How to Make a Jeweler's Bench Pin

A bench pin is a customize-able, consumable multi-tool which can be clamped to any work surface to support small work for precise operations. Sawing, drilling, filing, sanding, gluing, painting, forming - this surface is adaptive, movable, and in the end, beautiful in its own right. Who knew a small piece of wood could be so winning?

In the photo I'm using the bench pin for a classic technique: sawing with a jeweler's saw. While the saw and blade are tools I provided myself, all the tools to make the bench pin can be found at Techshop Detroit (www.techshop.ws), where I made it.

Step 1: Materials

As you can see from the photo, this is a pretty simple operation. You'll want to cut/gouge/shape your bench pin to accommodate different projects along the way, so consider making two or three of these at a time to replace the ones that get whittled away.

L to R:

- Square, or any combination of tools that will help you measure distance and mark 90deg angles.
- Wood: Make this at least 3/4", and experiment with pieces 2" or deeper for very sturdy support (in which case you'll want to design a mounting system.) This is a piece of pine, for the purpose of demonstration.  A piece of hardwood gives more support and is longer-lasting.
- Pencil. Yes sir!

- Jeweler's saw all the way to the right, just to show you what it looks like

*Not pictured: Wood band saw. You'll need this to make your cuts.

Comments

[jdege]

I'm thinking that would work real nice held by a holdfast on a proper bench.

[Machine]

What is a "holdfast", please, as I think a couple of G-clamps is good but there's got to be something better.

[jdege]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7HvW81sOhuY

[Machine]

Thanks kindly for the video. It's a great vid., Charles Neil explains a holdfast and benchdog really well.

Robert.

[Jason von Techshop]

Absolutely! it's great because you can have a custom, adaptable surface anywhere around your shop.