The cheap 1-2-3 blocks I use► 1-2-3 Blocks (With holes): lddy.no/vpij 1-2-3 Blocks (No holes): lddy.no/vpcq Metric 1-2-3 Blocks: amzn.to/3r6Zemn Smaller brass setup bars: amzn.to/3uHsaU1 (We may get a small commission if you use one of the above affiliate links.) When you use this link to visit our sponsor, you support us► Bora Saw Edge Guides: amzn.to/2XByXhw (The NGX system is my favorite, the WTX version is 2nd best) Subscribe (free) to Stumpy Nubs Woodworking Journal e-Magazine► www.stumpynubs.com/
Serious question: when you follow these links, you have to login to Amazon. Is there a way to give you credit and still go to their website and purchase like normal?
@@bobbystanley8580 Anytime you go to Amazon by using one of our links we get credit for anything you purchase, not just the item we linked to. It's just a small amount, but we appreciate the support very much.
They're great, made my own set when I was in college for mechanical engineering. I was working as a co-op/intern for a company and the first semester on the job was spent in the tool shop(to learn manufacturing, inj molding, etc) and one of the projects was making your own set of 1-2-3 blocks. They are incredibly useful.
I absolutely love my 1,2,3 blocks! They really are handy in the wood shop, and believe it or not, I've found them pretty handy for crafting and sewing as well!
I bought these with the smaller brass set years ago on your recommendation. They are one of the most used tools in my hobby shop now. Thank you again !!
I use mine all the time - most recently for tramming my CNC router - I was able to get it dialed in surprisingly good with a set of these. Surfaced the spoilboard and then used these under the router mount and adjusted the gantry as needed - re surfaced the spoilboard and I was good to go!
I've been around those for YEARS and never knew what they were really for. Thanks for solving so many questions in a wonderfully concise video. Great stuff.
As a machinist... I can say, 1-2-3 blocks are truly handy devices. They really can be used by any crafts person that needs to hold, space, jig... or whatnot some project or pieces to that project. Glad to see that you have found them useful. The "setup blocks" as they were originally called, also come in quite a few more sizes than 1-2-3 as well. Like say 2-4-6 blocks. Quite a bit heavier, but if you need them, they are quite useful.
Got a couple of sets and love them. As a new subscriber now I have a bunch of “Cool Tools”. Had to slow down to get the wife a Mother’s Day gift. Always something 🤣.
I think it was FWW that had the suggestion of using these along with fence clamps (the kind with a right-angle bent bar at the end) to quickly and easily secure the en-hole-inated 1-2-3 to the fence as an offset. Like in this video but clamped. I've tried it a couple times and it works great.
Yup! That’s exactly what I do with them. Almost every day I’m in the shop and I need to use the fence to set a distance that’s larger than my cross cut sled stops.
Great to see the dill press tips as I'm working on my bench top drill press! Great to learn about the 1-2-3 blocks, also. Even at 70, it's great to learn!! Thank you.
I come from a manufacturing background of nearly 30 years. I have been involved in pattern making, prototype sheet metal working, and several specialty areas of injection mold building including design and machining. I recently (in the last 5 years) started doing woodworking, mainly wood flags. 1-2-3 blocks are extremely useful in any setting that requires accuracy and repeatability. They aren't just for machinists anymore! Thank you UA-cam for suggesting this channel. You have another subscriber because if it!
My dad got me a set of these for Christmas, and one thing I've used them for that you didn't mention is aligning project pieces (granted it's pretty situational). In particular, I've been using them for when I need pieces parallel to but offset from an edge.
The holes without threads are used for putting ground dowls into. They accurately lock the blocks together, leaving a dowl proud it can also be used as a stop if used in a machine vice.
Yet, they should be larger than threaded ones so you can also bolt blocks together. And non threaded holes in high quality blocks are reamed, some cheap stuff do not have the right tolerances for precision dowels.
These things are great. I'm using them for scratch-build modeling at 1/35 scale. They're so versatile, you can use them for lining up an X-acto cut to make bricks at 13 rows per inch in XPS foam all the way to machining precision engine parts.
I use these daily on the CMM Machine. One super useful thing is that it is also an incremental height gauge. Thread a bolt into one of the slots and measure the distance from the base to the bottom of the fastener. You now have fractions of 1, 2, and 3” to set your height (table saw blade for example) to.
I bought a set after seeing them in your earlier Cool Tools video. They're really handy to have around! Lately I've been using them to make some t-shaped half laps for a loft bed project. Set the table saw fence to 3" exactly to rip down the tenon piece, then use the block to align my router jig to cut the cheeks of the morticed piece to match. Perfectly snug, quick, and repeatable!
Working most of my life in Tool and Die business, 1-2-3 blocks are very common. Those who went through the apprentice program had to make a pair as part of their classes. Great video.
I'm a retired toolmaker/community college professor (getting ready to retire at that too,) and in all this time never thought to bring my 1-2-3 blocks blocks down to my wood shop. Calipers, micrometers, and machinist quality combination square, sure, but 1-2-3 blocks? Good call. Thanks for the video.
I use my 1-2-3 blocks as weights and squares when cutting & gluing my cheap customer foam core storage solutions for board games. They're very versatile in many types of projects!
That clearance hole problem sounds like a job for a helical thread insert: the right size could bring the threaded hole dimension down to something that would fit a bolt capable of passing the clearance holes. Looks like the brand-name ones run about $0.60 per piece, but there might be an even less formal option if you choose the right gauge of wire and wind it yourself.
The trouble is the different pitches between the different size bolts that you want to use. Putting a heil-coil into a 3/8-16 tapped hole would give you perhaps a 5/16-16 thread, or even a 1/4-16 thread, but no one makes a 5/16-16 or 1/4-16 bolt. The common thread pitches are 5/16-18 (18 threads per inch) or 1/4-20 (20 threads per inch). So the heli-coil would start into the thread, but only go maybe just over one turn and then jam. I ran into that problem many years ago trying to repair a fixture with buggered up threads at a clamp point. I used a typical tap, not the heli-coil up-size-pitch tap. Taking the fixture to the weld shop to get the hole filled so I could drill and tap it out again was rather embarrassing.
@@JOSEPH-vs2gc It was over 50 years ago so I can't remember exactly but I would guess over a week. we also went to college one day a week and to theory lessons. I can't remember what had for lunch yesterday 🤔
you can use dows or alignment pins with an undersize nut and bolt or threaded rod to hold them together on the cheap set for better alignment. Flat Head Allen Socket Sleeve Nuts and Flat Head Allen Socket countersink bolts can be used for a low profile.
I recently bought a pair of these on your recommendation James because I saw value in having them in my shop. They just arrived and thanks again for this timely video. I can’t wait to deploy them.
I use them with my metal lathe all the time for set ups. Never even considered using them for half of the things you mentioned. The holes are for alignment pins, and bolts. They can be used with a Steven's table or similar.
I bought these a few years ago after watching your original video. I mostly use it for the purposes of alignment, squaring and setting the fence on different tools. I love using them! My only complaint is that they rust very easily. I don't have many tools in my shop that rust but all 4 of the 1-2-3 blocks have some level of rust.
123 blocks are great. Nice introduction to them. I've got the Brown & Sharpe's that come with screws to put them together. Really nice. Inexpensive versions are just fine too. Originally bought the Lee Valley version. Found it so handy, followed up with the B&S's. Also, the B&S's are a matched pair.
Something I have occasionally used them for is measuring sizes greater than the 150mm my digital callipers will do. I did try and order a pair of 25x50x75 blocks from Wish, but they sent me 123 blocks so I now have four imperial blocks. They are accurately ground though and it is not too much trouble using the calculator to add multiples 25.4mm to what the callipers indicate.
This guy can’t make it much easier. A great investment that will fit into my pouch and soon I’ll happenstance upon a couple more uses for this brilliantly simple tool.
I have them and love them. I use them most as stop blocks on my table saw. I had seen these being used but never bought them until I saw you showing them on Cool Tools #19. Thanks, James.
1-2-3 blocks were normally the first alignment tool or jig a machinist used to make in his apprenticeship. My father's blocks that he made in the late the 1940,s are still being used by my youngest brother
They are so handy, I use them in both woodworking, and model making. They are great for holding thin strips of wood upright while the glue dries for things like drawer dividers. I think I have 4 sets all told, but those solid ones look mighty tempting...
Same here, and a V-Block, plumb Bob and scratch gauge, but we weren't allowed to keep them, they got kept by the college and sent away to be graded as far as I remember.
Toolmaker for over 45 yrs (retired) , most of us made our own as we could make them more accurate than most of the ones for sale. Like within .0001/.0002" of size and squareness. We had the machines and inspection equipment to make it happen.. Mine are 1x2x4 blocks heh heh
I grew up in metal working. Now that I have a basement and do some wood working I love having things like 123 blocks, joe block sets, gage pins and calipers to help navigate measurement and setup.
I have 2 sets with the Taylor tools combining them to make a reliable edge guide for cross cutting with my circular saw since I don't own a table saw yet
I always use my machinist quality tools in the woodshop, dial calipers, squares, scales, inside and outside spring calipers, dividers, parallels, scribes, indicators, etc. But I have never used my 1-2-3 blocks. Thank you for the recommendation.
I use the 123 blocks to square my CNC router mount. It is the first step to getting the router trammed. The blocks get me in the ball park and after a surfacing of the spoil board I can fine tune the mount to get it perfect.
Awesome clear concise and apt as to the value of and use to you in the shop/repeat build for good accurate joinery and measuring ... oh and there square as well!
When I bought my 1-2-3 blocks I also bought, JW Winco Glass Filled Nylon Plastic Hand Knob, Threaded Stud, 3/8-16” Thread Size x 1” Thread Length, 1.97” Head Diameter (Pack of 1), that lets you pick them up very easily!
I was an aerospace machinist for almost 20 years, and we do use 123 blocks. But in the CNC world not as often as the old timers did running manual machines. Today they are mostly used in rough inspection setups, like if you have to repeatedly check a dimension with a plunge dial on a granite plate, you might use a 123 block to insure the part is square when taking the measurement. Or if your part is 3.25' tall you could zero the gage on the 123 block and expect your part to measure 0.25 taller.
Great video, thanks! I recently acquired some heavy steel blocks (~20lbs) that were machined square. I clamped wood to them at right angles while I drove pocket screws in place, it was quite handy. Now I'll have to get some of these smaller ones, they look very useful.
I've had fun 3D printing setup blocks and 123 solid blocks. The dimensions so far have been within 1/100 of an inch unless my digital caliper is lying. I need to get a couple of steel ones for the weight reasons you explained.
Machinist of 20yrs here, and I never thought about bolting the blocks together. Though my personal set are the solid style- easier to use with a height gauge when checking small parts.
I bought the woodpeckers one time tool full set of set up blocks. Imperial and metric Over 400 bux. They are SICK! As a complete hack I must confess though. I forget I have them sometimes 😂. They are awesome though..
Another useful machinists tool are gage block sets. Useful for checking the calibration of those machinist calipers, measuring dado grooves, and setting fractional sizes or even decimal sizes on the machines. A decent set might run $60 to $90.
I made these for a while back in my 20's. Tall blocks were said to be some of the hardest to make because while lapping they tend to tilt in the carrier. I never thought of using them for woodworking.
You could get a bolt that fits the thread and relieve a 1” section under the head, leaving thread on the end, that way you could thread the bolt through a threaded hole on a block and into a threaded hole on another. The relief near the head of the bolt would allow you to tighten the two blocks together.
Interesting ! And valuable information to me... : good job Good video quality and nice content : good job And last (but not least to me) your tone and speed of speech make understanding the comments real easy ...even for people not speaking English as a mother language.
Just found your channel, wonderful find. Also 2 3 4 and 2 4 6 machinest blocks are available if you need something bigger then the midgets. I have the three sets at work and they are used every day.
They're also useful for making exact inside measurements with a measuring tape (just add the one, two, or three inches to the measurement on the measuring tape).
Count me as one of the people that love these things. I've been telling my friends about them and going on and on how useful they are. Which is why they call me blockhead now....
The cheap 1-2-3 blocks I use►
1-2-3 Blocks (With holes): lddy.no/vpij
1-2-3 Blocks (No holes): lddy.no/vpcq
Metric 1-2-3 Blocks: amzn.to/3r6Zemn
Smaller brass setup bars: amzn.to/3uHsaU1
(We may get a small commission if you use one of the above affiliate links.)
When you use this link to visit our sponsor, you support us►
Bora Saw Edge Guides: amzn.to/2XByXhw
(The NGX system is my favorite, the WTX version is 2nd best)
Subscribe (free) to Stumpy Nubs Woodworking Journal e-Magazine► www.stumpynubs.com/
@@robertriesshozerlover4 princess auto?
Serious question: when you follow these links, you have to login to Amazon. Is there a way to give you credit and still go to their website and purchase like normal?
@@bobbystanley8580 Anytime you go to Amazon by using one of our links we get credit for anything you purchase, not just the item we linked to. It's just a small amount, but we appreciate the support very much.
@@StumpyNubs Amazon states no solid ones available. Any other sources?
@@jonrosenow5812 amzn.to/2MDrnSQ
My dad was a tool and die maker and I lucked out getting his toolbox. Use many of his machinist tools in my shop.
Wow, I`m seventy four years old and I just learned somthing new again. Never heard of this tool before.
Me too❤
Highly recommend everyone own a set if these... cannot believe how useful they've become. Thanks James!
They're great, made my own set when I was in college for mechanical engineering. I was working as a co-op/intern for a company and the first semester on the job was spent in the tool shop(to learn manufacturing, inj molding, etc) and one of the projects was making your own set of 1-2-3 blocks. They are incredibly useful.
I absolutely love my 1,2,3 blocks! They really are handy in the wood shop, and believe it or not, I've found them pretty handy for crafting and sewing as well!
I bought these with the smaller brass set years ago on your recommendation. They are one of the most used tools in my hobby shop now. Thank you again !!
I use mine all the time - most recently for tramming my CNC router - I was able to get it dialed in surprisingly good with a set of these. Surfaced the spoilboard and then used these under the router mount and adjusted the gantry as needed - re surfaced the spoilboard and I was good to go!
Just purchased 2 metric sets on the back of this. 10x20x40mm and 20x40x80mm looking forward to trying them out!
I've been around those for YEARS and never knew what they were really for. Thanks for solving so many questions in a wonderfully concise video. Great stuff.
I made a set when I was learning to be a machinist and they are super handy in the shop. Glad I'm not alone.
As a machinist... I can say, 1-2-3 blocks are truly handy devices. They really can be used by any crafts person that needs to hold, space, jig... or whatnot some project or pieces to that project. Glad to see that you have found them useful. The "setup blocks" as they were originally called, also come in quite a few more sizes than 1-2-3 as well. Like say 2-4-6 blocks. Quite a bit heavier, but if you need them, they are quite useful.
Got a couple of sets and love them. As a new subscriber now I have a bunch of “Cool Tools”. Had to slow down to get the wife a Mother’s Day gift. Always something 🤣.
I think it was FWW that had the suggestion of using these along with fence clamps (the kind with a right-angle bent bar at the end) to quickly and easily secure the en-hole-inated 1-2-3 to the fence as an offset. Like in this video but clamped. I've tried it a couple times and it works great.
Yup! That’s exactly what I do with them. Almost every day I’m in the shop and I need to use the fence to set a distance that’s larger than my cross cut sled stops.
Great to see the dill press tips as I'm working on my bench top drill press! Great to learn about the 1-2-3 blocks, also. Even at 70, it's great to learn!! Thank you.
I live in metric world and have sawn 1-2-3 block out of wood and its really handy.
I come from a manufacturing background of nearly 30 years. I have been involved in pattern making, prototype sheet metal working, and several specialty areas of injection mold building including design and machining. I recently (in the last 5 years) started doing woodworking, mainly wood flags. 1-2-3 blocks are extremely useful in any setting that requires accuracy and repeatability. They aren't just for machinists anymore! Thank you UA-cam for suggesting this channel. You have another subscriber because if it!
When I saw these, I was like aren't they for machinist? But I just ordered a set after seeing what they can be used for.
I bought a set because they look cool. Never used them 🤣
Send it to me; I will use them on your behalf
My dad got me a set of these for Christmas, and one thing I've used them for that you didn't mention is aligning project pieces (granted it's pretty situational). In particular, I've been using them for when I need pieces parallel to but offset from an edge.
I bought the cheap set a year or so ago. They work fine for what I need them for. Wish I would of bought them decades ago.
I bought 4 after watching your first video a few years ago and I've used them for countless tasks. They really are extraordinarily handy.
We use them at work for measuring our metal parts we stamp out. . I love the versatility.
The holes without threads are used for putting ground dowls into. They accurately lock the blocks together, leaving a dowl proud it can also be used as a stop if used in a machine vice.
Yet, they should be larger than threaded ones so you can also bolt blocks together. And non threaded holes in high quality blocks are reamed, some cheap stuff do not have the right tolerances for precision dowels.
just bought a set im a guitar repair setup and these make perfect sense and could find numerous uses in the shop
These things are great. I'm using them for scratch-build modeling at 1/35 scale. They're so versatile, you can use them for lining up an X-acto cut to make bricks at 13 rows per inch in XPS foam all the way to machining precision engine parts.
I use these daily on the CMM Machine. One super useful thing is that it is also an incremental height gauge. Thread a bolt into one of the slots and measure the distance from the base to the bottom of the fastener. You now have fractions of 1, 2, and 3” to set your height (table saw blade for example) to.
I bought a set after seeing them in your earlier Cool Tools video. They're really handy to have around! Lately I've been using them to make some t-shaped half laps for a loft bed project. Set the table saw fence to 3" exactly to rip down the tenon piece, then use the block to align my router jig to cut the cheeks of the morticed piece to match. Perfectly snug, quick, and repeatable!
Working most of my life in Tool and Die business, 1-2-3 blocks are very common. Those who went through the apprentice program had to make a pair as part of their classes. Great video.
That's were I got mine. 46 years in the machine shop at Smith & Wesson.
I also have a set of 2-3-4 blocks.
All can be used to hold plastic kit parts when gluing
Or small wooden parts where a clamp might be too large.
You are such an effective teacher!
I'm a retired toolmaker/community college professor (getting ready to retire at that too,) and in all this time never thought to bring my 1-2-3 blocks blocks down to my wood shop. Calipers, micrometers, and machinist quality combination square, sure, but 1-2-3 blocks? Good call. Thanks for the video.
I use my 1-2-3 blocks as weights and squares when cutting & gluing my cheap customer foam core storage solutions for board games. They're very versatile in many types of projects!
That clearance hole problem sounds like a job for a helical thread insert: the right size could bring the threaded hole dimension down to something that would fit a bolt capable of passing the clearance holes. Looks like the brand-name ones run about $0.60 per piece, but there might be an even less formal option if you choose the right gauge of wire and wind it yourself.
The trouble is the different pitches between the different size bolts that you want to use.
Putting a heil-coil into a 3/8-16 tapped hole would give you perhaps a 5/16-16 thread, or even a 1/4-16 thread, but no one makes a 5/16-16 or 1/4-16 bolt.
The common thread pitches are 5/16-18 (18 threads per inch) or 1/4-20 (20 threads per inch). So the heli-coil would start into the thread, but only go maybe just over one turn and then jam.
I ran into that problem many years ago trying to repair a fixture with buggered up threads at a clamp point. I used a typical tap, not the heli-coil up-size-pitch tap. Taking the fixture to the weld shop to get the hole filled so I could drill and tap it out again was rather embarrassing.
Finally, 👍🏾.
Thanks for sharing your knowledge of tools and woodworking over the years.
I can remember having to make this sort of thing when I was an apprentice in the UK aerospace industry, we also had to scrape them. 😰🤯
how long is that process?, just curious.
@@JOSEPH-vs2gc It was over 50 years ago so I can't remember exactly but I would guess over a week. we also went to college one day a week and to theory lessons. I can't remember what had for lunch yesterday 🤔
you can use dows or alignment pins with an undersize nut and bolt or threaded rod to hold them together on the cheap set for better alignment. Flat Head Allen Socket Sleeve Nuts and Flat Head Allen Socket countersink bolts can be used for a low profile.
I recently bought a pair of these on your recommendation James because I saw value in having them in my shop. They just arrived and thanks again for this timely video. I can’t wait to deploy them.
I've seen them in videos made in shops but never seen them in use until now. Pretty awesome how useful they would be.
@Stumpy Nubs. Thanks James for today's lesson.
Hope you, your staff, and your families stay safe and well.
I totally bought a set based on that previous video. I use them all the time.
I've been thinking about those since I saw the tutorial you did years ago. Now that I'm setting up a shop perhaps I might get some. Sure looks handy.
they really are great. cheap too and accurate down to a few thou
I use them with my metal lathe all the time for set ups. Never even considered using them for half of the things you mentioned.
The holes are for alignment pins, and bolts. They can be used with a Steven's table or similar.
Recently received some 123 blocks. Perfect timing for helping me do a restoration of a ~70 year old bandsaw. Continually useful tool.
I’ve often wondered if I should buy a set of 1-2-3 blocks. After watching this informative video, I will be ordering a set today. Thanks!
I've applied many of my machinist tools and techniques successfully to woodworking.
Great info, James~! I have a pair that mostly collect dust. You've reminded me how versatile they are for every day use. Thanks~!
I bought these a few years ago after watching your original video. I mostly use it for the purposes of alignment, squaring and setting the fence on different tools. I love using them! My only complaint is that they rust very easily. I don't have many tools in my shop that rust but all 4 of the 1-2-3 blocks have some level of rust.
123 blocks are great. Nice introduction to them. I've got the Brown & Sharpe's that come with screws to put them together. Really nice. Inexpensive versions are just fine too. Originally bought the Lee Valley version. Found it so handy, followed up with the B&S's. Also, the B&S's are a matched pair.
I used to use these a lot in the toolroom. Particularly useful on the surface grinder.
Something I have occasionally used them for is measuring sizes greater than the 150mm my digital callipers will do. I did try and order a pair of 25x50x75 blocks from Wish, but they sent me 123 blocks so I now have four imperial blocks. They are accurately ground though and it is not too much trouble using the calculator to add multiples 25.4mm to what the callipers indicate.
This guy can’t make it much easier. A great investment that will fit into my pouch and soon I’ll happenstance upon a couple more uses for this brilliantly simple tool.
I bought mine after seeing your cool tools. Use them all the time!
I have them and love them. I use them most as stop blocks on my table saw. I had seen these being used but never bought them until I saw you showing them on Cool Tools #19. Thanks, James.
1-2-3 blocks were normally the first alignment tool or jig a machinist used to make in his apprenticeship. My father's blocks that he made in the late the 1940,s are still being used by my youngest brother
They are so handy, I use them in both woodworking, and model making. They are great for holding thin strips of wood upright while the glue dries for things like drawer dividers. I think I have 4 sets all told, but those solid ones look mighty tempting...
I remember that was one of the first projects we made when I went to school to be a machinist. First one was a fly cutter to make them.
Same here, and a V-Block, plumb Bob and scratch gauge, but we weren't allowed to keep them, they got kept by the college and sent away to be graded as far as I remember.
Love mine. I have 3 sets. 2 regular with holes and 1 set that are magnetic.
Toolmaker for over 45 yrs (retired) , most of us made our own as we could make them more accurate than most of the ones for sale. Like within .0001/.0002" of size and squareness. We had the machines and inspection equipment to make it happen.. Mine are 1x2x4 blocks heh heh
I grew up in metal working. Now that I have a basement and do some wood working I love having things like 123 blocks, joe block sets, gage pins and calipers to help navigate measurement and setup.
I saw the smaller gold blocks in a shop before, had no idea what they were. Good to know.
This was the first project I made in Machine Trades class in 1985. Wish I still had them.
Congratulations on 500k.
I have 2 sets with the Taylor tools combining them to make a reliable edge guide for cross cutting with my circular saw since I don't own a table saw yet
I always use my machinist quality tools in the woodshop, dial calipers, squares, scales, inside and outside spring calipers, dividers, parallels, scribes, indicators, etc. But I have never used my 1-2-3 blocks. Thank you for the recommendation.
love my 1,2,3 blocks, also add a set of thin and thick (1/2") parallels and some 2,4,6 blocks.
I use the 123 blocks to square my CNC router mount. It is the first step to getting the router trammed. The blocks get me in the ball park and after a surfacing of the spoil board I can fine tune the mount to get it perfect.
I use one as a stop for on my cutting cradle. With an extra one, an extra clamp, and a feeler gauge I precise;t adjust the stop position.
Awesome clear concise and apt as to the value of and use to you in the shop/repeat build for good accurate joinery and measuring ... oh and there square as well!
When I bought my 1-2-3 blocks I also bought, JW Winco Glass Filled Nylon Plastic Hand Knob, Threaded Stud, 3/8-16” Thread Size x 1” Thread Length, 1.97” Head Diameter (Pack of 1), that lets you pick them up very easily!
I was an aerospace machinist for almost 20 years, and we do use 123 blocks. But in the CNC world not as often as the old timers did running manual machines. Today they are mostly used in rough inspection setups, like if you have to repeatedly check a dimension with a plunge dial on a granite plate, you might use a 123 block to insure the part is square when taking the measurement. Or if your part is 3.25' tall you could zero the gage on the 123 block and expect your part to measure 0.25 taller.
I bought those same ones 3 years ago after watching your first video on them. Use 'em all the time.
Great video, thanks! I recently acquired some heavy steel blocks (~20lbs) that were machined square. I clamped wood to them at right angles while I drove pocket screws in place, it was quite handy. Now I'll have to get some of these smaller ones, they look very useful.
Your videos are very logical and informative
My garage is a mess I would love for everything to have it’s place
Do you have any videos on shop design?
Dang... this 5 minute video cost me 22 dollars. 😬😬
And me 40 Euros.
i didn't know what these were. Now my life cannot be complete without a set of them.
Many jo blocks used in machining can be very useful in wood working set up. If you see them at flea markets buy them for that.
I've had fun 3D printing setup blocks and 123 solid blocks. The dimensions so far have been within 1/100 of an inch unless my digital caliper is lying. I need to get a couple of steel ones for the weight reasons you explained.
My favorite use. After alignment and clamping, use a chisel to pare a precise 90 socket in a dovetail or to cleanup a mortise.
Machinist of 20yrs here, and I never thought about bolting the blocks together. Though my personal set are the solid style- easier to use with a height gauge when checking small parts.
My first Toolmaker project was 123 blocks, I made 2 solid, 2 with holes, and 2 with large bolt/washer centers to bolt to anything large.
I bought the woodpeckers one time tool full set of set up blocks. Imperial and metric
Over 400 bux. They are SICK!
As a complete hack I must confess though. I forget I have them sometimes 😂. They are awesome though..
I had not thought of so many uses.. Mine will get used more now. thanks!
Thanks for the tip. I have these at 3 of my work areas. And they make great pencil holders when not in use. 😂
Subscribed! I like your style! Thanks for some incredible information my old eyes and ears have never heard!
Thanks for sharing with us James, great information on the. 1-2-3 blocks they are valuable tools to have around your shop. Fred .👍👍👏🏻👏🏻🤔
Done. Just ordered a pair using the link you provided. Thank you!
That was as simple as 1-2-3. Thanks. Jim
I know this video is a year old, but made a purchase. I let them know your video is the reason why. And I subscribed.
Thank you for clearly and concisely describing the to us.
I love my cheap 123 blocks. I don’t know how many times I have knocked mine off the workbench to the concrete, and they are still perfectly square.
Another useful machinists tool are gage block sets. Useful for checking the calibration of those machinist calipers, measuring dado grooves, and setting fractional sizes or even decimal sizes on the machines. A decent set might run $60 to $90.
I made these for a while back in my 20's. Tall blocks were said to be some of the hardest to make because while lapping they tend to tilt in the carrier. I never thought of using them for woodworking.
You could get a bolt that fits the thread and relieve a 1” section under the head, leaving thread on the end, that way you could thread the bolt through a threaded hole on a block and into a threaded hole on another. The relief near the head of the bolt would allow you to tighten the two blocks together.
We had larger version 2-4-6 blocks for our bridgeport Mills.
Couldn't agree more, been using mine for years.
Interesting ! And valuable information to me... : good job
Good video quality and nice content : good job
And last (but not least to me) your tone and speed of speech make understanding the comments real easy ...even for people not speaking English as a mother language.
Just found your channel, wonderful find.
Also 2 3 4 and 2 4 6 machinest blocks are available if you need something bigger then the midgets. I have the three sets at work and they are used every day.
They're also useful for making exact inside measurements with a measuring tape (just add the one, two, or three inches to the measurement on the measuring tape).
Sure takes the guesswork out of it! Good idea, I’m gonna use that.
thanks for this video, i was wondering why the cheap blocks didnt connect
I agree. Best money I spent in the shop.
I've had these in my shop for years. Inherited from my machinist father in law. I never knew what they were for. Thanks' for the information.
Count me as one of the people that love these things. I've been telling my friends about them and going on and on how useful they are. Which is why they call me blockhead now....