Replies

1. 
   jackplane | Feb 11, 2005 11:36pm | #1

   I built my bench with m&t joints. The 1/3 rule applies to horizontal construction more than vertical construction because weight and racking affect horizontal movement much more.

    So, a 4x4 upright into a 4x4 benchtop allows a larger area for the tenon.You could in fact make it up to 2" square IMO without adverse affect.

1. 
   Yogi | Feb 12, 2005 02:55am | #2

   Thank you-  Is your bench a roll 'round?  I'm wondering if pushing it around might cause the m&t joints to wear-  Did you mortise all the way through the 4x4?  Did you use any bolts?  Sorry about all the questions-  That's what you get for being knowledgeable and available!  Thanks again-

1. 
   jackplane | Feb 15, 2005 05:08pm | #3

   with 4 wheels, rolling around wouldn't affect it.

   i used thru m + t joints. bolts? i think this defeats the point of strong, good looking joinery.

1. 
   Yogi | Feb 15, 2005 06:36pm | #4

   I've been experimenting with m&t joints and looking at different bench designs, and I agree with you-  Good casters won't stress the joints when I roll the bench-

   Also, I wouldn't seriously consider bolts, though I am considering dowels-  While I have you on the phone......  Can you explain a woodspring to me?  I saw a picture, but couldn't see if the strip was wedged, glued or what?  Also, do you know who sells "hold backs" or "hold downs" or whatever they're called?  A curled piece of iron to hold a piece on a bench surface-  Have you used them?

   Thanks for the advice-

   Dave

    

    

1. 
   jackplane | Feb 15, 2005 07:57pm | #5

   I don't know what woodsprings are.

   Benchdogs are sold by Garrett Wade and other catalogs. I don't use them; I prefer clamps and more clamps.

   Now it's time to leave the computer and build that bench!

   Edited 2/15/2005 12:13 pm ET by JACKPLANE

2. 
   cherryjohn | Feb 16, 2005 03:34am | #6

   wood springs.........now I might be  mistaken here but I believe you are talking about a very old way of holding wood to the surface of the bench.  I think there is an explanation of this in" The Woorkbench Book"  basically they took a long pole and by springing  it against the cieling and the bench top with the work to be held on the bench top the spring in the pole exerted the force downward on the workpiece.  A holdfast is much simpler.  I saw Frank Klaus at the Massachusetts woodworking show doing a bunch of work on his bench and he uses holdfasts exclusively.  I had my doubts about them but after watching him I am thinking it is a fast way to do a hold downWicked Decent Woodworks

   Rochester NH

   " If the women dont find you handsome, they should at least find you handy........yessa!"

3. 
   Yogi | Feb 16, 2005 04:05am | #9

   The woodsprings I saw (they were referred to as woodsprings) looked like splines, attached to benchdogs, loose up under the head, attached farther down-  Supposed to keep the dog firmly in place-

4. 
   cherryjohn | Feb 16, 2005 03:37pm | #11

   ohh yes............ my brother built his bench dogs from wood and he made those springs out of some mapleWicked Decent Woodworks

   Rochester NH

   " If the women dont find you handsome, they should at least find you handy........yessa!"

5. 
   Yogi | Feb 16, 2005 04:01am | #8

   Thanks pard-  Much obliged-  Dave

2. 
   Peter36 | Feb 16, 2005 03:51am | #7

   Hi Dave. I would make the verical tenon [based upon actual 4"x4" measurments] about 1-1/4" by 3" . The 1/3 rd rule applys to the cheeks and there relationship to the mortise. 3" or so for the length of the mortise gives you some room for pinning or through wedging the tenon. Good luck.   Peter

1. 
   Yogi | Feb 16, 2005 04:10am | #10

   Thanks Peter-  Actually those figures are about where I've arrived-  Seems a small thing, but there are reasons why things work better one way than another-