Update on the carving bench project

[CarvedTones]

This is likely not permanent, but it is pretty much fully functional.

I would like to figure out a better mounting, though it is on pretty solid. It is on iron table brackets, but the arms are shortened. The largest bolt is through an existing bolt hole in the iron bracket. The smaller bolt is through a hole in the bracket that I drilled. The other two bolt holes are over the iron column, so I bolted brackets in that hold those corners down. I can move the base 360, the top 360 and I can tilt to 90. In other words I can position what I clamp down any way I want. This is incredibly useful in tight quarters where you can't walk around the workpiece. Even if you have room, being able to freely reposition without unclamping is pretty awesome.

I am running out of excuses to not get things done.

 

[Gofor]

Is that a base from an old floor fan? Ingenious. Looks like you are honing in in the final solution!!

Go

 

[CarvedTones]

It is from a bar height table, courtesy of Dino in Myrtle Beach and delivered to Raleigh thanks to Tom (toolferone) at Raleigh Saw. It is quite solid. It has a large round base. The swivel joint is "The Rock" by PanaVise; a Christmas present my wife bought at WoodCarver's supply. The only things I think I will change at some point are a cleaner mounting (I could hang by it now, but I would like it centered over the column and bolted normally through all 4 holes) and some additional or alternative hold downs.

 

[Mike Davis]

If you could find a small piece of steel plate, you could bolt that to the stand and then the swivel to the plate.

 

[CarvedTones]

It's not quite that simple. The bolt holes on the the swivel base match the column almost exactly. I need near zero clearance on top of the bolt holes (the holes are tapered so you could get a big machine screw flush), so it would be difficult to put the nuts on top. But if they are underneath they need a cutout in the column. One thing I do plan to do right away is get heftier brackets for the corners that aren't bolted down. But it isn't at all flimsy. The one big bolt in the picture is to an existing hole and once I tightened it, it felt rock solid except it could be twisted. The smaller one through the hole I drilled stopped that and gave it more support.

If I get a piece of plate, will I be able to drill it myself?

 

[Mike Davis]

No, you won't be able to drill it yourself. Your drill press and drill bits will have to drill it. :rotflm:

What about two plates? One bolted to the stand and one bolted to the swivel then bolt the two together? You'll have to use countersunk flathead bolts.

 

[CarvedTones]

OK, here is an update:

It turns out I really don't have to have those screws flush and the nuts fit in enough that I can trim the bolts plenty low. I am back and forth about whether or not to drill a new hole instead of using the old hole with a fender washer as shown. What I am bolting to are the broken off table arms and they have a "spine" on the underside. A centered hole won't work. I can drill one off to the other side through the plate. It would look a little nicer but would be no more secure (possibly less).

Anyway, it is centered and secured.