Possible inexpensive carving bench
Quote from Tim Rauch on January 10, 2018, 4:33 pmI just got this in my email from Lee Valley. It looks like it might work as an inexpensive carving bench. Adding some weight to the base or fastening it to the floor would help stabilize it.
http://www.leevalley.com/en/wood/page.aspx?cat=1,41637&p=75270&WT.mc_id=2733_3&WT.tsrc=Email
I just got this in my email from Lee Valley. It looks like it might work as an inexpensive carving bench. Adding some weight to the base or fastening it to the floor would help stabilize it.
http://www.leevalley.com/en/wood/page.aspx?cat=1,41637&p=75270&WT.mc_id=2733_3&WT.tsrc=Email
Quote from Jason Parsons on January 11, 2018, 11:56 amthat would be nice to have when i need to resaw or rip boards for a project. i have a large work bench in my basement, but here is what i use when i want to carve on the dining room table. it cost $15 in materials, and 2 hours to build. it keeps everything at standing height. friction, router pads, and the backer board keep everything from moving around, without clamps.
that would be nice to have when i need to resaw or rip boards for a project. i have a large work bench in my basement, but here is what i use when i want to carve on the dining room table. it cost $15 in materials, and 2 hours to build. it keeps everything at standing height. friction, router pads, and the backer board keep everything from moving around, without clamps.
Uploaded files:Quote from Dan Krager on January 18, 2018, 7:35 pmWhen carving, mass of the support is your friend if you need to beat the gouges. If you intend to just push them, then stability is your friend. I laminated an 18" square of 1 1/4" thick poplar and mounted it to a steel post (square tube) bolted to a 3/4" plywood panel on the floor. It swivels with adjustable resistance, and will tilt over to 90°. Every 3" on a grid is a 3/8" through hole for stops, clamps, or back screws. In a recent iteration I was able to obtain a massively heavy scissors lift table very reasonably and secured my swivel to it. Now I can sit or stand at will with infinite adjustability. While the former could be adapted to the (heated) house, the scissors lift cannot. An electric infrared heater keeps me cozy.
So, the table Tim mentions may have enough slop in the joints that stability could be an issue. I have B&D workmate whose joints proved to be too sloppy for carving. Even with 80 lbs weight, it moved too much to be useful. Neither did the top have enough mass to support under mallet blows.
I like Jason's idea of the no slip mat. Mine do not perform well enough, so a better quality than I have would be in order.
DanK
When carving, mass of the support is your friend if you need to beat the gouges. If you intend to just push them, then stability is your friend. I laminated an 18" square of 1 1/4" thick poplar and mounted it to a steel post (square tube) bolted to a 3/4" plywood panel on the floor. It swivels with adjustable resistance, and will tilt over to 90°. Every 3" on a grid is a 3/8" through hole for stops, clamps, or back screws. In a recent iteration I was able to obtain a massively heavy scissors lift table very reasonably and secured my swivel to it. Now I can sit or stand at will with infinite adjustability. While the former could be adapted to the (heated) house, the scissors lift cannot. An electric infrared heater keeps me cozy.
So, the table Tim mentions may have enough slop in the joints that stability could be an issue. I have B&D workmate whose joints proved to be too sloppy for carving. Even with 80 lbs weight, it moved too much to be useful. Neither did the top have enough mass to support under mallet blows.
I like Jason's idea of the no slip mat. Mine do not perform well enough, so a better quality than I have would be in order.
DanK
Quote from Michael Duncan on January 19, 2018, 9:56 amJason, nice carving bench! and VERY NICE Green Man your carving, looks Great!
? What book is that in the lower left, love books, being gimped - up I read more than carve these days. Like tools can never have too many books! (or use inter Library Loan)
Oh-yah carving bench, I'm using my table saw with a pcs. of plywood clamped on top, and a 4"x4" clamped under the wing for a leg. still dreaming and drawing REAL Carving benches.
Jason, nice carving bench! and VERY NICE Green Man your carving, looks Great!
? What book is that in the lower left, love books, being gimped - up I read more than carve these days. Like tools can never have too many books! (or use inter Library Loan)
Oh-yah carving bench, I'm using my table saw with a pcs. of plywood clamped on top, and a 4"x4" clamped under the wing for a leg. still dreaming and drawing REAL Carving benches.
Quote from Jason Parsons on January 19, 2018, 11:59 amthanks michael. the book is the one i used as a guide for carving the green man. it's "relief carving wood spirits" by lora irish. i mostly used mary's beginner carving set, instead of the tools that lora uses. it was a nice mashup of techniques.
thanks michael. the book is the one i used as a guide for carving the green man. it's "relief carving wood spirits" by lora irish. i mostly used mary's beginner carving set, instead of the tools that lora uses. it was a nice mashup of techniques.
Quote from Michael Duncan on January 19, 2018, 1:40 pmThanks, I've got Lora Irish's "Classic Carving Patterns" I like her writting, will have to pick up "Wood Spirits" looks fun, another carving to add to the growing list.
Thanks, I've got Lora Irish's "Classic Carving Patterns" I like her writting, will have to pick up "Wood Spirits" looks fun, another carving to add to the growing list.
Quote from Deleted user on April 28, 2018, 7:52 amJason, any chance you could supply the dimensions?
Jason, any chance you could supply the dimensions?
Quote from SteveHerreid on June 10, 2020, 3:38 pmQuote from Dan Krager on January 18, 2018, 7:35 pmWhen carving, mass of the support is your friend if you need to beat the gouges. If you intend to just push them, then stability is your friend. I laminated an 18" square of 1 1/4" thick poplar and mounted it to a steel post (square tube) bolted to a 3/4" plywood panel on the floor. It swivels with adjustable resistance, and will tilt over to 90°. Every 3" on a grid is a 3/8" through hole for stops, clamps, or back screws.
Hello Dan
Could you perhaps post a more detailed description of your swiveling, tilting bench, preferably with picture(s)? I am interested in building something like this but not sure what the mechanism needs to be.
Many thanks
Steve
Quote from Dan Krager on January 18, 2018, 7:35 pmWhen carving, mass of the support is your friend if you need to beat the gouges. If you intend to just push them, then stability is your friend. I laminated an 18" square of 1 1/4" thick poplar and mounted it to a steel post (square tube) bolted to a 3/4" plywood panel on the floor. It swivels with adjustable resistance, and will tilt over to 90°. Every 3" on a grid is a 3/8" through hole for stops, clamps, or back screws.
Hello Dan
Could you perhaps post a more detailed description of your swiveling, tilting bench, preferably with picture(s)? I am interested in building something like this but not sure what the mechanism needs to be.
Many thanks
Steve