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9K views 64 replies 26 participants last post by  theoldfart 
#1 ·
Bench appliances: Mitre jack

Some time ago I stumbled across a mitre jack in an antiques shop. I had read references to them here on LJ's so I knew what it was. I had to do a repair and a lot of cleanup to get it working. After that I had to figure out how to use it on my bench. Once I got that figured out the next step was to chase down some accessories for it. Eventually I found both the saw and the plane at Jim Bodes site.

This video is my first attempt at doing a video so things can obviously be improved. Primarily the saw needs sharpening and based on responses from my "test subjects" more information on the jacks construction and how its mounted in the end vise needs to be shown. So, a new and improved video will be made

 
#27 ·
Dorn's patent Revolving Mitre Box part one

A few years ago a fellow LJ, RealCowtownEric, posted a pic of a rather distinctive mitre box. It revolved and did compound mitre cuts. Fast forward to last December and an EBay listing for a damaged Dorn's Mitre Box. The seller and I came to an agreement on price and it was mine. Mind you, i didn't do a lot of research. I was taken in by the siren song of Victorian cast iron. I was a goner.
Best pack job I've seen in a while. Last one this good came from POA.
Wood Rectangle Flooring Beige Hardwood


Here's how it looked on arrival, the pinch clamp is holding a broken upright together.
Wood Automotive tire Crankset Bicycle part Engineering


It didn't take long to realize that this box differed from most of the others I've seen. Usually they have a badge from Braunsdorf-Meuller located in New Jersey. The only marlkings on mine were the first patent date and Rufus Dorns name. Dorn has four patents related to his invention:

The first 651457

The second 733823 This one looks the closest to mine

The third 769307

The fourth 831940 This is an attachment that allows compound mitre to be made. It only works on the third iteration of Dorns mitre box.

SO. lets get on with it.

I spent a lot of time wire brushing all of the surfaces.

Automotive tire Rim Wheel Circle Auto part


Cuisine Circle Auto part Dish Metal


In doing that I found traces of color in hidden places.

Automotive tire Wood Gas Font Rim


There was also the broken upright and a cracked lower carousel. Luckily a co volunteer at the narrow gauge railroad museum where I volunteer does brazing.

Wood Tool Bumper Gas Engineering


Product Crankset Wood Bicycle part Rim


Automotive tire Wood Motor vehicle Bicycle tire Bumper


Once all the repairs were done it was time to paint. This is my first full restoration so I went with rattle can paint, Rustolem Hunter green.

Automotive tire Drink Wood Gas Font


Taped up the machined surfaces and away we went.
Azure Wood Gas Electric blue Water


Wood Road surface Art Font Flooring


Once dried assembly went quickly and…..

Automotive tire Motor vehicle Wood Wheel Machine tool


In the next installment, I'll have dimensions, action shots and capabilities all detailed.

Thanks
 

Attachments

#28 ·
Dorn's patent Revolving Mitre Box part one

A few years ago a fellow LJ, RealCowtownEric, posted a pic of a rather distinctive mitre box. It revolved and did compound mitre cuts. Fast forward to last December and an EBay listing for a damaged Dorn's Mitre Box. The seller and I came to an agreement on price and it was mine. Mind you, i didn't do a lot of research. I was taken in by the siren song of Victorian cast iron. I was a goner.
Best pack job I've seen in a while. Last one this good came from POA.
Wood Rectangle Flooring Beige Hardwood


Here's how it looked on arrival, the pinch clamp is holding a broken upright together.
Wood Automotive tire Crankset Bicycle part Engineering


It didn't take long to realize that this box differed from most of the others I've seen. Usually they have a badge from Braunsdorf-Meuller located in New Jersey. The only marlkings on mine were the first patent date and Rufus Dorns name. Dorn has four patents related to his invention:

The first 651457

The second 733823 This one looks the closest to mine

The third 769307

The fourth 831940 This is an attachment that allows compound mitre to be made. It only works on the third iteration of Dorns mitre box.

SO. lets get on with it.

I spent a lot of time wire brushing all of the surfaces.

Automotive tire Rim Wheel Circle Auto part


Cuisine Circle Auto part Dish Metal


In doing that I found traces of color in hidden places.

Automotive tire Wood Gas Font Rim


There was also the broken upright and a cracked lower carousel. Luckily a co volunteer at the narrow gauge railroad museum where I volunteer does brazing.

Wood Tool Bumper Gas Engineering


Product Crankset Wood Bicycle part Rim


Automotive tire Wood Motor vehicle Bicycle tire Bumper


Once all the repairs were done it was time to paint. This is my first full restoration so I went with rattle can paint, Rustolem Hunter green.

Automotive tire Drink Wood Gas Font


Taped up the machined surfaces and away we went.
Azure Wood Gas Electric blue Water


Wood Road surface Art Font Flooring


Once dried assembly went quickly and…..

Automotive tire Motor vehicle Wood Wheel Machine tool


In the next installment, I'll have dimensions, action shots and capabilities all detailed.

Thanks
Kevin - That thing is a beautiful piece of functional art. Great job on bringing her back to life!
 

Attachments

#42 ·
Dorn's patent revolving mitre box

The basic parts of this box are a lower or base carousel, the upper turntable, two movable fences and the upright assembly.

A view from the bottom shows the base piece

Crankset Bicycle part Rim Wood Gear


This is the upper section with the fences. The fences more independently of each other. The two thin thumb screws secure the upright assembly on the four locator pins. The other thumbscrew locks the base to the upper section. Marketing literature touted the rotating box allowed two workers to use it at one bench!

Automotive tire Wood Font Art Rim


Art Wood Font Pattern Pollinator


Finally the top saw guide assembly.

Bicycle Wheel Tire Wood Automotive tire


Inside the upright there are brass saw guides that move up and down in grooves along with two saw stops to keep the saw from bottoming out.

Back
Bicycle part Metal Auto part Rim Machine


Front
Automotive tire Wood Bumper Rim Automotive exterior


The first test cut came out totally square.
Wood Automotive tire Gas Machine Wood stain


Wood Ruler Office ruler Tool Wood stain


The box can handle at least 7" of width but this number decreases depending on thickness because of the design of the uprights.
Automotive tire Wood Bumper Gas Audio equipment


As you can see in the photo the upright casting limits thickness. Up too about 4 1/2" wide the stock can be just under 5" thick.
Wood Engineering Gas Automotive tire Machine


Plant Table Wood Tool Automotive tire


Anything wider than 4 1/2" is limited to about 3" thickness.

The rotating section is pre marked at 90, 45, and 22 1/2 degrees and indents help locate the moveable fences.

Automotive tire Tire Wood Flooring Floor


Even though the box is heavy it has a tendency to slide on my bench. I'll make wooden base with recess to fit the feet. I'm still tinkering with this thing for the time with the hope of making a video shortly so stay tuned.
 

Attachments

#43 ·
Dorn's patent revolving mitre box

The basic parts of this box are a lower or base carousel, the upper turntable, two movable fences and the upright assembly.

A view from the bottom shows the base piece

Crankset Bicycle part Rim Wood Gear


This is the upper section with the fences. The fences more independently of each other. The two thin thumb screws secure the upright assembly on the four locator pins. The other thumbscrew locks the base to the upper section. Marketing literature touted the rotating box allowed two workers to use it at one bench!

Automotive tire Wood Font Art Rim


Art Wood Font Pattern Pollinator


Finally the top saw guide assembly.

Bicycle Wheel Tire Wood Automotive tire


Inside the upright there are brass saw guides that move up and down in grooves along with two saw stops to keep the saw from bottoming out.

Back
Bicycle part Metal Auto part Rim Machine


Front
Automotive tire Wood Bumper Rim Automotive exterior


The first test cut came out totally square.
Wood Automotive tire Gas Machine Wood stain


Wood Ruler Office ruler Tool Wood stain


The box can handle at least 7" of width but this number decreases depending on thickness because of the design of the uprights.
Automotive tire Wood Bumper Gas Audio equipment


As you can see in the photo the upright casting limits thickness. Up too about 4 1/2" wide the stock can be just under 5" thick.
Wood Engineering Gas Automotive tire Machine


Plant Table Wood Tool Automotive tire


Anything wider than 4 1/2" is limited to about 3" thickness.

The rotating section is pre marked at 90, 45, and 22 1/2 degrees and indents help locate the moveable fences.

Automotive tire Tire Wood Flooring Floor


Even though the box is heavy it has a tendency to slide on my bench. I'll make wooden base with recess to fit the feet. I'm still tinkering with this thing for the time with the hope of making a video shortly so stay tuned.
Very interesting. It has a lot of coolness to it.
 

Attachments

#52 ·
A video starring Dorn's patent revolving mitre box

I put together a video tour of the revolving mitre box. Keep in mind this is an amateur endeavor. The audio on the last segment is lower than the first two so be prepared to turn it up!



I'll answer any questions that you come up with. Thanks for reading and watching. I'm planning on doing another series on a Roubo saw and kerfing plane.

Thank you,
Kevin

BTW, a shout out to Smitty for being a sounding board, i bow to the master Galoot.
 
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