Bench block enhancements

[mklotz]

A bench block is an exceedingly handy tool. For those unfamiliar with it, it is an upside-down cup shape made from steel. The top is festooned with holes of varying size and a large V-groove through the central hole. It has a multitude of uses, limited only by the craftsman's imagination, but one primary use is to remove pins from axles, gun parts, etc. by supporting the part on the block over one of the holes and driving the pin out with a pin punch. The pin is then handily trapped inside the hollow body of the block so you needn't chase it around the swarf on the floor.

The first figure shows the block in the foreground with some accessories arrayed around it. The circular wooden piece is sized to fit into the bottom of the block and is held there by two small (1/4" OD) neodymium magnets glued into its periphery. The larger circular piece is bolted to this assembly. More on that later.

Behind the block is a wooden carrier with an assortment of mini-anvils of various shapes. One of these is shown mounted on the top of the block. They are used for various tasks including both shaping and shearing thin metal. Also, on the wooden carrier is a brass soft anvil sized to fit the central hole of the block. You can see it in place on the second picture. It's used when working on material that might fair poorly if it contacted the hardened steel of the block. For even gentler work, anvils can also be easily turned from aluminum or plastics. On the left are the components of a simple clamp (discussed below)

This photo shows the wooden base fitted to the block and the block inverted. This forms a nice wooden surface stabilized by the weight of the block which is used when working with knives, chisels, etc. that would be dulled by a collision with the hardened block. As mentioned, this work surface is bolted to the structure that locates it on the block so it's sacrificial; if it gets too chewed up, it's simple enough to make a new one and bolt it in place.

This photo shows the clamp in use. The aluminum fitting on the threaded rod fits into the central hole of the block from below and allows the height of the threaded rod to be adjusted. In this view, the block is shown sitting on its wooden base. As can be seen, the projecting edge of the sacrificial piece provides space to clamp the whole structure to the work table if so desired. The wooden base is also handy as a cap for the interior space of the block, allowing the storage of some of the accessories there.

I'm currently working on an arrangement to clamp rods into the central V-groove but that is on a back-burner because I have a variety of V-block pairs that can be used for that purpose.

Think about adding a bench block to your workshop armament. If you work on delicate stuff, like expensive firearms, note that nylon and plastic bench blocks are available; Brownell's has the former.

[PJs]

Thank You Marv. Really excellent add-on's for an invaluable tool!! ~PJ

[DIYer]

Thanks mklotz! We've added your Bench Block Base to our Miscellaneous category,
as well as to your builder page: mklotz's Homemade Tools. Your receipt:

Bench Block Base by mklotz

tags: magnet, base, V-block

[DIYer]

Thanks mklotz! We've added your Bench Block Bit Storage to our Storage and Organization category,
as well as to your builder page: mklotz's Homemade Tools. Your receipt:

Bench Block Bit Storage by mklotz

tags: tool storage, holder

[DIYer]

Thanks mklotz! We've added your Bench Block Clamping Setup to our Clamps category,
as well as to your builder page: mklotz's Homemade Tools. Your receipt:

Bench Block Clamping Setup by mklotz

tags: clamp, V-block

[ncollar]

Marv
Very nice and a third hand comes in handy.
Thanks for sharing

[Jon]

Congratulations mklotz - Your Bench Block Enhancements are the Tool of the Week!

You'll be receiving an online gift card, in your choice of Amazon, PayPal, Giftrocket, or bitcoin. Please PM me your current email address and gift card choice and I'll get it sent over right away.

This is your fourth Tool of the Week win.

One more win and you'll be our 4th 5-Time Tool of the Week winner, and the silver wrench-on-pedestal graphic will be added to your trophy showcase in your postbit beneath your avatar.

Here are all of your wins so far:

Bore Measurement Gauge by mklotz

tags: gauge, dial indicator, measurement

Miniature Indexing Faceplate by mklotz

tags: indexing unit, collet

Pocket Tools by mklotz

tags: magnet, measurement

Bench Block Clamping Setup by mklotz

tags: clamp, V-block

Great job and congrats again.

[Ed Weldon]

Marv - I like what you've done accessorizing the old common bench block. Mine has spent much more time as a paperweight than such a tool deserves. Those little pieces will make a nice "warm up" project for me on days when it takes time to clear my head and get started in the shop. Very often in building small scale model parts and assemblies the need for holding a work piece asks for far less force than even the limits of old arthrytic hands. But a little assist in some axes is often needed. This idea opens up some interesting paths for creative invention. The round bench block with its existing precision features are great datums to build on.
I suspect professional machinists and instrument makers long ago thought of many such things. Sadly we in the 21st century are fairly separated from the thinking of those artisans of the previous century who weren't up to writing books and passed their time before the internet. So, save the efforts of those like yourself we are faced with the task of reinvention. Said invention laying fallow, but for the inspiration of a posting in a public forum.
Thank again for your efforts in sharing with us. Ed Weldon, Los Gatos, CA. USA

[mklotz]

Marv - I like what you've done accessorizing the old common bench block. Mine has spent much more time as a paperweight than such a tool deserves. Those little pieces will make a nice "warm up" project for me on days when it takes time to clear my head and get started in the shop. Very often in building small scale model parts and assemblies the need for holding a work piece asks for far less force than even the limits of old arthrytic hands. But a little assist in some axes is often needed. This idea opens up some interesting paths for creative invention. The round bench block with its existing precision features are great datums to build on.
I suspect professional machinists and instrument makers long ago thought of many such things. Sadly we in the 21st century are fairly separated from the thinking of those artisans of the previous century who weren't up to writing books and passed their time before the internet. So, save the efforts of those like yourself we are faced with the task of reinvention. Said invention laying fallow, but for the inspiration of a posting in a public forum.
Thank again for your efforts in sharing with us. Ed Weldon, Los Gatos, CA. USA

You're very welcome, Ed. I get a lot of satisfaction from throwing ideas out there and having folks occasionally focus on one and use it as a springboard to a new idea, project or tool.

In my opinion, tool design is largely a matter of form follows function. Identify what the tool has to accomplish and work backwards from that, piece by piece, until you have a design. It's unlikely that the design so achieved will be optimum so begin doing the engineering finesse work to minimize complexity and weight while maximizing utility.

Kicking a design around in a forum like this one offers the opportunity for many minds to be applied to this design refinement; something that was a lot more difficult in the days before the internet.