Sheilajeanne Report post Posted January 15, 2018 MjolnIr, can that stitching clam of yours be used lying flat on the table, the way it is in the photo? I am still having a really hard time using my clam. I've shortened it as much as I can, but I still have to hold it between my knees when stitching, and that means backing away from my work table enough that I don't get sufficient light and am struggling to see what I'm doing. The other lights in the room are about 10 feet over my head, so finding another spot with enough light is impossible. What I need is a REALLY short clam that sits on my bench. I saw another poster's clam improvised out of two wood clamps and went 'hmmmm....." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Firewalker Report post Posted January 15, 2018 If I showed you my "shop" you would sprain your pancreas laughing. Muahahahahaha! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mjolnir Report post Posted January 19, 2018 On 1/14/2018 at 9:11 PM, Sheilajeanne said: MjolnIr, can that stitching clam of yours be used lying flat on the table, the way it is in the photo? I am still having a really hard time using my clam. I've shortened it as much as I can, but I still have to hold it between my knees when stitching, and that means backing away from my work table enough that I don't get sufficient light and am struggling to see what I'm doing. The other lights in the room are about 10 feet over my head, so finding another spot with enough light is impossible. What I need is a REALLY short clam that sits on my bench. I saw another poster's clam improvised out of two wood clamps and went 'hmmmm....." Maybe, but that was for photo purpose only. I'd just finished that project. check out my 'Clam on the Half Shell' thread. I used a $20 swivel clamp from Amazon to hold mine perpendicular to my bench. You might want a 'leather' clamp, about $30 bucks on amazon or ebay. You can make your own that price and be proud of it. I've said it before but, improvise. We are only restrained by the limits of our imagination. Imagination has no limit so anything is possible. PS get a swivel art lamp. you can clamp it to your desk and shine the light where you need to. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mjolnir Report post Posted January 19, 2018 This is the norm for my 'Shop'. Discombobulated is my state of mind most of the time. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AdamPCain Report post Posted January 19, 2018 1 hour ago, Mjolnir said: This is the norm for my 'Shop'. Discombobulated is my state of mind most of the time. I see you have a Seville tool cart and workbench. How do you like them I am looking for a new work bench. I was also looking at Huskys 60inch workbench not sure witch one to get yet. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sheilajeanne Report post Posted January 19, 2018 Looks a lot like my workbench when I have a project on the go! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
garypl Report post Posted January 19, 2018 3 hours ago, Mjolnir said: This is the norm for my 'Shop'. Discombobulated is my state of mind most of the time. Looks neater than my shop when I am not working on anything! I just went out and bought a new shelving unit and plan to move a lot of stuff from my workbench to the shelves. I am embarassed to show anyone how it looks right now! Gary Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sheilajeanne Report post Posted January 19, 2018 (edited) 4 hours ago, Mjolnir said: Maybe, but that was for photo purpose only. I'd just finished that project. check out my 'Clam on the Half Shell' thread. I used a $20 swivel clamp from Amazon to hold mine perpendicular to my bench. You might want a 'leather' clamp, about $30 bucks on amazon or ebay. You can make your own that price and be proud of it. I've said it before but, improvise. We are only restrained by the limits of our imagination. Imagination has no limit so anything is possible. PS get a swivel art lamp. you can clamp it to your desk and shine the light where you need to. I have just taken apart the Tandy stitching horse, and am figuring out how I can alter it to suit my needs. I REALLY like some ponies I've seen where you can change the angle of the clam - have it either vertical or horizontal, depending on the height of your table and the size of the project. Am going to try to do something like that! All you need to adjust the angle would be a wingnut and a bolt and a couple of washers. Edited January 19, 2018 by Sheilajeanne Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
plinkercases Report post Posted January 20, 2018 18 hours ago, Sheilajeanne said: I have just taken apart the Tandy stitching horse, and am figuring out how I can alter it to suit my needs. I REALLY like some ponies I've seen where you can change the angle of the clam - have it either vertical or horizontal, depending on the height of your table and the size of the project. Am going to try to do something like that! All you need to adjust the angle would be a wingnut and a bolt and a couple of washers. Sheilajeanne, perhaps you already have but if you quickly join Pinterest and search fro images on leather working tools, stitching pony horse etc. there are some real interesting ideas and some will actually lead you to the source. for some reason I see more images there than just a Google search. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sheilajeanne Report post Posted January 20, 2018 That's exactly what I've done, Plinkercase. It's given me some good ideas! My workbench is fairly high off the floor, which is good for tooling, but not so good for stitching, where I prefer to have my arms at waist level or slightly above. So, even a table top stitching horse that's only 8 inches tall is too tall for me. Going to try to make something where the height can be adjusted. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mjolnir Report post Posted January 20, 2018 On 1/19/2018 at 2:26 PM, AdamPCain said: I see you have a Seville tool cart and workbench. How do you like them I am looking for a new work bench. I was also looking at Huskys 60inch workbench not sure witch one to get yet. I did a search on the Husky line. They look nice. The Seville line is about half the price, or was at Sam's Club. I love it. very sturdy with addons that can mac out a shop. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
plinkercases Report post Posted January 20, 2018 1 hour ago, Sheilajeanne said: That's exactly what I've done, Plinkercase. It's given me some good ideas! My workbench is fairly high off the floor, which is good for tooling, but not so good for stitching, where I prefer to have my arms at waist level or slightly above. So, even a table top stitching horse that's only 8 inches tall is too tall for me. Going to try to make something where the height can be adjusted. look forward to seeing what another Ontario-an leatherworker comes up with! My pony is designed slot into a chair I rebuilt OR just sit under my thighs on when I sit on whatever. So no matter what I sit at the work is at the same height. I usually in front of the bench to rest tools etc. but the pony isn't affixed to the bench...stay stable enough and I can move my body around it, or lean it side to side if necessary plus it has a swivel feature that I can leave loose or set with a bolt Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
plinkercases Report post Posted January 20, 2018 (edited) So I wanted to do some work over the holidays but since I have now dragged everything from home shop to the farm I realised the farm shop was not set up (i.e. I could find anything so I could make anything!) and so I spent the break setting up and think it is a now a good working space. I little bigger than the city submarine shop and cozy with the stone walls. not sure how they appear but we have: Bench is 2 x 12 two layers cross ways with 3/4 inch ply on top with 4x4 post legs corners and centre to concrete = solid left side of bench for detail cutting, prep/process etc stamping. punching and such - I inch stone slab with self healing flooring on top - bench has 2 stack of drawers and place to store the stool underneath right side of bench for the mechanical/assembly stuff that gets swapped around and held with hold down clamps etc - also has the swing out hanging pouches for punches etc. examples of how the press, last, splitter attach press station large pattern, colouring and cutting surface 3x6 foot 1/4 HDPE buffing, sanding, burnishing station (also shooting bench!) table machine and leather storage and my banging hitting things Edited January 20, 2018 by plinkercases Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sheilajeanne Report post Posted January 20, 2018 (edited) Wow! And I thought I had a lot of stamps! :D What are those clamps you are using to hold your cobbler's last and stamp press down? I have never seen anything like that before! I think I could use a couple of those! Do you have to crawl underneath the table to attach them? Edited January 20, 2018 by Sheilajeanne Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
plinkercases Report post Posted January 20, 2018 They are called drill press clamps or bench clamps.... ebay, amazon... but I got these at Princes Auto cheap. Very handy. My bench is so thick I just drilled a 3/8 hole where needed and the threaded shaft spins in and hold just fine. I use the same set up on the cutting table to hold the flat steel cutting guide down. yaaa...... I got a few stamps..... I inherited some and was given a bunch from an old friend as barter but have also apparently bought a few too along the way.....usually when Tandy has their better line on sale..... wish I hade more time to use them all. surprisingly few doubles in all that and I plan to see if I can alter/customize them someday. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Fire88 Report post Posted January 21, 2018 Plinker great looking shop!!! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sheilajeanne Report post Posted January 21, 2018 Thanks, Clinker! There's a Princess Auto not too far away. Will see if I can find some. If I'm going to use my stitching horse on the bench, rather than sitting on it, I am going to need some clamps. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
plinkercases Report post Posted January 21, 2018 37 minutes ago, Fire88 said: Plinker great looking shop!!! Thanks Fire and now I need to get the time to use it since it is finally functional. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mjolnir Report post Posted January 21, 2018 23 hours ago, plinkercases said: So I wanted to do some work over the holidays but since I have now dragged everything from home shop to the farm I realised the farm shop was not set up (i.e. I could find anything so I could make anything!) and so I spent the break setting up and think it is a now a good working space. I little bigger than the city submarine shop and cozy with the stone walls. not sure how they appear but we have: Bench is 2 x 12 two layers cross ways with 3/4 inch ply on top with 4x4 post legs corners and centre to concrete = solid left side of bench for detail cutting, prep/process etc stamping. punching and such - I inch stone slab with self healing flooring on top - bench has 2 stack of drawers and place to store the stool underneath right side of bench for the mechanical/assembly stuff that gets swapped around and held with hold down clamps etc - also has the swing out hanging pouches for punches etc. examples of how the press, last, splitter attach press station large pattern, colouring and cutting surface 3x6 foot 1/4 HDPE buffing, sanding, burnishing station (also shooting bench!) table machine and leather storage and my banging hitting things I'm drawn to the chest of drawers. that is cool. your tool rack is awesome! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
plinkercases Report post Posted January 24, 2018 Mjolnir thanks. The chest of drawers was a gimme from a friend who was moving and didn't think it matched the new vibe. well if you look close the tool rack for stamps was a quick knock off (I like to say prototype fro anything that I dont take the time to do really well...) a 2x6 full of holes and screwed down at an angle....but it works. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bikermutt07 Report post Posted January 24, 2018 @plinkercases how does that homemade book press work? Do you use it for molding only or can it be used as a clicker? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sheilajeanne Report post Posted January 24, 2018 (edited) 12 hours ago, plinkercases said: well if you look close the tool rack for stamps was a quick knock off (I like to say prototype fro anything that I dont take the time to do really well...) a 2x6 full of holes and screwed down at an angle....but it works LOL! Mine is a piece of 2x4. I've already used up all the space on it, so I bought a cheap plastic Tandy tool rack to supplement it during their pre-Christmas sales. I think they charge a ridiculous amount for their tool racks, but I don't have a drill bit large enough to drill holes for the hefty handled tools, so I though it was worth the on-sale price. The alternative would be using my largest drill bit to ream out multiple holes in another piece of 2x4, a time-consuming process. Most of the new tools I've purchased lately have hefty handles. Edited January 24, 2018 by Sheilajeanne Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
plinkercases Report post Posted January 25, 2018 11 hours ago, bikermutt07 said: @plinkercases how does that homemade book press work? Do you use it for molding only or can it be used as a clicker? Mutt it work very well for molding and pressing. I haven used it as a clicker as I don't have any dies. I suspect it may not have enough oomph for that. it is a wine press screw and handle set form our favourite place Lee Valley Tools but I am sure you could get at any winemaking supply store. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bikermutt07 Report post Posted January 25, 2018 1 hour ago, plinkercases said: Mutt it work very well for molding and pressing. I haven used it as a clicker as I don't have any dies. I suspect it may not have enough oomph for that. it is a wine press screw and handle set form our favourite place Lee Valley Tools but I am sure you could get at any winemaking supply store. Thanks, Plink. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Black Dogg Report post Posted January 25, 2018 I guess I'm a little late to the party (considering this thread's 14 pages long already) but here's my shop set-up: I posted the original thread two years ago and just recently finished the walls and updated with some new pics. To everyone who's posted pics of their shop here: They are all pretty cool and some quite ingeniously set up for the limited amount of space they're in !! I might have to steal some ideas from you folks ! Black Dogg Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
