Been awhile since I've posted here, but been lurking and learning, and very slowly developing some skills!
visemortise.jpg
I would like to install a quick release vise on my new bench top, and I would like to recess the rear jaw into the bench- crude sketch attached. I would like to do this with hand tools only if I can pull it off, but I have very little experience with chopping operations so far- and surprisingly have only been able to find demonstrations of doing this particular job with power tools. I have chisels, a mallet, and a brace and bits.
I suppose it's more like a stopped groove than like a mortise. I can't just saw the cheeks out because I want the half inch of wood at the top edge. Dimensions of the notch would be 10" x 1-3/4" x 1".
How should I go about this? The most straight forward way seems to be turn the bench upside down, mark it out, hold the chisel dead perpindicular to the bench bottom and chop along the width of the mortise- then pare all the insides. Is there a better way? Should I bore out some of the waste? From which direction?
Open to suggestions on the right way - then I can look for some thick enough stock to practice on before I start wacking at my bench!