• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

What's On Your Workbench?

#5,881
I wanted a couple more stands for at-home use only, and figured I might as well use up some of my off cuts at the same time. I looked around some online and was attracted to this design - both sections are the same so it should be easy to make, and it can be taken apart and easily stashed out of the way.
Two Parts - Copy.jpeg Assembled - Copy.jpeg
Once put together I did not like it. The angle encourages the guitar to slide forward, and would depend on the friction of whatever padding is used to hold the instrument in place. After considering just tossing it on the burn pile, I decided to see if I could turn it into something usable.
The bottom parts were notched to be parallel with each other and the extra length cut off. It won't be acoustic compatible. . . I can deal with that for a one-off.
Modified - Copy.jpeg
Also admitted to myself that, even though I'm only using it at home, I don't like a stand that doesn't somehow hold the neck. Made one of those things and screwed it to the back of the top piece. The assembly looks a little odd, but I can deal with it.
Neck Extension - Copy.jpeg Mod Assembled - Copy.jpeg
Sprayed it with some satin poly and put leather on the contact points.
Finished-Front - Copy.jpeg Finished-Side - Copy.jpeg Stand-Electric - Copy.jpeg
Final outcome - it works, and I can live with it. I won't make another one like it.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Beej, Rafar, lbridenstine and 12 others
#5,883
A couple of weeks ago I posted a plane tote I was working on. For the counterbores I used a hand brace which then reminded me that I had a brace that needed attention. I wish I was focused enough to start a project, follow through with it and finish it but I’m easily distracted.

Ooh, look! A squirrel! Where was I? Oh, yeah…

So here’s a Millers Falls 733-8 from sometime between the 30s and the 50s. A flea market find for a few bucks a few years ago with a frozen ratchet mechanism.
IMG_5624.jpeg

I learned a few things here. I learned that this brace has the best chuck jaws M-F made at the time. I learned how to disassemble a M-F ratchet mechanism and I learned that this one is too badly rusted to save. After several rounds of penetrating oil, heat and hammer strikes it’s still stuck fast. No big deal; I almost never use that feature and the chuck will clean up fine so it’ll still be a perfectly useful brace - much nicer than the crappy one I’ve used for years.

Incidentally, the tote is coming along. Just not quickly.
IMG_5625.jpeg
 
  • Like
Reactions: Beej, TerribleTim68, tbrannon and 7 others
#5,885
TerribleTim68 said:
Tote looks good tho! :cool:
Click to expand...
Thanks. It’s getting there. The whole front side still needs to be contoured and then the whole thing sanded.

Any ideas on what I should finish it with? These old combination planes were typically beech bodies with beech knobs and totes and a thick varnish finish. This is no collectors’ piece, it just needs protection. I was thinking about a few coats of wipe-on poly but I’m open to ideas. I know next to nothing about finishes.
 
  • Like
Reactions: TerribleTim68
#5,886
Lo-E said:
Thanks. It’s getting there. The whole front side still needs to be contoured and then the whole thing sanded.

Any ideas on what I should finish it with? These old combination planes were typically beech bodies with beech knobs and totes and a thick varnish finish. This is no collectors’ piece, it just needs protection. I was thinking about a few coats of wipe-on poly but I’m open to ideas. I know next to nothing about finishes.
Click to expand...
Yeah, I think it's kind of preference. Wipe-on poly is a good option. I like Odie's Oil too.

I need to do one of these myself, I've got a #7 with the ear broke off the tote. Pretty typical damage really. I just need to get to it.
 
#5,889
Well, there’s one distraction off the bench and off the to-do pile:
IMG_5633.jpeg

Fully cleaned up and lubricated. The chuck is, indeed, much nicer than what I’m used to and it’s very pleasant to use.

I work with some young guys who do woodwork who have probably never used a hand brace. I’ll pass my lesser one on to one of those kids with a couple of auger bits and maybe they’ll take to it.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Rafar, Crawforde, Howardzark and 3 others
#5,891
TerribleTim68 said:
I have a brace, haven't used it because I got no bits for it.
But I love my little egg beater drill!
Click to expand...
Egg beaters rock. I like tools that run at human speed. I like being able to control things completely and I like the quiet and reduced cleanup of hand tools. Egg beaters are superb for tuning machine mounting holes and pickup mounting screw pilot holes; Anywhere it's easy to drill through with a power tool. That's not to say I don't like power tools. I'd be lost without them! But there are a lot of procedures that are a lot less hairy with hand tools.

Good auger bit sets are readily available at flea markets and the auction site. Get yourself a set of Irwin-style augers and one expansive bit for a few bucks. They're easy to tune up and sharpen and they can really come in handy! Don't let that brace languish in the corner!
 
  • Like
Reactions: TerribleTim68, Flamingo21, Bruce Johnson and 1 other person
#5,893
Lo-E said:
A couple of weeks ago I posted a plane tote I was working on. For the counterbores I used a hand brace which then reminded me that I had a brace that needed attention. I wish I was focused enough to start a project, follow through with it and finish it but I’m easily distracted.

Ooh, look! A squirrel! Where was I? Oh, yeah…

So here’s a Millers Falls 733-8 from sometime between the 30s and the 50s. A flea market find for a few bucks a few years ago with a frozen ratchet mechanism.
View attachment 5096940
I learned a few things here. I learned that this brace has the best chuck jaws M-F made at the time. I learned how to disassemble a M-F ratchet mechanism and I learned that this one is too badly rusted to save. After several rounds of penetrating oil, heat and hammer strikes it’s still stuck fast. No big deal; I almost never use that feature and the chuck will clean up fine so it’ll still be a perfectly useful brace - much nicer than the crappy one I’ve used for years.

Incidentally, the tote is coming along. Just not quickly.
View attachment 5096941
Click to expand...
The tote looks good. I bought my Record #7 in the 90s just after they switched to plastic totes, and making wooden ones has been on my to do list ever since. One of these days.
 
#5,895
Max Bogosity said:
The tote looks good. I bought my Record #7 in the 90s just after they switched to plastic totes, and making wooden ones has been on my to do list ever since. One of these days.
Click to expand...
I have a couple more that could use replacement when this one’s done. Aside from the bottom, there isn’t a single straight line anywhere so I’m learning as I go and trying not to let things get too wiggly.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Max Bogosity
#5,897
I put finish on one of the cat wall boxes tonight. -
20230620_204319.jpg
I'll let this dry before affixing some carpet to the bottom "shelf" and then....only two more to go! :meh:
20230620_204413_HDR.jpg
Finish is just Boiled Linseed Oil. Something simple that looks "good enough" knowing that my cat will scratch it all to heck over time. Also something easy to repair later when it gets too many scratches.

The sanding took a solid hour for the one box. Not looking forward to doing it two more times, but I really need to get this done.
 
  • Like
Reactions: cholyoke, JIO, lbridenstine and 3 others

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back