I have the Match-fit system and so far all I did was use it on my table saw fence attachment and my home slot mortiser. Now I have a ton more do. So helpful. this is a great system. Thanks Jay
My only improvement would be to make user side legs at 90 degrees instead of splayed so that it could be used for larger pieces with deadman. Awesome design to say the least.
Micro jig match fit 1.5” DT hardware. USA - $11.99. UK - $23.11. The UK price includes 20% VAT but even after deducting that, the cost of transporting across the pond does not account for the difference.
Check out this jayscustomcreations.com/2021/01/i-lost-43-pounds-in-2020-this-is-my-story And then this jayscustomcreations.com/2021/05/home-gym-part-1-the-basics/
I just did my first matchfit pass with that router bit. And I really don't like it. But still a cool work bench I would use it if it was on a jobsite but the clamps and what not are to expensive and diy clamps are a pain. But I learn or realised something watching this so hell yeah.
I got excited when you bumped the wedge and that held the workpiece straight up, if all the work I did was in the middle of an IKEA box store I might make this bench but my experience with wood must be sub par to someone who would trust those clamps in a dovetail
8:20 Rather than try to pull the wedge out of your jig, push it out. Make two wedges that will fit into the small hole at the narrowest point of the stuck part of the jig. Insert the two wedges into the hole, one on either side, as if you were using opposing shims to level a cabinet. Using a mallet, gently tap the sacrificial wedges into that hole. As the wedges are driven in, they should push the larger wedge out of the jig.
Lost 45 pounds in 2020 from nutrition changes only. Zero exercise. In 2021 I started body weight exercises and in the end of March I started lifting sand and wood and anything I had around the house that was heavy. Check out my website for Home Gym Part 1 where I talk about it.
Check out this jayscustomcreations.com/2021/01/i-lost-43-pounds-in-2020-this-is-my-story And then this jayscustomcreations.com/2021/05/home-gym-part-1-the-basics/
2 quick thoughts: First you can expand your ability to clamp longer pieces against the front edge by leaving the front left leg straight. That gives you back some of the versatility of the full size bench. Also, I have made a number of sliding dovetails, and one thing that reduces strain on the router (motor, bearings, etc.) is to rout first with a 1/4 inch straight bit. Then go back with the appropriate dovetail bit.
Stuck spline wedge, have you tried a spreading wedge? a long shallow wedge can produce a bunch of force, 2 can produce even more.. I've bent steel using wooden wedges.
In appearance reminds me of a Moravian Workbench. If a serious but still portable workbench is what you want, check out the Moravian Workbench. Your presented workhorse project is really slick. Well done! I like the Matchfit hardware and I willl build some of your accessories to use with a workbench, both traditional workbench and Moravian Workbench. Thanks for a great project!
Great video. I recently made the matchfit workbench, and found your video last night. I couldn't resist, and built out a few of the simpler accessories you talk about here today to great success. One comment/suggestion for others following suit. For the simple wedge and stop, while I was able to get decent hold from the way you build it, since my bench also has a cross-hatch set of slots on its top (unlike your workhorse here which just has them along the top length), I found it more stable to to slide the stop in a perpendicular slot to get the mechanical strength of the slot vs. the friction fit you show. However, this then means you need to make the wedge and stop larger, since their combined width needs to be able to span up to the size of the grid (4" for me). The simple trick I used was to have a rectangular stop who's "center" hole was placed such that it was 2" longer to one of the beveled sides than the other, so for a shorter gap use one orientation and for a longer gap use the other, and then the wedge spans the other 2" from its narrowest to widest position. Was able to accomplish this with a 4.5" long stop, and 12" wedge keeping them very manageable in size. I'm still a relatively new woodworker, so there may be even simpler solutions out there, but this worked well for me.
I watched alot of portable bench videos. This looks very but I like the bench design by 3xe Tamar. This design has too much going on and take too much time setting thing up. For me I prefer bench dogs, bench clamps and vice.
This is so good, so useful. I think this will also make a great 'bench' for the kids when they want to come hang out in the shop and just play with some bits of wood and feel like they're part of it
Jay & Mike thanks for the ideas. I love the MatchFit system and plan to use it everywhere in my new shop so that I can make whatever jig I need without buying t-track. Dennis at Hooked on Wood also uses this system throughout his shop as well and it makes a small shop very adaptable.
Maybe you could try some steam to re-hydrate/soften the pine on your wedge thing. Always wax (bee or parafin not paste) any wood-on-wood sliding stuff regardless of purpose. I had a 100year old dresser with seasonal drawer sticking; added wax and gently worked it in with a heat gun and cork block (like for x-country skis) and voila! No more sticking for 30 years now. Cheers
Good design! However funtionality would be much, much improved if one pair of legs were straight down flush with face of top. This way a board could be clamped on face that extends past the legs and ends of workhorse and vertically. The back two legs could be flared out 5° more.
Hey thanks for making the video. Could you clarify your point @5:00 where you say if there's no stock between the vise board and the bench, the clamp will pull out of the dovetail slot?
Very nice jay. Challenge time. The Matt estlea dovetail speed record who beat Rob cosmans record and challenge to all woodworkers to anyone who can beat it. Check it out
Any regrets in not having one or two legs not splayed out to facilitate planing larger boards or panels? Or alternatively a three legged sawhorse with the same goal? Nice build by the way.
Why no locking pin or something for the bottom shelf? with other stuff lining up with it.. I'd be figuring that out then putting a pin or something in it. maybe something that locks to the leg from underneath or something.
Jay. Very informative. I’ve been using MatchFit clamps on a small work bench and drill press table. I find that the slots fill up with sawdust and the clamps become difficult to move. I do blow out the dust with a compressor but I was wondering if you have any tips to avoid this as much as possible. Thanks
So, Where is the container for all these accessories that one would want to have, to keep everything together so that one doesn't have to roam the shop collecting up these accessories to take to a a jobsite? I was wondering this as the video progressed!
Wow - blown away. As a woodworker of around 20 years, this video is keeping me up late at night - can't get enough. Tuesday I'm straight to the local shop to pick up my new MatchFit gear and make some of these wonderful tools. Many thanks Jay and cheers from Sydney, Aust - Dave
This has some real imagination behind it. I’m impressed. Actually watching further this has some properly diabolically cool features. I don’t need one, but I have a friend who absolutely needs this
I really like this entire project and I can foresee a couple of adjustments for an outfeed roller for my table saw. the tool caddy is a great idea and a couple router passes on an assembly table would make it easy to transfer around the shop. It would be great to see it used as a helping hand when you are making other projects and to see where the functionality can go. I think this will be the first time I actually spend money on project plans. usually I just watch the video a couple times and sketch out the idea.
Well designed and thought out. I am getting as many Matchfit Microjig ideas that I can. I want my Kreg Workbench frame to be the best design I can afford. Your Matchfit Accessories are unique and your Work Horse design could also function as an out feed table. Loving your website.
i built all this with yellow pine- just wanted to share that my microjig clamps kept popping out of the dovetailed tracks. this was after a couple months. the pine just started breaking down. just wanted to share!
12:45 What about adding the groves to the legs themselves so you could utilize the legs as a clamping space? Or is that a bad idea? It wouldn't be perpendicular to the other surfaces, but if you needed to clamp a large piece to work on it maybe
I used it today as a shooting board. I clamped the pieces that I needed a perfect 90 deg surface on on a thin piece of stock to lift the piece up to the blade of the hand plane. The match fit clamps held short and long pieces as needed for my project. Really happy with this bench. Highly recommended.
I was thinking the same, except I would cut a wedge that fits the gap. Then just pound the wedge to drive it out. But then I saw the suggestion to put the wedge assembly in the oven on lowish heat for a few hours. If that works, bazinga.
19:50 Why does everyone make the pins and tails such different sizes? That just makes it look weird. IMHO pins and tails should be (close to) the same size.
It shows you made it by hand. The pins are too small to have been done by a router, thus signifying it's hand made. Also more difficult / sign of skill to make them that small.
personal aesthetic choice mostly. Since they could fail if done wrong, tiny pins can be a way of showing off your precision and skill as a woodworker. Sizes and ratios that can't be achieved with machines are preferred by some for the show of craftsmanship, but most people wont realize what they are looking at, and many of those that do probably wont really care either. nice article by paul sellers on dovetails: paulsellers.com/2018/01/dovetail-sizing-keep-simple/
I wish you would show the moxon block in use and furthermore not assume all viewers are experienced woodworkers for whom this stuff is self-explanatory.