Matt Evans
01-01-2015, 8:57 AM
I am forever making benches. This bench is in the finishing stages at the moment, but is already a work horse in my shop.
It has a wide twin screw vise on one side and a leg vise with a St. Andrews cross mechanism rather than a pin board style parallel guide.
I have made lots of leg vises, but only one with a St Andrews Cross mechanism. (and that was one I bought the hardware for) I wanted to have a go at it, so a simple piece of flat stock, a drill bit or two and a grinder later and it was all finished.
The mechanism works great. I would recommend making your own to anyone with a grinder. (although I will say that Benchcrafted makes a heck of a hardware kit, and you can't go wrong with theirs)
The chisel racks are handy. I had an older one I made a while ago, but someone asked me about chisel racks a few months back, so I made a few more. These hang on a french cleat strip, and easily remove to sit on my bench when I need them. The long strip in the middle is perfect for holding awls, dividers and squares.
It has a wide twin screw vise on one side and a leg vise with a St. Andrews cross mechanism rather than a pin board style parallel guide.
I have made lots of leg vises, but only one with a St Andrews Cross mechanism. (and that was one I bought the hardware for) I wanted to have a go at it, so a simple piece of flat stock, a drill bit or two and a grinder later and it was all finished.
The mechanism works great. I would recommend making your own to anyone with a grinder. (although I will say that Benchcrafted makes a heck of a hardware kit, and you can't go wrong with theirs)
The chisel racks are handy. I had an older one I made a while ago, but someone asked me about chisel racks a few months back, so I made a few more. These hang on a french cleat strip, and easily remove to sit on my bench when I need them. The long strip in the middle is perfect for holding awls, dividers and squares.