Artist Bench Repairs

[Bill Ballard]

Dear List,

I've just fixed an artist bench which was rocking obnoxiously from 
side to side, due to 0.08" of end play in the main screw (shaft?), 
measured between the pillow blocks.  I figured that the only place 
where the end play could be easily removed was at the ends of the 
screw which it sticks out of the top box (the upholstered part) and 
where the hand knobs are attached. I got 1/16" thick washer (with a 
5/8" ID to allow it to slip over the end of the screw) and placed it 
between the box body, and the hand knob on one side. Then to make 
sure that the shimming accomplished by the washer wasn't undone 
because the knob might slide outwards on the flat-ground area of the 
shaft where the knob's set screw is supposed to bear, I used to 
transfer punch to mark a spot on the flat ground, where I wanted to 
set screw to hit AND stay, drilled a dimple in the flat ground, which 
the set screw would land in as a home. And reassembled.

The end play and the rock are now gone.

Has anybody else gotten rid of end play an an artist bench's main 
screw, and if so, what's the right way to do this. Where does this 
end play creep in. I gather originally it is determined by the pillow 
blocks. If I did this wrong, I'm certainly willing to do it over, 
RIGHT.

Bill Ballard RPT
NH Chapter, P.T.G.

"A man who tells the truth is bound to be found out sooner or later."
     ...........Uncle Harry in "The Tailor of Panama"
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