A pic, per request

[fluteguy18]

So I've had a couple of people ask to see my workbench. So... here we go. But while we're at it, I've decided to play a game. See if you can spot everything on my bench. Sort of a 'spot the tool' a la 'where's waldo?'





Some easy ones:
Flute keys, Clarinet, Magnehelic, Bench motor, flute pin driver, screw boards, bench pad.

Some harder ones:
Starrett bevel protractor, Cooper headjoint comparison gauge, bench anvil, embroidery scissors, three calipers (one metric, one standard, and one digital), pad height gauges, tube drawing knockoff die, Corrosion cracker needle oiler, shellac, swedging collet, cutting block, torch striker, slide tube grease, paste flux, blue static cling tape, JL smith pad cup guard for flute pads, pad clamps, votaw leak light, tons of screw drivers, tons of pliers, a few hammers/mallets, mylar feeler gauges, steel toolbox, mini-toolbox, clarinet case a la scotland, cigar box full of sheet cork, sand paper, and tape.

Oddities:
bottle of grenadilla dust, apothecary jar of used razor blades, light bulb alcohol lamp, jar of used pads, vial of feeler gauge stock, gear pencil cups (2), spyglass (they put me in the back of the room... I have to see somehow!), magnifying glass, steel seamstress scissors, vial of water to use to seal around the plugs of the magnehelic, vial filled with sized corks for measuring thicknesses, radio vacuum tubes, a fedora, an antiqued box full of razor blades, clip on jewelers loupes with double lenses, cocobolo headjoint blank, unnamed wood billets, piccolo headjoint socket and soldering die, pocket watch full of flute shims.


All of the drawers at my bench are full too. Things like swedging pliers, brass specific tools, repair books relating to every instrument, etc. My bench at home is a desk that I ripped the hutch off of, replaced the top with stainless steel, then replaced the hutch with a new copper pegboard backing. I then ripped out the shelves in the hutch and installed a fluorescent light, peg hooks and things for tools (painted gold). Aside from a plethora of bottles and things, it also has a drill press, drill press vise, small 2" clamp on bench vise, dremel, tons and tons of drawers, and a whole assortment of things (a large camel back steamer trunk, machinist drawers, and a printmakers drawer among other things).

Let me know which ones you find and which ones you don't!

[pied_piper]

FG18 - Hmm. OK, I'll play... Don't have time to find everything tucked away there, but here's a few things I see. I'll leave some of the easy ones for the other folks to find too...

Photo 1:
9 O'clock - swedging collet set mounted in vise,
12 O'clock (sort of) - Small shelf with several needle oilers on top, french flute pad punch?, jar of pads; bench anvil, razor blades underneath
3 O'clock - Wood log tool organizer with various screwdrivers, mallets, needle files, small metal pocket ruler, swedging pliers, X-acto knife?, spring hook, dowels for feeler strips? (photo not quite sharp enough to tell)
4 O'clock - light bulb alcohol lamp
Center- inside gear - pipe cleaners, flute pad slick, small scissors; screw boards under keys and clarinet

Photo 2:
3 O'clock - torch; dial calipers, scissors, and magnifying glass in jar behind partial coffee can torch shield w/ torch striker, vacuum tubes to left (Are you repairing old tube amps? Got 12AX7s? That's one of the most common tubes...); eye loupe on bench below, glue stick

Photo 3:
Center right - Cooper headjoint comparison gauge and digital calipers on flute case, Starrett bevel protractor behind
Center - Dent hammer behind torch

[mirwa]

Screwboards, tried them once, hated hated them, slowed me down

[fluteguy18]

I don't use mine all that much. Mostly when I have tiny parts I don't want to lose. Even then I find myself often grabbing one of my vials and putting little screws and things in those instead. I actually just pulled these out for this picture. They're back in my drawers now. Working on my oboe and bassoon screw boards right now.

[fluteguy18]

12 O'clock (sort of) ...french flute pad punch?
3 O'clock - swedging pliers, X-acto knife? dowels for feeler strips? (photo not quite sharp enough to tell)

Photo 2:
3 O'clock - vacuum tubes to left (Are you repairing old tube amps? Got 12AX7s? That's one of the most common tubes...)

Nope. Not a flute pad punch. These are actually two tube drawing die. One is used to shrink the tubing down and then other is a knockoff die to push the tubing off the mandrel.

Not swedging pliers. They're something for saxophone. We haven't used them yet. And it's a long pen style magnet next to it. Dowels are indeed for feeler strips. They have mylar on them of various thicknesses so I can measure the size and contour of the gap.

Repairing tube amps? Me? Naw. Those are purely decorative. Most things at my bench are both functional and decorative. These however are just for fun. They look cool and I love junk. I think I'm going to go to a Ham Fest soon so that I can go and ask to buy people's junk.

I think I need to start dumpster diving too.... Hmmmm

[mirwa]

I do not like screw boards of any type.

Keys come off and screws that belong with key, sit with the key or rods sit inside the hinge tubing for protection from accidental damage.

I have a few bassoons and oboes in for repair at the momment.

The issues I have with bassoons is from other idiots touching them first and doing there style of repair on them, like fitting sax pads which are to thick for a bassoon's venting

[flutego12]

What a cool office fg18. Love it. Where are you attached? Or does everyone know this already in case we want to be sending you our woodwinds.
You have "arrived" - first station.
Have no doubt you are well on your way to your branded piccolo soon.

Spotted the low hanging fruits =) except the screwboards... where are they!
Stuff Bob picked out, I'll have to do the treasure map to learn what they are.

Nice Mag (a repeat)
Curious what those 7 bottles of are lined up at the back with the different colours.
and what are those rings with the caltex logo?

[HMannfan]

Dear fluteguy18,

On your blogspot in Brass Week One Part One you have a picture showing a good view of your bench motor. I need to devise one for myself and would like to know what your bench motor consists of: Motor type? Motor HP? RPM? Foot rheostat? chuck size? and what is that stainless (chrome) device directly behind the chuck? Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Thanks,
Mark

[pied_piper]

...bench motor. I need to devise one for myself and would like to know what your bench motor consists of: Motor type? Motor HP? RPM? Foot rheostat? chuck size? and what is that stainless (chrome) device directly behind the chuck? Any suggestions would be appreciated.

While it is possible to make some tools, a bench motor is not an easy candidate for two reasons:
1 - The motor shaft is bored through to allow the tech to work on long steel rods
2 - The "stainless (chrome) device" you reference is a hand brake. You'll need a lathe or you'll need a local machine shop to make it for you.

Here are some sources of bench motors and these pages provide some specs on the motors, etc.
http://www.ferreestools.com/woodwindtoo ... otors.html
http://www.votawtool.com/universal-benc ... chuck.html

[fluteguy18]

I completely agree with PP on this one. Unless you have experience using a lathe (and access to one large enough), I don't recommend making one yourself. The one that I have at my woodwind bench is actually supplied by Allied, but you have to be a technician with a business license to purchase from them. Once I graduate I'll either have to get my own license or buy through whatever shop I end up working at.