I just wanted to add a possible improvement to Jim Hediger's plywood benchwork design. He used wing nuts to attach legs and braces. Might I suggest small knobs instead? Rockler Woodworking sells knobs for 1/4" bolts. The knobs are far easier on your fingers that a wing nut and are only a few cents more.
Glen,
Can you post a picture of one?
Tom
https://tstage9.wixsite.com/nyc-modeling
Time...It marches on...without ever turning around to see if anyone is even keeping in step.
Modeling B&O- Chessie Bob K. www.ssmrc.org
Dave
Lackawanna Route of the Phoebe Snow
I use "domino" bench work and bolt the sections and legs together with 1/4" bolts. I previously used wing nuts with lock washers and carriage bolts to connect the sections and the legs, but realized I do not take the layout apart that much. The layout was designed to be re-arranged if necessary or moved.
I now use regular 1/4" bolts and nuts instead of carriage bolts and wing nuts and tighten the bolts with a scoket wrench. Works great with no lose bolts or nuts. I don't think there is a need for the special knobs or wing nuts, unless you are frequently moving yout layout.
Jim, Modeling the Kansas City Southern Lines in HO scale.
As a long-time professional wrench bender I find that a speed handle fits my fingers a lot better than either a wing nut or a knob - and turns a nut faster, as well. Not to mention being able to apply a sufficient degree of torque to discourage loosening under normal conditions.
(For those unfamiliar, a speed handle is a crank with a holding knob at one end and a fitting for a standard 3/8" drive socket at the other.)
Chuck (modeling Central Japan in September, 1964 - with all-steel benchwork)
tomikawaTT wrote: As a long-time professional wrench bender I find that a speed handle fits my fingers a lot better than either a wing nut or a knob - and turns a nut faster, as well. Not to mention being able to apply a sufficient degree of torque to discourage loosening under normal conditions.(For those unfamiliar, a speed handle is a crank with a holding knob at one end and a fitting for a standard 3/8" drive socket at the other.)Chuck (modeling Central Japan in September, 1964 - with all-steel benchwork)
While I am familiar with your speed handle (also known as a speed wrench) I prefer the ones with the 18V battery on the knob end.
concretelackey wrote: tomikawaTT wrote: As a long-time professional wrench bender I find that a speed handle fits my fingers a lot better than either a wing nut or a knob - and turns a nut faster, as well. Not to mention being able to apply a sufficient degree of torque to discourage loosening under normal conditions.(For those unfamiliar, a speed handle is a crank with a holding knob at one end and a fitting for a standard 3/8" drive socket at the other.)Chuck (modeling Central Japan in September, 1964 - with all-steel benchwork)While I am familiar with your speed handle (also known as a speed wrench) I prefer the ones with the 18V battery on the knob end.
I'm with you on that one. Just think, ages ago the craftsman thought that that "Yankee" screwdriver was "it".. I'd be lost w/o that Bosch cordless and impact.
I've done a lot of post and beam, but using power tools, can you imagine bit brace, hand saw and chisel. Well, Norm Abrams has no problem with it. Ya right....
Are we spoiled or what..
bogp40 wrote: concretelackey wrote: tomikawaTT wrote: As a long-time professional wrench bender I find that a speed handle fits my fingers a lot better than either a wing nut or a knob - and turns a nut faster, as well. Not to mention being able to apply a sufficient degree of torque to discourage loosening under normal conditions.(For those unfamiliar, a speed handle is a crank with a holding knob at one end and a fitting for a standard 3/8" drive socket at the other.)Chuck (modeling Central Japan in September, 1964 - with all-steel benchwork)While I am familiar with your speed handle (also known as a speed wrench) I prefer the ones with the 18V battery on the knob end.I'm with you on that one. Just think, ages ago the craftsman thought that that "Yankee" screwdriver was "it".. I'd be lost w/o that Bosch cordless and impact.I've done a lot of post and beam, but using power tools, can you imagine bit brace, hand saw and chisel. Well, Norm Abrams has no problem with it. Ya right....Are we spoiled or what..
I recently caught the tail end of a show on I think the history channel talking about how wood influenced the great civilizations of the past. They discussed how the Phoneticians (sp?) on the Med. Sea had access to a great forest of cedar trees that would put any forest in the NW of America to shame. This cedar was logged for ship building purposes, hauled about 10 miles to the nearest sea port, and used to build the great war ships of the time.....ALL without power equipment!
I generally am not afraid of hard work but the heck with that job! LOL