VERITAS Carver's Bench User manual

05A04.01
Carver’s Bench
Owner’s Manual

2
Veritas®Carver's Bench
Introduction
The Veritas®Carver’s Bench has been designed to allow you to quickly and easily position any workpiece in the orientation
that best suits the work you are doing. The 24"square work surface can be tilted up to 90º, and rotated through a full 360º. The
mechanism is spring loaded to counteract the weight of the work surface and support structure, allowing the workpiece to be
moved effortlessly.
Figure 1: Exploded assembly of the Veritas Carver’s Bench.
Lower Support
Block
Leather Pad
Pedestal Leg
Assembly
Tension Rods
Retaining
Strap
Work Surface
Square-Head Bolt
Frame
Hex-Head Bolts
Base Slab
Spring
Tilt Clamp
Bar
Support Bar
Rotate Clamp
Bar
Bracket Sub-Assembly

3
Veritas®Carver's Bench
Assembly
The work surface is packaged separately from the bracket
sub-assembly for easier handling of the components. Some
assembly will be required before the product can be used.
Unpacking
Place the work surface face down using the included
packaging to protect the top of the work surface. Lift the base
slab to get access to the bottom of the frame. Secure the bracket
sub-assembly to the work surface using the four included
3/8"× 13/4"lag screws and 3/8"washers (see Figure 2).
Installing the Rotate Clamp Bar
Install the rotate clamp bar onto the frame as shown in Figure 3.
(The rotate clamp bar is the longer of the two clamp bars supplied.)
Attaching the Support Bar
Slide the rounded end of the support bar through the hole in
the base slab, orienting it so that the support bar spring
mount on the opposite end of the bar is on the same side
as the rotate clamp bar (see Figure 4). Position the hole in
the bar between the lugs in the frame, as shown in Figure 5.
Use a C-clamp to force the pin through the bar and adjacent
lug. Alternatively, the dowel pin can be driven gently into
place by lightly tapping it with a mallet. The assembly should
now look like Figure 4.
Securing the Lower Support Block
Place the lower support block on the underside of the base slab,
letting the threaded fitting pass through the slot in the support
bar. Attach the lower support block with the two included
3/8-16 × 2"hex-head bolts, nuts and washers as shown in Figure 6.
Figure 2: Securing the work surface to the bracket
sub-assembly. Base slab lifted to show carver’s bench frame.
Figure 3: Installing the rotate clamp bar.
Figure 5: Attaching the support bar.
Figure 4: Carver’s bench with support bar installed.
Note orientation of support bar and rotate clamp bar.
Figure 6: Lower support block assembly.
Rotate
Clamp Bar
1/2"Washer
Square-Head Bolt
Support Bar
Dowel Pin
Frame Lugs
Support
Bar
Rotate
Clamp Bar
3/8"× 1 3/4"
Lag Screws
3/8"Washers
Work Surface
Bracket
Sub-Assembly
Base Slab
Lower Support Block
3/8-16 × 2"Hex-Head Bolt
Washer
Nut
Support Bar
Underside of
Base Slab

4
Veritas®Carver's Bench
Tighten the rotate clamp bar and close the assembly so it
looks the way it is shown in Figure 7.
Attaching the Tilt Clamp Bar
Slide the 3/8"dia. washer and the tilt clamp bar onto the
threaded fitting of the lower support block and tighten (see
Figure 8).
Installing the Spring
Slip one end of the spring over the groove in the tilt clamp bar
(see Figure 9). Do not hook the opposite end of the spring over
the support bar spring mount at this point.
Securing the Tilt Clamp Bar
Secure the U-shaped retaining strap into the pre-drilled holes
in the base slab with six of the included 1/4"washers and the
two #14 × 1"pan-head screws (see Figure 10).
Preparing the Supporting Base
If you have purchased the Veritas®Cast-Iron Pedestal
Legs, assemble them now, following the instructions there
contained.
If you have not purchased these legs for the carver’s bench
top, you will need to build your own base. The base should be
28"to 29"high and should have a footprint of approximately
27"square. The base slab is 17"square. You will want to be
sure that your base design is rigid and does not interfere with
the mechanism frame. Also, you may want to incorporate
a lower shelf for the addition of stabilizing weights. See
Making Your Own Base for one option.
Attaching the Pedestal Legs to the
Carver’s Bench Top
Fasten the assembled legs to the bottom of the base slab, using
the eight included 3/8"× 13/4"lag screws and 3/8"washers as
shown in Figure 11. (See the instructions included with the
legs for further details.)
Figure 7: Closed carver’s bench top with lower support
block installed.
Figure 8: Attaching the tilt clamp bar.
Figure 9: Installing the spring. Leave the opposite end of
the spring free.
Figure 10: Securing the tilt clamp bar retaining strap.
Figure 11: Attaching pedestal legs to carver’s bench top.
Lower Support
Block
3/8"Washer
Tilt Clamp Bar
Lower Support
Block
Support
Bar
Spring
Tilt Clamp
Bar
#14 × 1"Pan-Head Screws
Retaining Strap
1/4"Washers
Pre-Drilled Hole
3/8"× 13/4"Lag Screw
3/8"Washer
Leg
Leg Mounting
Holes
Leather
Pa d

5
Veritas®Carver's Bench
Optional Tension Rods
If you will be doing heavy carving with mallet blows near the
periphery of the work surface, you may find that the base flexes
or resonates. Included are tension rods and coupling nuts, which
you may install to eliminate this. Assemble the leg-stiffening
tension rods and coupling nuts as shown in Figures 12 and 13.
With a screwdriver or other slim tool placed in the cross-drilled
hole, tighten the coupling nuts gradually and progressively in
order to ensure equal load on all members.
Starting the coupling nuts can be somewhat difficult due to the
rigidity of tension rods. The easiest method we have found is to
thread one of the coupling nuts onto a long rod end, advancing
it until the mating short rod end just clears the nuts. Align the
short rod end to engage with the nut, turning it such that the
left-hand thread on the short rod just engages one to two turns
(counterclockwise as shown in Figure 13). Repeat the process
to start the other three coupling nuts. Getting pairs of coupling
nuts to engage may require tightening them simultaneously.
You may also have to apply a little force to align and engage the
coupling nuts with the tension rods.
Note: It does not matter which set of legs the tension rods are
attached to, the effect will be the same.
Note: The coupling nuts work like turnbuckles; they have left-
and right-hand threads. Ensure that each nut is oriented with
the groove as shown in Figure 13 to have the proper threads
engaging.
Turning the Assembled Bench Upright
Make sure all the fasteners and clamp bars are tight before
setting the bench up on its feet.
Note: The assembled bench weighs approximately 150 lb;
you may want to get some help with this step.
Securing the Spring onto the
Support Bar
Raise the work surface to its vertical position and stretch the
spring to fit on the support bar spring mount (see Figure 14).
You may find it easier to grip the spring around its body as
opposed to pulling on the hook.
Caution: This is a very powerful spring. It has been
sized to counteract the weight of the entire moving mechanism.
If, for any reason, you ever have to remove the work surface,
make sure the mechanism frame is securely clamped in place.
If not, the spring will turn it into a catapult.
Anchoring the Assembled Bench
If you are going to be working on fairly large pieces, you may
want to add weight to the base in the form of sandbags. They can
rest on the bolted assembly area of the four legs, or bags can be
suspended from each hole at the top of the legs (the same hole
that the tension rods use).
Figure 13: Note orientation of coupling nuts.
Figure 12: Tension rod assembly.
Figure 14: Hook the spring over the support bar spring
mount. Note: One leg has been removed for clarity.
Long Rod
Orientation
Groove
Coupling Nut
Clearance
Short Rod
Tension Rod
Spring
Support
Bar
Spring
Mount

6
Veritas®Carver's Bench
Alternatively, you could attach wooden pads (see Pedestal
Legs Instructions), or drill through the feet and fasten the
table directly to the floor. You will want to be sure the bench
location allows for the full range of motion before drilling
holes in your floor.
Using Your Carver’s Table
Loosening the rotate clamp bar allows the work surface to
rotate 360º. Loosening the tilt clamp bar will allow the work
surface to be tilted from horizontal to vertical.
Two Veritas®Bench Pups®and one Wonder Pup®clamps are
included with the carver’s bench. These can be used to mount
your workpiece to the work surface (see Figure 15). You can
also secure the workpiece with screws through the dog holes
in the work surface. If you are going to do this, be sure that the
screw heads do not interfere with the rotation movement.
The included 2'× 2'piece of masonite may be used to
protect the work surface. The matrix of 3/4"dog holes may
be drilled through the masonite, using the work surface as a
drilling template.
Caution: When tilting past about 60°, stability may
become an issue when dealing with a very heavy workpiece
and/or one that is fairly high off the work surface. Depending
on the weight and overhang of your workpiece, you may have
to add weight to the base in the form of sandbags. If you have
secured your bench to the floor, your only limitation will be
the strength of the fasteners used.
Maintenance
The Veritas Carver’s Bench is assembled from several
cast-iron parts. Cast iron was chosen for its high frictional
coefficient and its excellent damping characteristics.
Unfortunately, exposed surfaces also have a tendency to rust.
For this reason, and for smooth operation of the mechanism,
it is important that the joints be regularly lubricated. Pay
particular attention to the rotation pivot, which has large
machined mating surfaces (see Figure 16).
Regular use will keep these surfaces free of rust; however,
a good coating of oil or grease is your best protection. This
will also allow smoother motion when the clamp is released.
A regular shot of oil down the separation line between the
hinge blocks and the pivoting frame will also keep the tilt
movement running smoothly (see Figure 17).
Figure 15: Workpiece held in place with included
Wonder Pup®and Bench Pups®clamps.
Figure 16: Apply oil at these locations while rotating the
work surface.
Figure 17: Oil this location (both sides) while working
the tilt joint.
Oil
Oil
Oil
Oil
Wonder Pup®
Clamp
Bench Pups®
Clamp
Rotate
Clamp Bar
Tilt Clamp
Bar

7
Veritas®Carver's Bench
Making Your Own Base
The base shown in Figure 18 is modelled on the construction
of the Veritas®Workbench. The entire assembly is held
together with lag screws and tension rods. This provides
a stiff base; however, the geometry required to keep the
mechanism clear results in a fairly small front-to-back
footprint. This design will require either secure attachment to
the floor, or substantial weight on the feet to ensure stability
at high angles.
Figure 18: Wood base alternative.
Upper Rails
Legs
Stretchers
Lower Rails

Wonder Pup®Clamp 05G10.02
A Veritas®Wonder Pup®Clamp is included with your
carver’s bench; however, they may be purchased separately
if you find you need extra clamping
capacity. These 23/4"long clamps can
be used to clamp a wide variety
of shapes and can easily be
adapted to the job at hand
by attaching wooden
pads to their faces. For
use in any workbench
with 3/4"dog holes.
Bench Pups®05G04.03
Two Veritas®Bench Pups®are included with your
carver’s bench. They are solid brass and have a
sloped bearing face to ensure secure clamping.
These 23/8"long brass dogs are not only non-
corroding, but are kinder to your tools if you happen
to slip and strike one with a sharp edge. Can be used
in any bench with 3/4"dog holes.
Muzzles for Bench Pups®05G04.06
Two muzzles for Bench Pups®are included with your carver’s
bench. For those occasions when you have
to clamp finished, or nearly finished work,
muzzles will prevent any marks from the
bench pups. These slip-resistant covers
slide over our bench pups to give you a non-
marring surface that will still hold firmly.
Available in pairs.
Carver’s Knife 05K73.01
This versatile knife has an oval handle for a
comfortable grip and good control. Designed
to use standard scalpel blades, it comes
with 12 razor-sharp high-carbon
blades. The end cap is
removable for blade
storage.
Carver’s Vise 05G20.01
Adjustable in all three axes, the Veritas®Carver’s Vise does
for small work what your carver’s bench does for large pieces.
The cast ZA-12 alloy base and robust clamping mechanism
ensure solid positioning of your work. An internal spring
and O-ring system provides residual resistance so that your
workpiece will not suddenly
fall or rotate when the clamp
is released. The carver’s vise
can be screwed to a work
surface, or mounted through a
round dog hole using the dog-hole
mounting assembly (05G20.02).
A solid 31/2"diameter steel
mounting plate is included.
For mounting smaller
workpieces, a 2"mounting
plate is available separately
(05G20.04).
Carver’s Screw 05G08.01
Turned from a solid brass bar, this carver’s screw grips
workpieces securely in place. The high-profile threads and
tapered tip ensure that pieces can be re-mounted
as needed. This screw is
long enough to be used
through the dog holes of
workbenches up to 33/4"thick,
but will need to be trimmed
to clear the tilt/rotate
mechanism when used
with the carver’s bench.
4"Carver’s Drawknife 17U06.30
Smaller than a regular drawknife, the Veritas®Carver’s Drawknife
has been designed with ease of use and precise control in mind. The
teardrop-shaped walnut handles are angled at 45º to fit comfortably
in your hands. The blade is honed and ground to a perfect edge.
Supplied with
a blade guard.
Optional leather
case available
separately
(17U06.18).
814 Proctor Avenue
Ogdensburg, New York
13669-2205 USA
1-800-267-8735
1090 Morrison Drive
Ottawa, Ontario
K2H 1C2 Canada
1-800-267-8761
150-00
© Veritas Tools Inc. 2004
INS-130 Rev. C
Printed in Canada.
www.leevalley.com
Other Carving Accessories From Veritas®