Homemade Not-Quite-Benchcrafted Leg Vise Assembly w/Oak Crank Handle

Awesome!! I’ll def be trying this! Thanks!

-- Rob, Kalamazoo, MI

Thanks man! Let me know if you have any questions about it.

-- Eric - Why buy when you can build!?!

Nice job. I’m in the process of building one of those handwheels too. If you are in the USA you might try ENCO for acme threaded rod. Quite a bit cheaper and it comes in 3 foot lengths too. I’ve had good luck with them. I think it is enco.com.

+1 for enco, i’ve gotten some 1” acme rod from them and nuts to match. Link is actually
http://www.use-enco.com

No affiliation but it really is cheaper for the acme rod.

The same only different, http://lumberjocks.com/donwilwol/blog/34022

Nice job airframer.

-- There is nothing like the sound of a well tuned hand plane. - http://timetestedtools.wordpress.com (timetestedtools at hotmail dot c0m)

Thanks guys. I went with Fastenal for a couple reasons. 1) I wasn’t sure how much I was going to need so 6’ sounded good to me. 2) it is right outside of work so no shipping and I could actually hold it and look at it (I like this rather than hoping it is the right thing).

Thanks for the heads up on that site though. I might see what else they have there!

@Don.. That’s a nice looking wheel you have there! I might have to get a dressier knob fo rmine.. dunno this one is growing on me.

-- Eric - Why buy when you can build!?!

Very cool. You’ll even have enough acme thread to make a moxon vise!

-- "hold fast to that which is good"

Hey guys,

I’ve been researching and price shopping to do this very thing for 2 years now. Has anyone just bought a tail vise screw from Lee Valley for $37.50 and just replace the handle with a hand wheel?

Airframer, nice work thought. How much was the flange bearing? Also, what do you mean by “lock ring”?

Thanks.

-- How valuable is time to a person who spends his disparaging the beliefs of others? --David Berthelette www.pilotwoodworks.com

I have seen those used for leg vises before. It is certainly an option. I chose to go this route because I wanted a longer screw and I was still up in the air as to what vises I wanted to build for the bench. So yes.. there are cheaper options for the screw but at around $16 a foot this wasn’t a terrible deal over all.

The flange bearings were around $20 iirc.

Here are the hand wheels http://www.reidsupply.com/products/knobs-handles-hand-wheels/

And here are the bearings http://www.reidsupply.com/products/bearings-power-transmission/bearings/mounted-bearings/flange-mounted-bearings/

And by lock ring I am talking about a stainless steel ring with a 1” bore and a set screw. I used as a washer between the wheel and the bearing and also to apply constant pressure against the hub to help lock that into place. If you look at the pics it is the silver ring just after the wheel.

-- Eric - Why buy when you can build!?!

Lookin good, i get off work in a couple days, so probably hit up gastenal when i get there, need to see if they can get me a bandsaw blade for my granpas old craftsman 3 wheel bandsaw .. noone srems to carry the size i need

-- Justin - the tugboat woodworker - https://www.facebook.com/justinb78

Awesome, thank you for the info! I actually have a similar screw, 1 1/8, 5 TPI ( same as BC’s) sitting in my “shopping cart” online. I wanted to do the same as you did, have extra length for another screw. (Wow, that just sounded wrong, LOL) I just wanted to make sure I was making the most frugal choice.

Still might go with your choice. Thanks again. Looking forward to seeing the bench!

-- How valuable is time to a person who spends his disparaging the beliefs of others? --David Berthelette www.pilotwoodworks.com

nice job.

DaveTPilot – that’s what I did. got 2 screws from LV and replaced the T handle with a hand wheel. you can see it here:

http://lumberjocks.com/PurpLev/blog/25512

-- ㊍ When in doubt - There is no doubt - Go the safer route.

Thanks PurpLev, does it run pretty smooth?

-- How valuable is time to a person who spends his disparaging the beliefs of others? --David Berthelette www.pilotwoodworks.com

Dave – both vises run very smoothly and with very high torque.

-- ㊍ When in doubt - There is no doubt - Go the safer route.