While this is the beginning of my construction blog for the V8 Degree bench, I’m not actually going to get into the build just yet. There are a few more features that I didn’t want to clutter the project post with and I’ve added a couple of demo videos on the vises. I thought it would be best to start with a full view of the bench and its operational features first and get into the construction process in the next segment.
This photo shows the dog hole inserts that hide and protect the end grain of the plywood top. It also shows the bolting arrangement for fastening the top to the legs.

This one shows one of the the “dog houses” at each end of the bench. This is about the only place you can see the plywood construction. I had to leave it as proof.

Finally here is the deadman and its corresponding shim (in the leg vise).

OK, here’s just one more… just for fun. This one shows the “solid walnut” stretchers before installation.

On to the videos.
Disclaimer: These are not professionally done. They are meant only to show the features of the bench and the operation of the wedge powered vises. This is the most difficulty I will ever have operating these vises because I’m not very familiar with them yet and I was trying to operate them and describe them on video at the same time. Even at that I think these videos will show that the wedge vises are efficient and straightforward to operate. Please don’t look at the bench in the background.
The first one is about the Leg Vise.
.....and the wagon vises.
Come on ! I asked you not to look at the bench in the background…......
Anyway I hope that made the bench a little more real to you and I look forward to getting into the construction next time.
Thanks for looking in and see you next time.
Questions Comments and critiques are always welcome.
Cheers!
Paul
-- Paul M ..............If God wanted us to have fiberglass boats he would have given us fiberglass trees. http://prmdesigns.com/

















24 comments so far
lanwater
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2438 posts in 1132 days
#1 posted 292 days ago
Thanks for the video.
now I see how practical it is.
Joe Lyddon
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6477 posts in 2250 days
#2 posted 292 days ago
COOL Videos…
COOL flexibility!
Thank you.
-- Have Fun! Joe Lyddon - Alta Loma, CA USA - Home: http://www.WoodworkStuff.net ... My Small Gallery: http://www.ncwoodworker.net/pp/showgallery.php?ppuser=1389&cat=500"
TerryDowning
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131 posts in 315 days
#3 posted 292 days ago
Now you’ve got me thinking about a traditional style woodworking bench. (I just need to figure out which bench has to come out to make room for a new one. Wife still wants her car in garage. The cost of the vice and materials has always kept one of these out of my shop. But now you have me thinking.
Thanks Paul
-- - Terry
Jim Jakosh
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7687 posts in 1303 days
#4 posted 292 days ago
Right flexible set up. A lot of thought went into that build!! Nice job…...........Jim
-- Jim Jakosh.....Practical Wood Products...........Learn something new every day!!
Jack Barnhill
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362 posts in 1563 days
#5 posted 292 days ago
Thanks for the videos. Anxious to see more about the build.
-- Best regards, Jack -- I may not be good, but I'm slow -- www.BarnhillWoodworks.com
grizzman
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5470 posts in 1501 days
#6 posted 292 days ago
really cool bench..i really love the ingenuity put into this, no expensive screws need to be bought and it truly is a testimony of a real wood workers work table, great job Paul. thank you for the video…grizz
-- GRIZZMAN ...[''''']
Greg The Cajun Box Sculptor
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3833 posts in 1506 days
#7 posted 292 days ago
Hey Paul…it is obvious that you put alot of thought and work into creating this workbench. I watched the videos and was extremely impressed as to the versatility of the workbench Very very nice…!
-- Every step of any project should be considered your masterpiece if you want the finished product to reflect the quality of your work. http://www.FineArtBoxes.com
gbear
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332 posts in 2297 days
#8 posted 292 days ago
Very cool…I love it.
Thanks!
-- gbear, Carmichael, CA
MickeyGee
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118 posts in 1092 days
#9 posted 292 days ago
Great work! Really interesting take on the clamping – I’m really impressed at the strength you’ve shown with both vices. Can’t wait to see more of this build. Thanks for sharing.
-- -- Mike
Mauricio
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5270 posts in 1349 days
#10 posted 292 days ago
Great demonstration. Your leg vise also works as a sort of end vise too, no other leg vise can do that!
-- Mauricio - Woodstock, GA - "Confusion is the Womb of Learning, with utter conviction being it's Tomb" Prof. T.O. Nitsch
helluvawreck
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10924 posts in 1064 days
#11 posted 291 days ago
That’s very nice, Paul. A bench like that could serve anyone well.
helluvawreck aka Charles
http://woodworkingexpo.wordpress.com
-- If a man does not keep pace with his companions, perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer. Let him step to the music which he hears, however measured or far away. Henry David Thoreau
stefang
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9727 posts in 1532 days
#12 posted 291 days ago
A wonderfully well thought out and innovative bench Paul. I can see a lot of folks will want to build one for themselves.
-- Mike, American in Norway
Roger
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9498 posts in 1002 days
#13 posted 291 days ago
Paul, you are like Dr. Gadget in a woodworking form. :) Very kool
-- Roger from KY. Work/Play/Travel Safe. Kentuk55@bellsouth.net
shipwright
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3482 posts in 996 days
#14 posted 291 days ago
Thanks everyone
Coming from a group of knowledgeable woodworkers it means a lot to me.
-- Paul M ..............If God wanted us to have fiberglass boats he would have given us fiberglass trees. http://prmdesigns.com/
exelectrician
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1011 posts in 625 days
#15 posted 291 days ago
Very well thought out Paul, thanks for doing all the research to find the optimal angle for us armchair woodworkers. You put a lot more than eight degrees of work into the thought that went into this creation.
-- Love thy neighbour as thyself
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