2 Woodworking Wood Screw Vises

[BuddyC01]

My vise vice went to a new level this week. I went to an estate sale that was more of a dig. I was rummaging through the PILE of stuff on the work bench when my eye caught glimpse of a small piece of a woodworking vise under all of the layers. I got down and found a large, wood screw vise. I looked around and found another on the other end of the bench. You had to see the site to believe it but it was so bad most just looked in the work shop and shook their heads ( I spent about 2 hours digging for treasure). I figured the bench was safe so I went back near the end of the sale and made an offer and snagged an awesome 7' really old workbench. It took us a while to uncover it and I was quite pleased. Since it was the day after my birthday I think I get to keep this one. This will be a vise rehab project

BuddyC

 

[jallyn]

unreal. nice find!

 

[Voi]

I'm so jealous I'm about to cry. That's incredible. I love old benches like that.

 

[derosa]

That's a real woodworker's bench, really nice find.

 

[BuddyC01]

I hear ya Voi. I never thought I'd have a nice contemporary workbench like this let alone a really old one. The previous owner was 88, I wish I knew the history of the bench

 

[BFHammer]

Very nice find! As a recovering woodworker I'm officially jealous.

 

[PugetDude]

You ****.

 

[GJoustra]

Wow, those old benches go for a lot in my neck of the woods. Congrats!

 

[Zeke]

You ****.

No doubt. What kind of wood is it?

 

[BuddyC01]

No doubt. What kind of wood is it?

My assumption was that it would be Maple. Sunday I started sanding off the layers of paint globs and dribbles of RC Airplane Glue and I feel pretty good about that assumption. I avoid that kind of re-finishing when I can but as found it was not going to be a practical work surface. Now I'm considering going natural or staining to back to it's original dark brown. There are so many deep stains and pits in the surface that will never come out so it's a toss up to original color to tone down some of the defects (you could never hide them all) or just finish it with a clear coat warts and all.

 

[BuddyC01]

Wow, those old benches go for a lot in my neck of the woods. Congrats!

Here too. I've never come close to snagging one before. Too cheap

 

[BFHammer]

I avoid that kind of re-finishing when I can but as found it was not going to be a practical work surface.

I'm not a big fan of sanding either. Might want to try a scraper (like a Stanley 80). That a one step alternative to getting a great usable finish in one step. Also don't have to worry as much about the low spot you can get with aggressive sanding.

 

[Nowater]

Try Watco or BLO diluted with spirits and maybe some driers mixed in. It will take more than one coat. Congratulations.

 

[beamrider]

I'd re-flatten with a scrub plane, or a #4 in a pinch, and soak it in BLO. Looks like it will be a damn fine bench!

 

[BuddyC01]

Here was the bench in it's native environment.

 

[BuddyC01]

Try Watco or BLO diluted with spirits and maybe some driers mixed in. It will take more than one coat. Congratulations.

I know Watco well but have not used BOL. May have to play with that some

 

[jrcampbe]

You need a long hand plane to flatten it. You could begin by going across the grain with a scrub or Jack plane, like a Stanley #4 or #5, and then get it flat with a long #7 or #8. You will also need a pair of "winding sticks" to do it right. Aluminum extrusions are extremely straight, and you could use two cheap 3 foot aluminum levels for your winding sticks.

That bench is worth getting flat (tried and true). You could pick up a copy of "The Anarchist's Toolchest" by Chris Schwarz, in which he explains (with photos) the process of flattening a panel. You will probably not find a power planer large enough for a slab as large as the top of that bench, and even if you did, it would not be as good as doing it by hand. You'll need both planes to do it right, and they will need to be sharp and flat. Inspect the top carefully and remove any screws or nails before flattening.

Once flat, it should be left alone and not finished if you intend to use it as a woodworking bench. Mike Siemsen has a two video set in which the first video he buys used tools to make a workbench and then "fettles" them, and in the second he builds an English bench. The second video shows the flattening process.

You can send me a PM if you want to discuss,

Jim

 

[jrcampbe]

You'll also want to make or pick up some "dogs" to use that tail vise if you actually want to use it for wood working. Check our Siemsen's videos on work holding to get an idea. Your bench is a "Roubo", or "French" bench style. There is an excellent "Woodwright Shop" episode with Roy Underhill about building and using a Roubo bench.

It's a spectacular find, and I hope you get it properly restored.

 

[cgrutt]

Great bench. Are you sure it's maple, they were often made with beech. How heavy is it?

 

[Packard V8]

That's the real deal and was probably used when the 88-year-old bought it.

I'd just scrape off the worst of the glue and use it for a while. The bench will tell you what it needs to be serviceable to you.

FWIW, for future value, the patina is the thing for collectors. Refininshing would cut the value in half.

jack vines