roubo workbench

[donnykooy]

I have been slowly and carefully designing a roubo style workbench for a couple of months now. I have some out-of-the-box ideas that I would like some feedback on from more experienced woodworkers. When it comes to the leg vise I do not look forward to kneeling down and setting a pin in the guide block everytime I want to clamp something. I see that benchcrafted is in the process of building a leg vise with a scissors style jack at the bottom to acheive this. This great but I will be building my vises and wooden screws so I wont be purchasing their vise hardware. Some twin screw face vises have a chain drive that accomplishes a simular goal. Now here is my question. Would it be possible to build a leg vise with a chain drive at the bottom to aviod making any adjustments. Basically it would be a twin screw chain drive face vise turned vertically instead of horizontally. Would this work as a leg vise? Would I still be able to get a good 8 inches from the top of the bench to the wooden screw of the leg vise without racking? Has anybody seen this or heard about it?

 

[FuturShoc]

Interesting idea. No, I've never head of anyone trying this.

Do you really think moving the pin is going to be a big inconvenience? Seems like you'd only need to do that a couple of times per working session.

In my relatively inexperienced opinion, vise designs have endured this long because they are tried and true. Though I absolutely love the BenchCrafted hardware, its hard to imagine that centuries of woodworking experience by countless craftsmen is going to lead you astray.

 

[dho]

Don't know the answer to your question, but according to Chris Schwartz, who is the expert, you can put the pin above the stretcher so you don't have to kneel down.

dho

 

[onewaydave]

Not to insult tradition, but an electric servo could be used to position a lower portion of the leg.

Something could be fab'ed to allow locking the lower section from a standing position.

I would bet that your idea could work, the vertical twin screw, but wouldn't you be then restricted to inserting the work piece from one side only and to a restricted "depth"?

Dave.

 

[Nowater]

The problem you face is one of racking as you tighten the screws on a vise. Even end vices with dual slide rods will rack, with the most common solution to be to use a spacer of about the same size of what is being held, with the spacer placed oposite the workpiece. Sorry, but I dont think your idea will work; however if you get it to work post a pic or diagram of your idea. I am just about to build a leg vise and will make the chop out of maple and the legs out of southern yellow pine which is very inexpensive around here! Good luck.

 

[donnykooy]

a leg vise does have a diffirent function from a face vise...I would be resticting my self in a sense but the advantage of a leg vise from a face vise is jointing long deep boards because the screw is postionined about 8 inches from the top of the bench top...where a face vise screw is about 2-3 inches from the bench top...also you can clamp a board verically on one side of a leg vise...i prefer leg vises...once you start to use them they seem to be more practical than a face vise...depending on the type of work u do of course

 

[Prometheus]

I think this might be something like what you're looking for;

http://ancorayachtservice.com/?page_id=196

Uses a chain and 2 sprockets to prevent racking. I have no affiliation, just think it is a good idea and a good implementation

 

[rick carpenter]

I've seen a leg vise system that involves a bar with basically large saw teeth cut into it. Some versions have a foot trip for raising the bar and adjusting it. There is a lot of info on sawmillcreek forum, popularwoodworking and village carpenter blogs, and some on traditionaltools forum concerning woodworking benches.

 

[donnykooy]

thank you

 

[SteveL]

I think this might be something like what you're looking for;

http://ancorayachtservice.com/?page_id=196

Uses a chain and 2 sprockets to prevent racking. I have no affiliation, just think it is a good idea and a good implementation

This is similar to one I saw on WoodNet.net a while back. Pretty cool idea!