I saw an attractive design in an earlier gallery post and decided to put one together using some surplus 8/4 maple. Despite conventional wisdom, I actually had a couple of spare 3/4″ pony pipe clamps that seemed fit for purpose and incorporated them into the design instead of the more traditional threaded rods and hand wheels. All I needed was a neighbor with a pipe cutter for the 18″ pieces and a couple of afternoons to piece it together. 

I added 5/8″ holes for bench dogs that I made from short lengths of 1/2″ copper pipe with one capped end, which keeps them proud of the surface and below the height of a 3/4″ board….the soft copper will dull but not serously damage a plane iron should an accident occur. 

The pipe clamp mechanism can apply more than enough pressure for the work I do and gives a 2″ runout without need to adjust the pipe position. The total usable jaw opening is greater than 9″ but requires operating the rear pipe clips, which is simple though a bit awkward but seldom required. For me, the system was well worth the effort and certainly cost justified.

Launch Gallery