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This weekend I’m installing the Benchcrafted.com wagon vise hardware on my Roubo-style workbench. But before I could pull my old prototype wagon vise hardware off the bench, I had one more task for it to perform: Making the new end cap for the new wagon vise.
The new end cap on my benchtop has to be beefier than my original end cap, so I had to glue up some 8/4 maple into a slab about 3″ thick. I planed it all flat using my old wagon vise, glued up the slab and then decommissioned the vise.
The new Benchcrafted wagon vise requires you to cut a curved cavity on the underside of the bench to accommodate the vise’s guts. I hogged out most of the waste with a plunge router and a long straight bit. Then I cut off some of the excess waste with my tenon saw and shaped the cavity’s curve with an outcannel gouge used bevel-down.
Of course, the new vise’s guide rails are going to have to go right where I have a big void in one board thanks to a waney edge. I’m going to have to cut out the wane and patch it with some solid yellow pine for two reasons: One, it will make for a neater job all-in-all. And two, after seeing dozens of people climb underneath my bench at the Woodworking in America conference, I now know that there is no such thing as a secondary surface on this bench.
– Christopher Schwarz
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Ben,
This post shows the basic arrangement with a $25 veneer press screw from Rockler:
http://www.popularwoodworking.com/woodworking-blogs/chris-schwarz-blog/workbenches/wagon-vise-version-4-0
It worked fine, though it wasn’t as smooth as Jameel’s Benchcrafted vise. Another option is to check out the end vise on the Woodsmith European bench
http://www.woodsmith.com/plans/european-style-workbench/
It uses a wagon-style vise with a single inexpensive bench screw. I’ve used benches with this setup and they work well.
A third option is to add a quick-release in the end-vise position. That’s what I did on my Holtzapffel-style bench with great success.
Hope this helps,
Chris
Chris,
I am starting the build of my own Roubo-style bench and certainly wanted to add a wagon vise. I found the Benchcrafted version shortly before Jameel posted his video of the bench in action, so it seems like there is a certain amount of chatter regarding it’s design. The problem is that their vise costs more than I was planning on spending for the whole bench!
I’ve been looking at alternative styles to the traditional straight handle, and I am curious where you located the crank version I see pictured in your book. I am also curious as to how you retro’d your french bench for the wagon vise seeing how the engineering for its incorporation in the english bench isn’t quite applicable for the Roubo.
Great seminars a few weeks ago btw!
Best,
Ben
Thanks Jameel, that’s helpful. Building up the area under the rails on a thinner top would also result in a smaller curved cavity. I think I’m going to skip the retrofit and use this on a new bench — it’s time. I think I’m going to go with a laminated "power beam" from the local lumberyard. It’s 5-1/2 inch thick by 11-7/8 wide, so I’ll glue two of them side by side. I really don’t have anything to prove by lots of ripping and laminating at this point, I just want to get to the finished product.
Thanks again.
I can answer that John. The handwheel is 5" d. You can mount the vise in pretty-much any top. If the top is less than 3-3/4" thick, you can build up the areas where the rails mount quite easily to keep the wheel position relative to the top the same.
I’ve been thinking about this conversion as well. I’m concerned about the diameter of the handwheel on the benchcrafted vise. I don’t want it to rise above the benchtop, but it’s not clear from Jameel’s instructions. What is the diameter of the handwheel, and what is the minimun benchtop thickness you could use without it projecting above the top>
Keep us posted on your progress.
Josh,
I think that would be an ideal vise arrangement and it really harnesses the power of the twin screw better. This wagobn vise is very easy to install. Jameel’s instructions are superb.
Chris
Using your old vise to make the new vise? Ha, that is like training someone to replace you at work. The vise hardware does look cool and I am looking forward to seeing your progress.
You have me really interested in these wagon vises now. I have a twin screw on the right end of my bench. I would like to move that to the face of the bench and put a wagon vise on the end where the twin screw was. What do you think? Worth it?
Thanks,
Josh