Make Your Own Bench Peg

The jeweller's bench peg is an eternally useful piece of equipment, offering a variety of purposes including support while cutting, filing, marking, punching and many more activities. These are usually integral to the workbench, or attached using a G-clamp, and can be a straight piece of wood, or with a cut-out section to aid sawing.

You can make your own peg quite easily, and to do so, you will need:-

• Pencil
• Ruler
• Plank of wood no smaller than 3" x 9" x ½"
• Saw (wood saw, not a jeweller's saw!)
• Drill
• Large flat drill bit (18-21mm)
• Sandpaper

Please bear in mind workshop safety while attempting anything like this, as it can be quite easy to cut yourself or cause other injuries while attempting this project. If in doubt, ask another adult to help you (one that is comfortable and well versed in using the tools).

Teesside Silversmith are not responsible for any injuries sustained while attempting this project - your safety is in your own hands, so please be careful and keep safe!

To make the Bench Peg

Step 1 Mark out a length of the timber to the length you would prefer - about 9" should suffice if you are unsure, or you can measure it against the bench you will be using, leaving some room for an overlap.
Step 2 Mark the length on both edges of the timber and draw across so you have a straight line across.
Step 3 Using the wood saw, cut across the line marked out above, so that you have your peg without any cut-out sections.
Step 4 Gently sand the edges of the wood to remove any splinters. If you are happy without the cut-out sections, you can stop here.
Step 5 Measure and mark a line in the middle of the peg, following the longer length. Mark a cross on this line approximately 4" from one edge.
Step 6 Mark ¾" either side of the centre line on the end chosen for the cut-out section, and join these marks with the cross made in the previous step.
Step 7 Using the flat drill bit, drill down on the cross made in step 5 until you have a hole all the way through the timber. Alternatively, just mark the tip of the V and leave the hole - it's not essential!
Step 8 Clamp the wood to a workbench, and using your wood saw, cut down the two angled lines until they meet the hole you have drilled.
Step 9 Gently sand the edges of the wood to remove any splinters.

That should hopefully be your bench peg made and ready for use!