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This project had several firsts for me. Currently none of my benches have a vise, so I decided to build a benchtop bench with a Moxon vise. I started with 8/4 hard maple. This was my first time milling hardwood. The support legs are mortise and tenon and bolted to the benchtop. This was my first time doing mortise and tenons. My first assembly was nowhere near square. I learned the hard way about uniform heights and keeping all the shoulders level and square. The legs have a little red oak laminated with the maple. I used the Benchcrafted vise hardware - really nice. The bench is finished in three coats of Watco Danish oil.
Now that I have a vise, my next project will be learning hand cut dovetails. My goal will be one a day.
I want to give credit to S. C. Rogers and Fine Working Magazine whose design ideas I incorporated in my bench.

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Nice job, it looks amazing. I like the slots in your table as well. What keeps it on the table? Is it clamped or does the weird hold it in place?
 

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The mortise and tenon is going the wrong way.
you have long grain to long grain, M&T you do short grain to long grain.

So those upright supports are not offering full strength. The grain should have been oriented the other way.
And it should have a tight join, I see light through your joint.

Not meant to criticize, merely trying to explain.
 

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Woodtablet
I use clamps to hold it down. I mount the clamps to the "wings to each side"

woodchuckerNJ
Appreciate the tips. I ran out of wood and had to laminate with what I had. Didn't want to buy another 8/4 board.
 

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Very nice! May I ask what issue of FWW magazine you used for the design?
 

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SirGareth
It was issue 198 March 2008. I had to make adjustments for the thickness of the top one the overall height I wanted on my bench
 

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Nicely done. This is on my list. I purchased the hard maple before Christmas so now it's time to get moving on it. Thanks for posting.
 

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Good job! That is one of the projects on my (long) list. It is nice to see someone else who admits to having some difficulties getting things to come together correctly, working through it, and ending with a good looking, functional result.
Joel
 

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Looks great. I made a moxon vise a few years ago and it sure makes cutting dovetails much more comfortable.
 

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How thick did you make the top?
 

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Drewpy
I started with 8/4 maple that I milled to 1 3/4" thick. I ripped the boards to 2 1/2" width then laminated them. I started the dog holes with my router using a a 3/4" upcut spiral bit. Finished them with a 3/4" drill bit. Sanded to 220 grit.
Hope I answered the question you asked.
 

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WistyWoodsWorkimgWomders,Julian and Hellofawreck - thanks for the kind words
 

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Great looking little bench. I need to build one too since I can't afford a full size bench of that construction.
I'm intrigued by the cabinet/workbench you have it sitting on too. Any info/pics of that project?
 

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JustLikeJames
It is a variation of the ultimate tool stand. You can find pics all over the Internet. It was my first woodworking project. Here are a couple of pics
 

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JustLikeJames
It is a variation of the ultimate tool stand. You can find pics all over the Internet. It was my first woodworking project. Here are a couple of pics


- boatz
Thanks. I'm going to look into that. Looks handy.
 

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Good looking Moxon bench, yes grains are very important for strength. Getting ready to build one myself.
 
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