Handmade Tools for Woodwork

Bench Top Vice

The bench top vice is sometimes called a Moxon vice or a dovetailing vice.

Use it to secure boards vertically between the twin screws when cutting joints, like dovetails and mortise and tenons, or for paring sockets and shoulders. In these situations it is superior to the average face vice because the twin screws eliminate the horizontal racking that occurs when clamping to one side.

Because it clamps to the top of the bench it also raises your work to a more comfortable height for sawing and chiselling.

The front jaw is captive on the screws. That is, it moves with the screws as you open the vice. On many other designs, the front jaw is not attached to the screws so to open the vice you have to turn the screws and then pull the front jaw open.

An inherent weakness with the Moxon vice, when used for general purposes, is the vertical racking that occurs if you clamp a board along the top edge of the jaws; for example when planing a long edge. In these situations you should secure your work in a face vice or along the top of your bench between dogs. However, if you are a home woodworker without those facilities, my bench top vice can be optioned with an anti racking screw that eliminates the vertical racking and ensures that the work piece is securely gripped along the top edges of the jaws. This means that you can clamp the vice to any suitable bench or table and use it as a general purpose vice, then pack it away when you’re finished.

The jaws are 45mm thick and 100mm deep. The screws are 350mm apart. Wider jaws can be made to order (POA).

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