Home built twin screw vise?

[Matt Meiser]

Has anyone built a twin screw vise from two vise screws like these (http://www.leevalley.com/wood/page.aspx?c=3&cat=1,41659,41662&p=41664)? I'm having a hard time justifying the cost of the Veritas, and I figure if two wood screws are good, why not two metal screws?

[Steve Rozmiarek]

Matt, I started one from scratch several years ago.... Moved three times, and it still isn't done, but it is very possible. Mine plan has the screws connected with a chain, which would be a bit complicated with those screws. After goofing around finding and buying all the parts seperatly though, I think a kit makes a lot of sense. Especially as some pieces went MIA in one of the moves.

[Randy Klein]

I know I promised this a week ago or so, but I just posted my vise (http://www.sawmillcreek.org/blog.php?b=31) in the blog section. It uses two economy metal screws from woodcraft, which are similar if not identical to the ones you mentioned, and a shoulder vise screw (http://www.leevalley.com/wood/page.aspx?c=3&p=31134&cat=1,41659) from LV.

I call my vice a triple screw curved face vise, since it's 50% twin-screw, 50% shoulder vise, and 50% curved caul.:D

[harry strasil]

Might be an alternative to have the ends of the two outside screws turned and a keywseats cut and small sprockets affixed to the ends of the screws under the table. A spreader bar would be needed between the two so that the sideways pull of the chain did not bend the screws. This could be nothing more than a piece of oak with brass or bronze bushings pressed into holes in the ends.

[Matt Meiser]

Randy: That's pretty much what I have in mind on a slightly smaller scale.

Harry: Also a good idea. My dad is a hobbyist machinist so he could probabably make the necessary modifications. But I think I might give it a try without first to see if I really even care about them being connected. My thought is that its a convenience feature that might not be that big of a deal as popular as the wood screw idea seems to be right now.

[Greg Cole]

Matt,
Funny you bring this up, I've been kicking this idea around alot lately too.
I've never had a chance to get my hands on the LV twin. But I can't imagine it would be too hard to do what Harry's suggesting.
2 of the cheaper bench vices, 2 sprockets and a little chain and a couple hours in the machine shop with some scrap bronze bushing material.... definately worth serious consideration as the LV twin screw is a little expensive IMO, but "everyone" seems to like them from all accounts.
I've got plans to start on a real bench hopefully real soon, but with a twist with a stainless steel square tubing base. I've got a machine shop at my disposal compliments of the day job so the base will be lightning fast versus the traditional wood trestle bases etc....
If you go with this idea, please post some pics etc...

Cheers.
Greg

[Randy Klein]

I actually like that my two screws are not connected. It allows for more varied clamping. It's really not hard to turn both in unison.

[Alan Schwabacher]

One of the advantages of wood screw over metal is supposed to be that if the work contacts the screw, it does not get oil on it. But I usually clean the oil off the screws of my clamps and metal vise screws, and replace it with wax anyway. I suspect that two of those metal screws would work beautifully.

[Matt Meiser]

Thanks. My vise is going to be a little smaller than Randy's. I still need to figure out the size, but I ordered two screws from Lee Valley yesterday. I'm going to start out with them separate, but if I find that annoying, I'm going to seriously look at Harry's suggestions.

[Kurt Loup]

I made some screws using Acme threaded rod and nuts. I think it cost me about $40 from Enco.

Kurt

http://www.loup-garou.net/sitebuilder/images/visescrews-450x600.jpg

http://www.loup-garou.net/sitebuilder/images/finished_bench-561x600.jpg

Construction Photos (http://www.loup-garou.net/workbench2)

[Jeff Ranck]

That is exactly what I plan to do. Christopher Schwartz suggests that you can use either wood or bench screws. I have two just waiting for such a design.

[Jeff Ranck]

Kurt: That is too cool! I love the construction photos, but I'd like to see the remainder of how you built your face vise.

[Kurt Loup]

Jeff,

Sorry, I don't think I have any additional photos. I started off by drilling holes that aligned with the screws. In order for the face of the vise to pivot slightly for holding tapered pieces, I enlarged the left hole and to a lesser extent the right hole on the back side. You don't want to add any slop top to bottom so that the face does not align with the bench top.

Kurt