The Swan VacQparing Pod VPA120 is a vacuum workholding pod with a built-in waste board shelf. This is a vacuum paring pod designed for paring, chopping dovetails, through-drilling, and cutting where the tool exits the bottom of the workpiece.

The pod measures 12 in. x 4 in. overall and splits into two zones: a 9-in. x 4-in. vacuum area that holds the work, and a 3-in. x 4-in. shelf that accepts a 1/2-in. waste board. The part is held by vacuum while the area you are cutting through sits over sacrificial stock.

That solves a real problem in hand-tool joinery. Chopping dovetail waste or paring to a line normally means a sacrificial board and a clamp in the way. Here the vacuum does the holding and the waste board catches the chisel. When the waste board is chewed up, swap it out.

It connects two ways. Set it directly over a VacQport (VQPT01) and it pulls vacuum straight through, or pull the plug and fit the included 1/4-in. push connector to run it off any vacuum source on any surface. Seal cord for the top and bottom faces is included.

Buy this if you cut dovetails, pare joinery, or drill through parts and you are tired of marking up your bench.

Vacuum Holding for Joinery

The Swan VacQparing Pod VPA120 gives hand-tool joinery a clamp-free hold and a sacrificial backer in one piece.

• Who it's for: Woodworkers who chop dovetails, pare joints, or drill through parts.
• Why it stands out: The waste board shelf. Few vacuum pods account for tools going all the way through.
• Worth knowing: You need a vacuum source, and Swan does not list a waste board as included, so plan to cut your own.

• What size waste board does it take? A 1/2-in. thick board in the 3-in. x 4-in. shelf.
• Do I need a VacQport? No. The included 1/4-in. push connector runs it off any vacuum source.