| Project by AuroraWoodworks | posted 955 days ago | 5035 views | 7 times favorited | 16 comments |  |
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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???
-- Tony - Anchorage, Alaska
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16 comments so far
PurpLev
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7757 posts in 1818 days
#1 posted 955 days ago
WOW.. that’s a lot of vise. looks impressive
how did you/kids cut the threads?
-- ㊍ When in doubt - There is no doubt - Go the safer route.
AuroraWoodworks
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#2 posted 955 days ago
I used the 1.5” tap and thread cutter kit from Woodcraft.
-- Tony - Anchorage, Alaska
Dennisgrosen
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#3 posted 955 days ago
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
BigTiny
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#4 posted 955 days ago
Nice work, and it’s great to see a club member taking such an active part.
Wanna make me one? ;)
-- The nicer the nice, the higher the price!
TopamaxSurvivor
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#5 posted 955 days ago
Now that you have a production method, maybe you could do a LJ run ? ;-)) That pile sure does look impressive! Nice work.
-- "some old things are lovely, warm still with life ... of the forgotten men who made them." - D.H. Lawrence Wake Up America!! Please read; http://www.commondreams.org/view/2009/01/26-0
tdv
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1113 posts in 1240 days
#6 posted 955 days ago
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
-- God created wood that we may create. Trevor East Yorkshire UK
mafe
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#7 posted 955 days ago
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
-- Mad F, the fanatical rhykenologist and vintage architect. Democraticwoodworking.
Jiri Parkman
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#8 posted 955 days ago
Very nice!
-- Jiri
a1Jim
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#9 posted 954 days ago
good work Tony cool vises
-- W James Brokenbourgh Custom furniture maker http://artisticwoodstudio.com/
mcoyfrog
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#10 posted 954 days ago
Sweet… mass production it is…
-- Wood and Glass they kick (well you know) Have a great day - Dug
PflugervilleSteve
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#11 posted 950 days ago
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.
StumpyNubs
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#12 posted 944 days ago
I was afraid that the threads on the woodcraft kit wouild be two fine for a vise… Are they tough enough?
-- It's the best woodworking show since the invention of wood... New episodes Wednesdays at: http://www.stumpynubs.com
AuroraWoodworks
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191 posts in 1293 days
#13 posted 939 days ago
Ten guys abused those vises over the course of a four-day class. I think they all loved them.
-- Tony - Anchorage, Alaska
Dennisgrosen
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10854 posts in 1285 days
#14 posted 939 days ago
thank´s for the update Tony
Dennis
ugoboy
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#15 posted 930 days ago
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!
-- ~ Guy Woodward, Pflugerville Texas
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