Moxon Vise Complete!

 Pretty easy build.  My dovetailed standee block jobbie works great.

Moxon Vise Support Block

My shop is in disarray until I can offload 600+ board feet of clear white pine that's monopolizing all of my space, so I've been using this time to plan a few different projects.  This time I'm working on my Moxon Vise.  I've already got the Benchrafted hardware and the hard rock maple, I just need time and a plan (...and space to work).

I'm enamored with the benchtop Moxons I've seen, especially Derek Jones' versions, but I have to be realistic.  I don't have much shop space and I'd like to be able to hang the vise up to get it out of my way when I'm not using it.

I'm also a fan of simplicity.  Christopher Schwarz just uses a piece of scrap.  To date I've been using my Jack Plane as the support, but that won't work with a vise that elevates the work 8-1/4" above my workbench top.

My only problem with Schwarz's piece of scrap is that it looks like scrap and can be easily lost.  Cutting another piece of scrap to the necessary length is an easy affair - scrap is always available.  But I'd rather keep all the necessary components of the vise together when it's not in use. A place for everything and everything in its place.

So with that in mind, I came up with this option.

The support block serves double-duty as the "flush" elevation block to position the vertical board.  Clamp the vertical board, reposition the block, position the horizontal board.  Done.

The dovetailed slot in the stabilizer gives it a place to live where it's unlikely to get misplaced by the Workshop Gremlins.

I'm also going to add springs and maybe some knobs like David Barron did.

Whisky Tote, Moxon Vise, and St. Peter's Cross

I had some time on my hands, waiting for my latest lumber order to arrive, so I added three more projects to the list.

• Moxon Vise
• Benchcrafted Crisscross Retrofit
• Whisky Tote

Benchcrafted Crisscross Retrofit

Image of Benchcrafted's Crisscross Vise Hardware

I've been wanting to upgrade my Bencrafted Glide Leg Vise ever since they came out with their version of St. Peter's Cross (Bencrafted Crisscross).  Having to move the pin in the peg board for every change in thickness annoys me.  Also, my bench is made with hemfir lumber and my vise chop is slightly cupped and that annoys me.  I'll replace it with 8/4 hard rock maple.  Eventually, I'll replace the rest of the bench as well.  I haven't been happy with the split top, so I'll go for a single (laminated) 24" wide slab top in my next version.

Moxon Double-screw Vise

Historical Drawing of a traditional double-screw vise

Image of Benchcrafted Moxon Vise Hardware

Now that I'm fully in the hand-cut dovetail camp, I want to upgrade my work holding options by building a Moxon Vise with Benchcrafted's hardware.  This is a double-screw vise where the screws are 24" apart, allowing you to dovetail the entire side of something like a blanket chest.   The leg vise only has 4" or so of work holding ability on longer stock and my sliding deadman isn't up to snuff either.  So this one appliance improves the whole thing.

Whisky Tote

And whenever I go visit someone's house I like to bring a small bottle of Scotch and two Glencairns in case someone wants to try some.  So far, I've been wrapping the two glasses in a dish towel and carrying the bundle awkwardly, hoping a glass doesn't slip out.  So I got to work in SketchUp to find a way to more safely transport my glass hip flask and 2 Glencairns.  Here's what I came up with.