A Bench build just kick-started - I.e in stick!

[Jake]

Downside is lots of stooping and fiddling, and no QR.

You can of course use any old vice to hold one edge and a holdfast in an apron to hold the other, it doesn't need to be a leg vice. If I ever need to dovetail etc something wider than 600mm I might do that.

 

[ByronBlack]

Downside is lots of stooping and fiddling, and no QR.

You can of course use any old vice to hold one edge and a holdfast in an apron to hold the other, it doesn't need to be a leg vice. If I ever need to dovetail etc something wider than 600mm I might do that.

I have had a QR for about 5 years, and I rarely 'need' the quick release, as the thickness of stock being used doesn't change that much, so a leg vice won't see that much stooping in reality - and the leg-vice board doesn't have to be installed at the very bottom either, it can be installed higher up and avoid the need to stoop.

My point was if the main vice was a twin screw vice, you don't have the option of clamping wider boards than the clearance of the vice, with a single QR you do - but then you have the problem of racking and have to have spacer on the other side of the vice to get enough clamping pressure.

Either way, every vice has its negative and positives, and it comes down to what is more important to you.

 

[Jake]

I have had a QR for about 5 years, and I rarely 'need' the quick release

At a guess I use it 25% of the time when I move the vice, enough for it to be an essential for me.

the leg-vice board doesn't have to be installed at the very bottom either, it can be installed higher up and avoid the need to stoop.

The screw is lower on all the leg vices that I've seen, not that I follow this sort of historicist fad that closely.

My point was if the main vice was a twin screw vice, you don't have the option of clamping wider boards than the clearance of the vice, with a single QR you do - but then you have the problem of racking and have to have spacer on the other side of the vice to get enough clamping pressure.

That's not correct though -I assume you are basing that opinion on the Veritas or something? I've got 200mm of jaw clear on the right, and a vice that will not rack at all (because of the four guide bars as well as the twin screws).

Either way, every vice has its negative and positives, and it comes down to what is more important to you.

Agree with that. I know that I will carry this type of twin screw over when/if I build a new bench. It will be interesting to see what you go for with your next bench.

 

[Benchwayze]

Nice feeling building a workbench, remembering things of the past and then contemplating the builds of the future.

Every time I have opened some liquid container, turps or whatever, I always wipe the residue from the brush somewhere on the bench even the glue.
It creates a homely patina.

I'll have to remember that John.
Knowing me though, what I spill on a nice light bench top will be some dark oak stain, or similar! Then I'll have to do the lot! :lol:

John

 

[bugbear]

Since shoulder vises (European style) are widely liked for dovetailing, you can combine this with a Record Q/R.

Here's one made by the late Jack Kamishlian.

This gives the dovetailing convenience of a shoulder vise, whilst retaining the versatility and capacity of a Q/R for other work.

(The chain-ganged face vise idea is also in Landis' book BTW)

BugBear

 

[Benchwayze]

Thanks BB,

Coincidences come in all shapes and sizes.
I gave up on a similar idea. Not because I didn’t think it would work mind.
I thought I could use an extended rear-jaw in my Q/R, and add a bench screw to use as a form of shoulder vice.

I was thinking along the lines of having a ‘take-up’ block to put in the vice when I wanted to use it. That would have meant the shoulder vice-screw was always in place, and might get in the way. (Unless I made the jaw detachable… which is a similar idea to Jack Kamishlian’s it seems. ) I imagine this worked, so it’s something I might think about… If I don’t go crazy and build a separate bench for dovetailing!

Thanks again BB. I’m obliged.

Regards
John

 

[Sheik Hans]

not sure how RS works in England , you may need an account to buy like you do over here . Those sprockets should be available from any decent bearing/ chain outlet and in all probability be cheaper to boot .

 

[Jake]

(The chain-ganged face vise idea is also in Landis' book BTW)

From memory I think he talks rather vaguely about putting gears on the face of two ordinary vice screws, Veritas style? I certainly read something like that somewhere, which was part of the inspiration. Edit - indeed, all discussed here when I first posted about the idea https://www.ukworkshop.co.uk/forums/post ... crew#60934. I've never seen anyone suggest using a record style vices, or hanging the sprockets off the rear, which all my input amounted to - looking at the prong and going "aha!".

Sheik Hans - you can register here as a cash account, but as I said in my thread over there I only used them for the quick delivery and out of laziness, in the knowledge that as ever one pays a price for the convenience!

 

[bugbear]

Thanks BB,

Coincidences come in all shapes and sizes.
I gave up on a similar idea. Not because I didn’t think it would work mind.
I thought I could use an extended rear-jaw in my Q/R, and add a bench screw to use as a form of shoulder vice.

That would put MASSIVE racking forces on the Q/R, unless you used a packing piece.

The design pictured doesn't rack the Q/R, since the body of the "extension vice" spans both rails.

BugBear

 

[bugbear]

(The chain-ganged face vise idea is also in Landis' book BTW)

From memory I think he talks rather vaguely about putting gears on the face of two ordinary vice screws, Veritas style?

No - there's a complete article on a guy that actually built it.

BugBear

 

[Benchwayze]

Thanks BB,

Coincidences come in all shapes and sizes.
I gave up on a similar idea. Not because I didn’t think it would work mind.
I thought I could use an extended rear-jaw in my Q/R, and add a bench screw to use as a form of shoulder vice.

That would put MASSIVE racking forces on the Q/R, unless you used a packing piece.

The design pictured doesn't rack the Q/R, since the body of the "extension vice" spans both rails.

BugBear

Absolutely BB. That's what I meant by a 'Take-up' piece in the next paragraph... a packing piece.

This idea does it all in one, and it is all removeable, where my idea would have been a fixture.
Regards
John

 

[Jake]

(The chain-ganged face vise idea is also in Landis' book BTW)

From memory I think he talks rather vaguely about putting gears on the face of two ordinary vice screws, Veritas style?

No - there's a complete article on a guy that actually built it.

Had to dig it out to remind myself, it is two ordinary vice screws as I said, with the chains/sprockets at the front like a veritas. I remember admiring it, but thinking it looked like far too much bother and/or metal-working skill to build. A definite inspiration though. The only small originality I have ever laid any claim to is making it so very easy to make one by a dead simple adaption of record vices and in the process getting a vice with massive rigidity and resistance to racking with all guide rails as well as the screws.

 

[Benchwayze]

A leg vice would solve all those problems John -

This is true to an extent Byron. When I had my very first workshop (A dirt-floor garage in Erdington!) the bench in there wasn't mine, and it had one of those old spring-vices. (Like a giant pair of Mole-grips). I couldn't really get on with it, but as the place wasn't mine, I hadn't much choice. The leg vice reminds me of that and I'm not sure I could go that retro Byron, much as it would suit the bench I am planning.

What I might do, is make a smaller version of this bench, with a leg-vice, for occasional use, and put it where I have a storage cupboard at the moment. The cupboard is in dire need of replacement, so that might be a thought.

Regards
John