of working outside if you can't take advantage of it?
 

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Clever solution to limited space.
 

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When I first saw the title of this post, I was reminded of this Japanese planing competition.
(Who can plane the thinnest complete shaving)
 

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When I first saw the title of this post, I was reminded of this Japanese planing competition.
(Who can plane the thinnest complete shaving)

- DS
They're having a competition down the street from my shop tomorrow.

http://mokuchiwoodworking.com/events/kez2017/

Fine Woodworking did a piece on it two years ago.





I'm going to try and attend as a spectator. I forgot to add this to my calendar, as usual :(
 

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Nice!

How sturdy is that railing? Maybe attach a moxon vise or a tool holder.
 

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Nice!

How sturdy is that railing? Maybe attach a moxon vise or a tool holder.

- LJRay
Not very. It's got a bit of a case of the weeble wobbles that needs to be remedied. I wouldn't feel comfortable putting anything of significant weight on it, the porch is quite sturdy though!
 

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Great idea! I'm also limited on space and have been working on my balcony. I'm in the process of building a knock down style bench. In the meantime I'm working on the ground with a small bench of sorts.
 
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