I was looking through auctions recently and I saw some tools that were piled on a table top and advertised as “Clamps”. It was a crappy red vise and something else. I looked closer and it said “Veritas”. Could it be a Lee Valley Veritas Tucker pattern makers vise? It sort of looked like it might be a vise. I clicked on other pictures for angles…It was.
I bid on it, and was prepared to go high. My winning bid ended up being $60. If only one other person knew what this was I knew it would go above $1000.

This is a discontinued limited run Lee Valley did based on the Emmert Pattern Makers vise that are no longer made (1880-1970). A Pattern Makers vise can rotate around to move your work, turn 180 to use the other type jaws, flip up, the jaws can rack to hold odd shapes etc. Rough shape vises by Emmert go from $400-1000 if you can find one. I’ve seen these Veritas Tucker vises go for $2000-3000.

I picked it up today, expecting some parts missing, like the stanchion bar holder that mounts underside or the bench clamp mount.
Nope, the cardboard in the picture was the original box clamped in the jaws holding all unopened unused parts, foot spring, hex keys and all.

I’ve been looking for a patternmakers vise since I’ve started the hobby, not I have a brand new Tucker vise nontheless.
Now to make some bench mods to accept it.

A while ago I bought a chisel for delicate paring of wood that I saw other woodworkers use. I have a hood set of Veritas PMV-11 type so this was just to see how an authentic Japanese chisel would compare.

Nothing too special, I find the edge isn’t indestructible and doesn’t cut any better than my other ones. But it definitely looks cool.

This is a Fujihiro bench chisel, multiple hollow, with a red oak handle. 12mm (1/2”). I got it from hidatool.com. It’s hand forged by Chutaro Imai, a blacksmith who has been making chisels almost 50 years and is located in Sanjo City, Niigata prefecture, Japan. These bench chisels are forged with white steel laminated to soft iron.

If you’ve ever wanted a pinch or teaspoon of salt and dislike pouring from a box this is useful to have near your prep area. This small box was made from maple, texturized with a dremel and painted with black india ink. The finish was friction rubbed Shellawax Cream.

I finished another 3D end grain cutting board. Maple and walnut. 12.5” x 12.5” x 1.5” thick.

Almost done with these pens, I’m not sure what kind of wood this is. Any ideas? Babinga?

This pen is a little too dark, the blank looked promising. The second time around went much quicker. I can see how small projects on the lathe is pretty much instant gratification, instant product in your hands.

Here’s the result of my first pen – a pencil in this case. I was tired of moving the ziploc bag of pen supplies I was given years ago around my shop so I thought I’d just go ahead and make one. It’s actually pretty rewarding holding it. The wood is Bocote.

I tried a CA finish but it didn’t turn out well, maybe I sanded it off too much. So I put on Shellawax Cream.