Comments on: A Patternmaker’s Workbench

By: hodgman@gmavt.net

hodgman@gmavt.net — Fri, 18 Jan 2013 22:16:27 +0000

One of the big reasons I subscribe to Popular Woodworking is to read whatever Chris Swarz writes. He does a great job writing a feature or just a comment on something. It is like visiting with an old friend.

By: okrejci

okrejci — Wed, 02 Jan 2013 09:38:28 +0000

1908? Motor? The lathe was powered by a belt hanging from a line shaft.

By: tbeyer2

tbeyer2 — Wed, 02 Jan 2013 01:14:40 +0000

Do you know if motor to lathe was mounted on bench behind lathe? I have not been able to find the standard method to drive these pulley type lathes.

By: Bernard Naish

Bernard Naish — Sun, 30 Dec 2012 17:09:42 +0000

I visited a pattern maker a while back because he said he was getting old and wanted to sell all his tools complete as one set in their fitted trays. We had a great eight hours taking out each tool; cranked chisels; cranked gouges; special hand made phosphor bronze detail planes and so many other specialized tools that I had never seen or heard of.

I am glad that he decided not to sell them but at 85 years continue with his woodworking and I hope it keeps him going for many more.

By: 1pappy

1pappy — Fri, 28 Dec 2012 22:18:09 +0000

I noticed that also and brings a question to mind!!! How close or how far away from the wall should a lathe be placed if one was to mount it on a stationary workbench????

By: Barquester

Barquester — Fri, 28 Dec 2012 18:04:23 +0000

Is there any way I can submit this for a suggestion for the mag?

By: masterprecison

masterprecison — Fri, 28 Dec 2012 17:17:47 +0000

I noticed that a workbench had a lathe onside of the table is it true they did?

By: Barquester

Barquester — Fri, 28 Dec 2012 13:32:44 +0000

I made a high vise from 2×8′s with beveled corners at the top. The have to be just wide enough to be supported by the two gliders in my face vice. The smaller the stuff you work on, the harder the wood.

By: Phil Spencer

Phil Spencer — Fri, 28 Dec 2012 12:04:58 +0000

The high vice is very similar in design to a smaller mild steel one I made in the first year of my apprenticeship 42 years ago. Mine is used in tool making and is meant to sit in the jaws of an engineering vice we called it a secondary vice, it is used to hold small pieces when tool making.

By: blambertjr

blambertjr — Thu, 27 Dec 2012 21:36:36 +0000

I saw an x-shape deadman on a bench at Sturbridge Village (mid-19th century renactment village in MA) a couple summers ago. But not as wide as the one in the drawing.