How to: Small Wooden Construction Support Tool for the work bench

[Joe Nunes]

I recently made up a small wooden support tool for use at my hobby bench while working on model construction. Turned out that I use the piece quite often so I thought I would pass the idea along for those interested. It’s easy to assemble and you can make the support piece to a size that fits your needs. 
 

Here is a list of materials:

(2) 3/16” thick x 2 3/4” x 3 1/4” pieces of plywood.  I used some scrap underlayment leftover from a remodeling job I did in my home. 
 

(4)  1” Balsa tri-stock x 1” long

 

(1)  piece of soft rubber kitchen drawer liner to fit your plywood surface. 
 

Wood glue and/or CA for the wood joints.

 

 I)  Cut the two plywood (top and bottom pieces) to size and smooth the edges.  I traced around two sizes of CA container to obtain the openings in the top plywood piece.  Smooth the edges after cutting the openings.

2)  Glue the (4) pieces of 1” Balsa tri-stock to one of the plywood plates; one on each corner as shown in photo.  Glue on the second plywood plate to the tri-stock, making sure all is assembled square, and clamp the assembly until dry.

3)  Glue the soft rubber drawer liner to the solid plywood piece.  I use this side to prevent the assembled tool from sliding on the bench.

 

That’s about it so if interested have at it and I hope you enjoy using your new bench tool.

Joe

 

 

 

Edited January 15, 2023 by Joe Nunes

[Ace-Garageguy]

Nice little fixture.

Strips of self-adhesive EPDM foam in the oval holes would prevent marring the work...but it looks like you may have something in there already.

[Joe Nunes]

Nothing inside the two holes, just the inside plywood surface sanded very smooth. The foam strip is a good idea for those wanting to add the material. 
 

Joe

[peteski]

Yes, that is a clever idea. 

A word of warning about those non-slip kitchen liners.  They seem to leach plasticizer like the infamous vinyl model tires, so they can soften and mar polystyrene.  Don't leave your model sitting on it for any extended period of time.  Or replace it with some other non-slip sheet (like what Bill mentioned).

[Joe Nunes]

Thanks for sharing the heads up regarding the drawer liner material as I wasn't aware of the problem. Since I have it on my support block primarily to keep the support block from sliding on whatever surface it is resting on I should be okay. Anyone wanting to construct this support can choose a non-skid material they're comfortable with. Thanks again for sharing your information with us as that's how we all can learn.  ?

Joe

Edit:  I just now went to the original topic post and deleted a photo and a bit of text reflecting on this heads up situation. Hope this helps to avoid any potential problems with the drawer liner material.  ?

Edited January 15, 2023 by Joe Nunes

[stitchdup]

1 hour ago, peteski said:

Yes, that is a clever idea. 

A word of warning about those non-slip kitchen liners.  They seem to leach plasticizer like the infamous vinyl model tires, so they can soften and mar polystyrene.  Don't leave your model sitting on it for any extended period of time.  Or replace it with some other non-slip sheet (like what Bill mentioned).

you can run them in a clothes wash, gets all that stuff out.