Three shop projects

First two photos are of a bench vise (Moxon style), second two photos are bench hold-downs, and last two photos are of a simple, small router table. I was inspired to build these items by all the information available on Lumber Jocks and helpful ideas from other members. To all I owe a debt of gratitude.

The vise will hold wood up to 3 1/2” thick. I used 1/2” threaded rods that go through steel bushings on the vise plate and through the 3” bench edge ( two more bushings) and into 1/4” x 1 1/2” x 4” steel plates that I drilled and tapped – this is more positive than the idea of imbedding nuts and securing with epoxy. The threaded rod and nut are fitted into easily made wood knobs and secured with epoxy. The vise can be removed if needed.

The hold-downs will hold wood up to 2 1/2” thick. There are steel bushings in the blocks and the washers below the wing nuts are glued with super glue, . The threaded rods go thru the bench top, which is reinforced on the bottom, and long barrel tee-nuts are located underneath. This arrangement is in four convenient places. I filed the ends of the threaded rods to a hexagonal shape that will fit my cordless drill bit holder which makes install and remove quick.

For the router table, I did not need anything elaborate, but did buy a HF phenolic plate . The fence has wood guides that run along the sides of the top and I use clamps to hold it in position.

I used scrap ply and MDF plus wood that I get from pallets.

-- Terry Ferguson, Bend Oregon