Since my posting on building the Moxon vise using Benchcrafted's Moxon vise kit, I've had a number of questions about the table I put on mine, so I thought to roll a quick video.
If you've watched my project podcasts, you know that this vise has been center-stage for most everything ever since. Best money I spent in a long time. The thing is, this is intended to be a temporary vise you put up on a bench, do your work, and put away.
That said, I'll show you how I hang my vise to the side of my assembly table for quick easy storage and fast to take out. You'll see how I had a small storage box on the side there before the vise so even if you don't have this vise (com'on, everybody's got a vice... :) that storage box idea might be useful to you.
Sunday, September 25, 2011
Benchcrafted Moxon Vise Kit - Hanging It Up, with a French Cleat
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Naturally, I like woodworking as a hobby, but an ice hockey tournament will easily get me out of the shop :)
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Don't you think that the long term affect of hanging that heavy vise is going to throw your table out of square? It looks like it hangs off that tiny 3/4" piece of wood that connects the rear chop and the similarly thick rear support for the table. Just doesn't seam stable enough. Maybe if you put in some additional support?
I see there is a hole in the vise wheels that looks like it would take a handle. I looked on the Benchcrafted site, but didn’t see wheel handles sold separately. I know the tail vise wheel has a handle, and is the same size as the Moxon vise wheels (5 inches), so I thought this may be a fit if you could purchase it separately.
Do you know if Benchcrafted has a separate handle available? Or, after using the Moxon vise, do you think that a handle would be superfluous?
Thanks, Dean
Hi, Anonymous...
I don't have any concerns for the table developing a bend while the vice is hung from the French cleat. It's nearly 15/16" hard Maple and I'd put the whole vice at around 30 lbs, subtract out the back and table and there isn't too much weight on that thick stock. Certainly much like I retrofitted the French cleat, I could retrofit a bracing across it with pocket screws, but right now I don't see a need for it.
Dean, I think you are correct that these are similar handwheels to those that take a handle. That I know of, there is no handle for them. In the round where you're thinking a handle would go is a "Benchcrafted" badge.
They spin and move so easily that I wouldn't want a handle. Seriously, they are made to move through inertia, not cranking. Quick flick of the wrist and away it goes!
Thanks Paul-Marcel. I think this is the same wheel as the tail-vise wheel (same casting). I’m pretty sure that if the “badge” were removed it would show a hole that would be threaded on the tail vise wheel. However, your experience indicates that it doesn’t take much effort to get the wheel(s) to spin so a handle is evidently not required. I can see on the tail vise with the need to turn the wheel more revolutions, that a handle probably is a requirement.
Dean
I have been thinging of setting up one of these vises myself. I like the fact that the Moxon Vice raises the work up a little higher, especialy with dovetails. The rear table is a nice add.
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Hi Paul,
I just received my Moxon Vise and have my maple cut to size. I was wanting to know what your measurements were for the spacing of the wheels. My front movable jaw is 33" and I wanted to use my vise as you do, with the extra clamping space to the right of the wheel. How much space would you advise to have to the right of the wheel.
Thanks,
Daniel
Hi Daniel,
Sorry for the late response... the overall Moxon is about 34-36" wide. I left about 6-7" on the right side for drawer stock as it makes it nicer to flip around. Distance between posts is 25" so you could use it to work on a 24" hope chest or whatever. Remember the left side has 2 holes for the screw. The 25" gets you to the outside hole. The inside hole is in toward the middle about 3". That was to allow for more room on the outside of the left side, but still be able to work on 24" wide projects after moving the threaded rod.
This iis awesome