Today in the shop (bench top/clamp top/assembly top or not)

reible · Post by **reible** » Fri Aug 29, 2014 8:04 pm

I've been on a quest for the last years to come up with a bench top, clamp top, assembly top for smaller projects. While it has been about 6 years since I first began it wasn't until spring 2013 that I had a design that I liked.

After pricing out the hardware and attachments I was going to need it was clear this was not going to be cheap to do.

This spring I was ready to spend the money I had saved up. Then I noticed some thing very close to my design plus they had additional hardware already developed. Still expensive as far as I was concerned but it was just a mater of doing some orders and having it to use. Of course I was not going to pay full price cause there are sales of % off or free postage anyway.

I've now had the summer to use it and have found a few things that exceeded my expectation and few that didn't. This is not a review so I will not be detailing those aspects because they may or may not be relevant to everyone.

The pictures and descriptions will have to come later, the computer wants to reboot after some updates and I have to eat......

Ed

reible · Post by **reible** » Fri Aug 29, 2014 8:49 pm

This is the top, and if you are a Rockler's shopper you might well have noticed it or perhaps you even own one.

It is 1-1/8" thick, 28" by 40" and heavy (if I think of it I'll weigh it). My design was going to be 30" x 36" and had one more t-track section so as you can see it is pretty close.

[ATTACH]26033[/ATTACH]

The first attachment came from what I had done for the shopsmith's t-track ( I may have posted this some years back when I did a number of hand clamp modifications ??). This clamp is drilled for a 1/4" bolt to fit the shopsmith parts so I used another one and drilled for 5/16", mostly because the t-nuts parts I have are that size.

[ATTACH]26034[/ATTACH]

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I drill both sides of the hand clamps so I have even more options mounting it. It is nice cause it can be rotated to any position.

[ATTACH]26036[/ATTACH]

More to come.

Ed

reible · Post by **reible** » Fri Aug 29, 2014 9:03 pm

Here we will look at some purchased stops. I have two of each type. One is in line with the t-track and the other is at 90 degrees.

[ATTACH]26037[/ATTACH]

From the underside you will notice that they attempt to be square to the track. They are locked in place by turning the knob that you see on top. You then fold them down so they are out of the way.

[ATTACH]26038[/ATTACH]

This is a not a very imaginary way of using the set up but you can get some time with you plane if that is your thing.

[ATTACH]26039[/ATTACH]

The stops are short enough that 3/4" stock is higher then the clamp as can be seen here:

[ATTACH]26040[/ATTACH]

More to come.

Ed

reible · Post by **reible** » Fri Aug 29, 2014 9:58 pm

Where there are short stops there must be long ones too, well except in baseball.

So yes I have two of those as well. They are just a longer version of the shot ones I've already posted but so we can get a better idea just how the system works here is one.

[ATTACH]26041[/ATTACH]

By using the collection you can have a bunch of options in the t-track. You could always use blocks of plywood and make your own if you wish or make special function ones that are project specific.

Nest we will look at a toggle clamp with a extra mounting plate that they sell. This has the advantage of being adjustable as to the mounting place. The clamp has also been upgraded on the clamping side.

[ATTACH]26042[/ATTACH]

Again you can do as is shown next, a plywood base is used to mount it. Shown is 3/4" plywood but that could be just as easy 1/2" plywood or any other size you might need. For me most of my projects this has worked fine.

[ATTACH]26043[/ATTACH]

Toggle clamps come in several styles, so just to give an example here are a pair that the handles fold down out of the way when set. I put two there to show that you might want to have that as an option. These are not mounted but 8 holes and 8 screws would do it.

[ATTACH]26044[/ATTACH]

More to come.

Ed

reible · Post by **reible** » Fri Aug 29, 2014 10:15 pm

These are a recent purchase, they finally went on sale.

This is a nice addition but even on sale they run you $50.

Let's look at the the bottoms first. You will notice a collection of holes that lets you mount the clamp in one of three positions. The screws in pairs make the clamp be at inline, 45 degrees left or right and the t-track gives you the 90 degrees angle. Lets take a look at that.

[ATTACH]26045[/ATTACH]

[ATTACH]26046[/ATTACH]

[ATTACH]26047[/ATTACH]

Those should be enough for you to get how that works.

In the next post I'll show some clamping action.

What makes the clamp so interesting is that you adjust the amount of force you want then that stays no matter where the clamp is used. The rod lets in move in and out, when you touch the work piece that is the starting point of the clamping action so if the parts are not all the same width it is no big deal.... slide to touch and clamp.

The small v-notch will let you hole circular items as well as clamping on the 45 degree corners. While one might be able to duplicate this clamp I'm not sure it would be worth the effort as they are well designed and well made.

More to come.

Ed

reible · Post by **reible** » Fri Aug 29, 2014 10:24 pm

Here are just 3 clamping examples. I'm sure you can see the possible options depending on what you want to do.

I wanted to point out that the clamp is tightened to the table using the blue knob in case that was not clear.

[ATTACH]26048[/ATTACH]

[ATTACH]26049[/ATTACH]

[ATTACH]26050[/ATTACH]

Still a few posts left to go.

Ed

reible · Post by **reible** » Fri Aug 29, 2014 10:39 pm

Now we can take a cookie break, well I can any way.

I've made some of these cookies out of hockey pucks but I decided to order a set because they have yet another feature that mine don't have.

Yes they work nice on the surface of the table, just like they should.

[ATTACH]26051[/ATTACH]

Here you can see the top and bottom of this set. Yes they are different.

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Now comes the rise of the cookies by the addition of these posts.

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Once mounted the cookie is about 2-3/4" off the surface of the table, depending on your jig saw/saber saw that might be enough to allow you to cut above the table top. Yes a router bit for edging or a pattern bit will likely have room too.

[ATTACH]26054[/ATTACH]

I have 4 of these but I could see adding a couple more someday if they are the right price.

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Still more coming.

Ed

reible · Post by **reible** » Fri Aug 29, 2014 10:54 pm

This is the final part of the presentation.

One of the last things I'm showing is the hold downs that I have a pair of.

[ATTACH]26056[/ATTACH]

I have a bunch of home made ones that work fine but in case you are the make it yourself type or the buy it type you will find these very useful.

For the more adventurous I will show you one more item. This is a work in progress so the rest of the parts are classified for now. For some of you you may know what these are for but my lips are sealed. I'm adding that for Ed in FL know how much he likes to guess at projects, not.

[ATTACH]26057[/ATTACH]

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Hope you enjoyed to thread.

Ed

beeg · Post by **beeg** » Fri Aug 29, 2014 11:20 pm

GREAT presentation Ed, as usual.

Ed in Tampa · Post by **Ed in Tampa** » Sat Aug 30, 2014 11:18 am

Fantastic and a big THANKS!

Love your presentations hate your guess what it is. I can never guess correctly.

Love the idea, it is exactly what I have been trying to do with my bench top. May stop all work (stilling designing and experimenting) and just order the Rockler table. Question what is the weight of the table.