Building a High Vise #1: Getting started

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This is part 1 in a 5 part series: Building a High Vise

I saw a plan for a High Vise, which looked sturdy and it raises the work up to be seen better and no bending over. This is out of "Shop Notes" Vol 20, Issue 120 for anyone interested in building one.

I spent an afternoon milling some 8/4 Ash for this one, I did run the board through the planer to start with, both sides. Then off to the bench to flatten and square one edge so I could ripe it to the width I needed. Got some use out of the #6 and the #7, nice to do hand work at times.


Riped to the width and joined the edge. Then started to cut down to size for the pieces that make up the vise. I had to place an order for the Acme Thread, so I didn't make any other cuts. I laid out all of the cut lines and location of the holes which will need to be drilled.


Thanks for reading and following along, comments are always welcome and appreciated.

Main Street to the Mountains

I've toyed with making one of those but I think I will try a Moxon first.  

--Nathan, TX. Hire the lazy man. He may not do as much work but that's because he will find a better way.

ah now I now what it is.  Nathan, if you build a moxon I will follow.  I should build one too.


Petey

Nathan & Petey, the Moxon has it uses for sure, when it comes to holding smaller pieces, I think this will be a nice addition in the shop. I still need to have a good bench top where I can incorporate a wagon vise, a tail vise and a leg vise. Currently I have a good base that just has a sheet of 3/4 sub flooring topped with a 1/8" hardboard sheet.

Main Street to the Mountains

a fun day in the shop doing hand tool woodworking, looking good.
OldTool, thanks. Yes, hand tool work is a wonderful thing at times. I still use power though.

Main Street to the Mountains

That'll be a handy unit Eric!

My bench vise is set flush to the bench top for obvious reasons but 1/2 the time I wish it was raised for better access.
Splinter, thanks. I like to stand at the bench and bending over can be a pain.

Main Street to the Mountains

That’s going to be a great addition to your shop. Ash is very hard and will wear well. What will you attach it to?

I recently bought a #7 on eBay. Bought some diamond sharpening plates and a honing leather board and a Veritas Mk II honing guide from Leevalley.com. I noticed that the edges or the boards weren’t square. Then I realized my blade wasn’t in straight. Now it plans perfectly. 

I noticed that some people here don’t care much for hand planes. It’s a lot faster than setting up a jointer if you only have a few boards. I enjoy using them. 
WoodGuy, thanks. Yes, that Ash is hard, power sanding takes care as not to burn the grains. Even cutting it can leave burn marks that need to be sanded out. I plan on mounting this to the main bench.

I like using the hand planes, even though I do have a jointer.

Main Street to the Mountains