Shadowlands and Tellynott

[Mark Dalrymple]

Hi guys.

I thought I would share a little trick that I find helps tremendously in getting the riser heights right. Its pretty simple so many of you may have already thought of it. Regardless, I took a series of photos to help explain.

I measure the height of my rises from the bottom of the joist to which they are to be attached. as I set may benchwork up with two L-girders and then a series of factory cut joists, this starting point is constant. I am very careful to choose the straightest timber for my L-girders. I mark out where my track bed is to go and what the height of each riser is to be and cut them as accurately as possible on my drop saw.

Photo 1 - Firstly, I take a piece of scrap timber and add a couple of screws.


Photos 2 & 3 - I then attach this to the bottom of the joist under where the riser is to go using my 12v impact driver, making sure it is pulled in nice and tight.




Photo 4 - I the add glue and place the riser in position. I drill my pilot hole on a downward angle. I clamp the two pieces of timber together with my hand while doing this, making sure not to drill through my hand!


Photo 5 - I then add the screw. As the timber is pulled in tight with the impact driver, the downward angle makes sure the riser is pulled down exactly flush with the bottom of the joist. It also helps when you put your joists fairly close together!


Photo 6 - I remove the scrap piece of timber. I then check the square and swivel on the one screw if needed. A second piolet hole is drilled on an angle upward near the bottom of the riser and a second screw put in diagonally opposite.  Hey presto!  I find this way more accurate and easier than trying to use a clamp. In all the bench work I have done so far I have only had to add tiny packers to two risers.


More soon, cheers, Mark.