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Thread: Bench Top Tool Blocks

  1. #1
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    dgbreggin's Tools

    Bench Top Tool Blocks

    When I first got into hobby machining, I made these two bench-top tool blocks -- one for my mini-lathe, the other for my mini-mill. They sit on the bench just to one side of the machines, and hold the most-commonly used tools for operating them.

    I made the blocks from a section of 4x4 wood commonly used for construction. They are heavy and stable enough that they don't tip easily, nor move around with vibration.

    I made the round holes with my drill press. The oval holes and other features were made using my mini-mill. The blocks were made without benefit of a router, hence the rough edges. Still, they have served me well for several years.

    The grooves along the front hold my shop-made scribes. You don't want to store a scribe with the point up, and if you put them in a hole with the point down they will stab into the wood and tend stick.

    The metal tube is a snipe that fits the drill chuck key (and is used only for loosening the chucks). The wrench with the brass attachment is a "nut buddy", used for the mini-mill draw bar. The box wrench end tightens it, the brass cylinder is used as a hammer to release it. Both are shop made.

    The T-handle hex keys have a ball end on the long shaft for easy access, and a straight end on the part sticking out of the handle for tightening and loosening while using the long end for leverage. I highly recommend these over the usual "L" style hex keys.

    Bench Top Tool Blocks-20220322_143850.jpg Bench Top Tool Blocks-20220322_143903.jpg

    Bench Top Tool Blocks-20220322_144013.jpg Bench Top Tool Blocks-20220322_144020.jpg

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  2. The Following 6 Users Say Thank You to dgbreggin For This Useful Post:

    asterix (Mar 24, 2022), bruce.desertrat (Mar 23, 2022), flyfr8rs (Mar 23, 2022), Jon (Mar 25, 2022), rlm98253 (Mar 23, 2022), uv8452 (Mar 24, 2022)

  3. #2
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    uv8452's Tools
    Yes, I have plenty of these blocks too: Drill-bit forrest, reamer forrest, Forstner bits, wrench sockets, machine-specific spanners, ...
    (I update them from time to time (e.g.) with glued-on extensions.) The more you have - the more they are blocking space of your workbench. So I elevate them to 50...200mm by putting them on shelves of a wooden backdrop (or hooking them on it) .

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  4. The Following User Says Thank You to uv8452 For This Useful Post:

    asterix (Mar 24, 2022)

  5. #3
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    Thanks dgbreggin! We've added your Tool Block to our Storage and Organization category,
    as well as to your builder page: dgbreggin's Homemade Tools. Your receipt:






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