Carving stand ideas

[arbarnhart]

I picked up a cast iron bar height table support (couldn't resist the price - free!) to make a carving stand/table/bench mostly for relief with a mallet. I made a temporary top just to get a feel for how solid it is (like a rock!) and to make sure the height is about right before putting much effort into it:

It seemed to be fine, so now I am thinking abot the "real" top. here is the ultimate one:
Veritas® Carver's Bench - Lee Valley Tools
As an aside, I find it interesting that they went with the lower height and suggest sitting to carve. I guess you can do that since it moves so freely but it seems to me that standing and stepping side to side is more natural. I would like to have flexiblity in tilting and turning so I would not have to have it out in the middle of the room. I had someone suggest lazy susan hardware but I am not sure it would take the lateral stress. Thoughts or ideas?

[xsailer]

Boy!! That Veritas table is to die for. I like the way you're going though. Maybe adding a table surface similar to the Veritas with Dado cut across just off center of your pole with substantial hinge on the underside and probably a support rod(gusset) from it back to your main pole to allow heavy carving might be an idea.

Just some quick thoughts to spark conversation maybe.

[pallin]

It looks like you could achieve something similar to the Veritas using your free base. Thanks for including the link to the Veritas site.

[JJireh]

I saw a smaller set up using a bowling ball as the table support, allowing rotation to whatever spot you need it, maybe some type of 'bowl' could be attached to the top of the base and a similar stratagey applied here.

[xsailer]

After giving it some thought to expand on a tilting table idea. Mount the wood table surface on a steel/aluminum plate and then attach the plate to a hinge, mounted off center, on the pole.

[arbarnhart]

Originally Posted by xsailer

After giving it some thought to expand on a tilting table idea. Mount the wood table surface on a steel/aluminum plate and then attach the plate to a hinge, mounted off center, on the pole.

I have had some thoughts along that line also. Because the base is round, I can turn the whole thing the few times I need to and not worry about stuff being in the way of legs or corners. So while a turning table would be nice, it isn't really necessary. The off center hinge, if you are thnking like I am, would keep it from getting too tall when tilted and reduce leverage.

[xsailer]

Yes, that is what I was thinking.

Although...... if you put the hinge on the table edge,for instance 30"sg-15" to the edge, you would gain offset leverage and stability by carving into the table center and downwards because of the(carving) surface(table surface) in relation to the pole being vertical. A single pole presents it's teeter problems unless you have a good stable base on the floor. I'm thinking you may get better carving leverage being offset as my "although" comments. Depends on your carving force to the working surface.

[CarverFromNoWhere]

I have seen the Veritas bench and was not to impressed, but the Veritas carvers vise is awsome, got one for my birthday. I built a bench just for it, there are pics of it and the vise in a thread someplace but I have lost track of where search about.Wink I don't think the lazy susan hardware would hold up but you could go to a machine shop and have a very strong one of the same idea machined up.
Carl

[arbarnhart]

Originally Posted by xsailer

Yes, that is what I was thinking.

Although...... if you put the hinge on the table edge,for instance 30"sg-15" to the edge, you would gain offset leverage and stability by carving into the table center and downwards because of the(carving) surface(table surface) in relation to the pole being vertical. A single pole presents it's teeter problems unless you have a good stable base on the floor. I'm thinking you may get better carving leverage being offset as my "although" comments. Depends on your carving force to the working surface.

Hmm...

I think I understand. The issue is trying to have the downward force over the pole as opposed to on the front edge of the table.

Another thought I have is to make a couple of platforms - one at 30 and one at 60 degrees - that attach to the top. I don't really need inifinite granularity of angle adjustment. The downside is that I wouldn't be able to switch easily on the fly. Actually I might have to make 3 and also have a flat one so the "base top" could be small and allow the angled ones to extend below the front edge without being too far from the post.

The rebec on the stand in the picture is a prefect example of why a tilting platform would be nice. It can only be secure well like it is or flipped over.

[arbarnhart]

Originally Posted by Carver/Turner_FromNowhere

I have seen the Veritas bench and was not to impressed, but the Veritas carvers vise is awsome, got one for my birthday. I built a bench just for it, there are pics of it and the vise in a thread someplace but I have lost track of where search about.Wink I don't think the lazy susan hardware would hold up but you could go to a machine shop and have a very strong one of the same idea machined up.
Carl

Are you talking aboput this vise?
Veritas® Carver's Vise - Lee Valley Tools

Hmmm - U bolts on the pole and a board mounted to the vise would be roughly equivalent to the carver's bench from a functional perspective.
I have been hesitant to try carving vises for serious mallet and adze work.