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Several months ago when Chris Schwarz posted his blog about building the Moxon twin screw vise, I filed it away as something our woodworking club (Alaska Creative Woodworker's Association) needed. Next thing I know, I'm building ten of them. Photos attached.

The club has a dozen or so knock down benches for classes. They are simple, sturdy benches, but they lack a serious vise. We have been reluctant to install regular front vises due to the expense and weight. The bench tops are already heavy enough. Plus, when you add a vise, it becomes difficult to stack the bench tops for storage. Along with a Veritas surface vise, the Moxon vise was the perfect answer for the club's benches.

The club is bringing instructor Frank Strazza from the Homestead Heritage woodworking school in Texas to teach a workshop. We will be building a dovetailed jewelry box. Frank asked that the vises open wide enough to hold the completed box - 8-1/2". That meant I had to push my 14" lathe to the max to get a 14-1/2" spindle. If I shortened the head of the screw to 3", I could get 8-1/2" between the jaws.

I used 8/4 maple for the screw stock. The first screw I made had very little meat left to serve as a shoulder on the head of the screw to transfer the load from the screw to the face of the vise. In my production run, I made the screws from 2-1/2" (if memory serves) wide 8/4 stock. That resulted in an oblong head to the screw. It bothered my sense of symmetry, but it felt good in the hand. I think it gave a good shape to provide some leverage when turning the screws by hand. I ended up adding a tommy bar to make the screws turn a little easier.

I had a little Huck Finn going when I "let" my kids cut the threads in the spindles. What other work do I have that I can I convince them is fun???

Gallery

Comments

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WOW.. that's a lot of vise. looks impressive

how did you/kids cut the threads?
 

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I used the 1.5" tap and thread cutter kit from Woodcraft.
 

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that is looking like you are under a lot of pressure….......LOL

looking good man, and its great to hear your children worked with you in the shop
hope you got a picture of it ,when they turned the treads, to remember the moment with :)

thank´s for sharing

Dennis
 

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Nice work, and it's great to see a club member taking such an active part.

Wanna make me one? ;)
 

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Now that you have a production method, maybe you could do a LJ run ? ;-)) That pile sure does look impressive! Nice work.
 

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Some people have only one vice…..... I think we should all pray for you. Seriously though they look great, are the screws linked or independant? If they are linked howdid you do it? Thanks
Trevor
 

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Hi Tony,
They look so nice, and well made. Every one in your club will be happy, they are lucky to have you there.
To bring the kids in for simple tasks sounds wonderful, my daughter is staburn (like the father), so she comes only when we do her projects.
You will go in my favorites, I wanted for a longe time to build one of these, so I can make some gentle side clamping, but also be able to bring it with me.
Best thoughts,
Mads
 

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good work Tony cool vises
 

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Sweet… mass production it is…
 

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Those are great vices! Fish and fishing adage comes to mind though. Having Frank up is going to be awesome! I've attended some of his classes and he is a REALLY good teacher.
 

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I was afraid that the threads on the woodcraft kit wouild be two fine for a vise… Are they tough enough?
 

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Ten guys abused those vises over the course of a four-day class. I think they all loved them.
 

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Tony I read your posting with envy. I have take several classes with Frank. He is an awesome teacher and clever to boot. Keep us posted on the class!
 

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It was a great class and Frank worked us like borrowed mules. A three day class morphed into five plus a couple late evenings. We built a dovetailed jewelry box/mini blanket chest entirely with hand tools. I'll post photos of the project when I finish the box.
 
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