Derek Cohen: Moxon question

[Frederick Skelly]

Hi Derek,
I really like the "spacer" on your latest moxon vise. If you don't mind, may I copy it?

I am trying to better understand how the "spacer" is attached, how it locks in the "up" position and whether it locks in the "stored" position. But I just can't quite figure it out from the pics you've posted.

Would you be willing to post a few more pictures and describe how to make something similar? It just looks like too good an idea to pass up, as I build my own moxon this weekend.

I understand if you"d rather not. I just wanted to ask.

Thank you.
Fred

[Clifford McGuire]

While you are waiting for Derek to reply, I thought I'd weigh in.

Mine is a copy of Derek's. I used magnets to hold the spacer in the up position. If you look closely, you can see the wood circles that I superglued over the magnets.

I used high quality (Brusso) hinges. They work fine.

I believe Derek's spacer had a channel that allows the use of a clamp. I didn't think it was necessary, but now I wish I had. I just finished a few boxes with compound angled dovetails. Clamping the boards would have been a big help.

446964

It's a great design. Definitely worthy of copying.

[Frederick Skelly]

Thanks Clifford! I wondered whether magnets might work.
I appreciate your help,
Fred

[Derek Cohen]

Hi Derek,
I really like the "spacer" on your latest moxon vise. If you don't mind, may I copy it?

I am trying to better understand how the "spacer" is attached, how it locks in the "up" position and whether it locks in the "stored" position. But I just can't quite figure it out from the pics you've posted.

Would you be willing to post a few more pictures and describe how to make something similar? It just looks like too good an idea to pass up, as I build my own moxon this weekend.

I understand if you"d rather not. I just wanted to ask.

Thank you.
Fred

Fred, you have no doubt seen the "Last Moxon" build on my website: http://www.inthewoodshop.com/ShopMadeTools/TheLastMoxon.html

The spacer in the "down" position ...

http://www.inthewoodshop.com/ShopMadeTools/TheLastMoxon_html_22acd585.jpg

.. and in the "up" position ...

http://www.inthewoodshop.com/ShopMadeTools/TheLastMoxon_html_mb3c51be.jpg


The purpose of the spacer is to raise the tail board up and away from the chop when transferring marks to the pin board ...

http://www.inthewoodshop.com/ShopMadeTools/TheLastMoxon_html_75ada85.jpg

Why does this need to be done? Quite simply, if the pin board is in line with the chop, knifing in marks will eventually cut the chop up and it will lose its reference straight edge (and even then, there will be some knife scratches). This is the reason I argue against these table add-ons behind the Moxon as they lower the work level to the height of the chop. That straight edge is useful for paring ...

http://www.inthewoodshop.com/ShopMadeTools/ModsfortheMoxon_html_44dd4bc8.jpg


My first Moxon vise did not use a spacer. This Moxon design added ears at the sides for clamps, and is a feature now used by many. Prior to this, everyone just copied Chris Schwarz in clamping from the top of the chop ...

http://www.inthewoodshop.com/ShopMadeTools/MoxonDovetailVise_html_35dce773.jpg


However, I did notice what was happening, and so just lifted the pin board higher when transferring marks ...

http://www.inthewoodshop.com/ShopMadeTools/MoxonDovetailVise_html_4fdc37ab.jpg


Later I used a loose spacer ...

http://www.inthewoodshop.com/ShopMadeTools/MoxonDovetailVise_html_m61190190.jpg


... and finally added a hinge to drop it out of the way (as it was getting lost!) ..

http://www.inthewoodshop.com/ShopMadeTools/ModsfortheMoxon_html_452342f9.jpg


Hopefully others will recognise the value of the chop as a reference, as well as the use of clamps.

I had been using the MicroJig clamps in other situations, such as the morticing fixture I use ...


https://i.postimg.cc/5NLS6KHj/1a.jpg

... as well as a fixture (http://www.inthewoodshop.com/Furniture/PowerRemovingWaste.html) for removing waste from dovetail sockets ...

http://www.inthewoodshop.com/Furniture/PowerRemovingWaste_html_m380c4406.jpg


It just seemed a natural extension to turn the spacer into a dovetail T-track for the clamp (one can also just use aluminium t-track and any other clamp, but the MicroJig are the more economical of space) ...

http://www.inthewoodshop.com/ShopMadeTools/TheLastMoxon_html_36bdc1.jpg

Here is my current build and has been invaluable for holding wider panels ...

https://i.postimg.cc/ZKcZ34m6/2.jpg



Regards from Perth

Derek

[Frederick Skelly]

Thank you Derek! Yes, I looked over your website and a few of your older posts here. As always, it was very helpful! (I have you bookmarked as a reference. :) )

In the first and second pictures, I see a brass thumb screw. Is that being used to lock the spacer in the up position? When the spacer is down, is that thumb screw used to secure it somehow - or does the spacer just hang loose from the hinges?

I have also requested a set of microjig clamps for Christmas. I hadn"t seen those before you posted them. I'm looking forward to trying them out!

Thanks again,
Fred

[Derek Cohen]

Fred, the thumbscrew/bolt runs through into a threaded insert, one to lock the spacer in the down, and the other in the up position. Magnets were not strong enough.

Regards from Perth

Derek

[Frederick Skelly]

Thanks Derek. I appreciate it!
Fred

[Tom Bussey]

Ask Derek who supplied his the vise hardware.

[Bob Jones 5443]

Tom, knowing what I know now, I would probably be one of the lucky Creekers who opted for your excellent Moxon hardware. The Acme tapping was way outside my orbit to take on.

In the end I saved about $60 but I got to make my own wooden handwheels. Although I have "pride of ownership," they will never carry the gravitas of your massive cast iron beauties. Still, the way things have turned out, they only need to travel in and out an inch or so, and they do spin in their own little way. So it works.

For the rest of you who've caught the Moxon bug, look at Tom's work. He beats the Benchcrafted price point and the quality is top-notch. Plus, you can skip all the nuts and bolts of research to make sure you have the right stuff. Pun intended.

[Frederick Skelly]

Ask Derek who supplied his the vise hardware.

On his website, he credits YOU, Tom. From what I hear, you have a lot of happy customers Sir!