A Moxon-Style Vise

[Dave R]

@baz said:

The short grain on the handle is a bit of a worry tho'

It's tough and stringy elm.

I only made it the way the the old head who built it did. It's made out of scrap wood he had around. He probably has more.

[jtri]

That would be a handy vice, thanks for sharing. Used some elm on a project and never again. That stuff moves way too much!

[Dave R]

I wouldn't use elm either. I just made that up. I think he used pine or something else that is easier to work.

I don't think elm is good for much. My father told me that before I came along, he and my mother lived on the second floor in an old Victorian style house that had been divided up into apartments. He was given some elm to burn in the fireplace. He said he'd burn the same log for three or four nights. When they were ready to go to sleep he would put on asbestos gloves, grab the log and throw it out the window into the snow. In the morning he would go collect it and bring it in so it would dry out. He said it didn't give off much heat, either.

[baz]

You are both right about Elm, nasty and unpredictable to work with and tough as old boots. It rewards you in the end but its a battle. I used it in Pommieland many years ago.
Of course, now, Dutch Elm disease ruining city landscapes.
And funnily enuf: on the news tonite, A lady walking down one of our leafy Melbourne boulevards today, got fatally crushed by a hundred year old healthy Elm. (Theres more to this).

Is this a Hijack? Never sure.
Anyway, I love the portable Leg Vise. I want one. Suits my lifestle. But goes on the project list about 90 down.

And the story, Dave, sounds intriguing. The 'Old head'. More please.

[Dave R]

I don't know much more about the "old head". He's a member of one of the woodworking forums I participate on and he seems to have a vice for shop made vises. The screw is typically the most expensive part but he came up with the idea of using these cheap dumbbell handles which work quite well. He also buys inexpensive HDPE cutting boards to use for the bearings, shown in white. Another cool trick that he does is to drill and tap the ends of the brass pins so a small machine screw can be inserted to use as a handle to extract the pin if he wants to disassemble the thing.

[baz]

@dave r said:

I don't know much more about the "old head". He's a member of one of the woodworking forums I participate on and he seems to have a vice for shop made vises. The screw is typically the most expensive part but he came up with the idea of using these cheap dumbbell handles which work quite well. He also buys inexpensive HDPE cutting boards to use for the bearings, shown in white. Another cool trick that he does is to drill and tap the ends of the brass pins so a small machine screw can be inserted to use as a handle to extract the pin if he wants to disassemble the thing.

Great stuff, are you able to share the model?
If so I might adapt it for metric and me, and share of course. Although I s'pose I could do it the hard way....

[Dave R]

Unfortunately I'm not at liberty to share the model.

[baz]

@dave r said:

Unfortunately I'm not at liberty to share the model.

No worries, thought that might be the case.

[Dave R]

Here's a work in progress shot of another Moxon-inspired vise. This one is considerably more expensive to build, though. The screws are Acme left-hand threaded rods that have been turned down over a good part of their length. The left hand threading allows the chop to be moved in when turning the handwheel clockwise. The main body of the vise has sides dovetailed into the front piece. Just waiting on some dimensions for those bits.

Here's a view from earlier when I was working out the order of the round bits that go on the shafts.

[Dave R]

[baz]

Fab drawing, love the combination of solid line and x-ray. (Now to figure out how you did it

[jtri]

Great drawing thanks for sharing! That is an ambitious project (drawing and fabrication) for sure. What is the inspiration for this vice or is it a copy?

[Dave R]

Thank you, gentlemen.

baz, I'll be interested to see what youcome up with for that.

jtri, this latest vise is from a design by a woodworker on one of the woodworking fora that I am a member of. Interesting point: He used solid counter top material to make threaded inserts for the chop so it moves in and out with the turn of the hand wheel.

[jtri]

I have used "corian" for many things other than counter tops but not as a nut! Your texture should have told me what the material was. Is there a metal insert in the nut or are the threads to be cut into the "corian"? I need a small metal lathe to cut threads and turn some parts. Now to convince the wife...........

[Dave R]

The guy who designed and built this vise said he threaded the Corain. He also said it was "not an easy task, but time and patience win out." He made a tap out of a piece of the threaded rod. He tapered the end and cut groves down the length.

A metal lathe would certainly be a nice addition to your shop.

[Dave R]

I think this is the final of my part in this latest Moxon vise deal.

[db11]

Very nice. Super-clean presentation.

[Dave R]

Thanks Doug.

[jtri]

Fantastic vise!! So many useful and cool details. Oh, really nice presentation too.
Now I just changed my bike chain and cassette and still have the old chain and gears, Going to save them.

[Dave R]

Thank you. Good to have something to do with that chain.