Many of my projects involve bow fronts, which result in compound angle dovetails ...

 

 

I do enjoy building furniture with dovetailing challenges.

 

Between furniture pieces, I find time to build a new tool. This time it is the Moxon dovetail vise I have been promising myself for a while. My first and only one was built in early 2011, after Chris Schwarz helped put it on the map. I immediately modified this design, and have been making modifications since. (Link: http://www.inthewoodshop.com/ShopMadeTools/MoxonDovetailVise.html This new Moxon incorporates the best ideas.

 

Ironically, this design is not geared for compound angles. I decided to heed my own advice and keep it as simple as possible, and cater for the 90% of the dovetailing that is likely to be done.

 

The width of the vise is narrower than my previous one, but capable of 450mm (17 3/4")between the screws. Most cases I built are between 350 - 450mm deep. My previous Moxon could do 560mm (22") between the screws. This is unnecessary, and just makes for a very large fixture.

 

Where the old Moxon used wooden screws, which I turned, this uses steel Acme screws and iron wheels ala BenchCrafted ... except that these came via Tom Bussey (thanks Tom), which amounted to a large savings. The wheels are 5" in diameter on a 3/4" screw. 

 

The front chop is 5 1/2" high, and the Moxon is built in Jarrah ... what else do you expect!  I went a little OTT in this build, but it was fun, and I admit I did become a little carried away

 

 

Brass inlay ...

 

 

The chop runs on bronze bushings ...

 

 

Lining the inside of the vise is rubberised cork. This makes a great non-slip (not my idea - this comes from BenchCrafted, who call it "crubber". Simply search eBay for "cork rubber"). 

 

 

This vise is a good height for sawing ...

 

 

There are a few innovations. The rear of the vise ...

 

 

This is a spacer, and it can be locked into the up position ...

 

 

The spacer has two functions. The first is setting the pin board (10mm) above the chop to prevent scoring the chop when transferring tails to pins with a knife (this is more of a danger with through dovetails). Also, by lifting the work, there will be light behind the pin board, and this makes it easier to align the edges.

 

 

The crubber makes a great non-slip. 

 

The spacer may be dropped out of the way, once the height is set ...

 

 

The second use of the spacer is that it has a sliding dovetail at the top, and this allows for the use of MicroJig clamps. This would be especially useful for holding wide boards, or tail board which have developed a slight bow ...

 

 

 

I have used this on other fixtures, such as a morticing jig.

 

For aligning the tail- and pin boards, I prefer a simple wide square I made from wood ...

 

 

The spacer needs to be dropped out of the way for this ...

 

 

Once transfer is made, reverse the board and saw the pins. This is where you will recognise that the cove is not simply decoration, but allows the saw to angle and get closer to the work piece. The lower the work piece in the vise, the less vibration when sawing ...

 

 

And thats it ... the last moxon dovetail vise ...

 

 

Regards from Perth

 

Derek

Derek, absolutely excellent as always! When I first saw the coved edge I was thinking, well that is pretty, but what, well you explained, and it's a great design to have that edge dropped for making room for the saw, brilliant!

I especially love the spacer multi use, very intelligent!

I want to make a Moxon as well, more in the traditional sense, but your tutorial here cleared up a few things for me as far use and design, thanks so much for posting, also beautiful images, thanks for that!

 

That is a beautiful piece Derek, thanks for sharing the details with us.

Wow!!!

Don't have the right words, but well done!

Your tools are much too nice to use! I'd ruin them in an instant.

Incredible craftsmanship!!!  The time and effort that went into that vise, simply amazing results.

 

A Priceless work of art!!

 

NICE!!!!!

Have neither the room to use one, nor does it fit the way I work....soooo

30 minutes ago, steven newman said:

nor does it fit the way I work

 

Beautiful work!

3 hours ago, steven newman said:

Have neither the room to use one, nor does it fit the way I work....soooo

Then why say anything?

Stunning, Derek!

Amazing work I would have said factory made with all the finishing touches at a specialty tool shop.

10 minutes ago, Gerald said:

Amazing work I would have said factory made with all the finishing touches at a specialty tool shop.

Most definitely perfection to the n'th degree, always enjoy Derek's images and projects.

Thanks for the kind words.

 

I always say if something is worth doing ...    I try to avoid shortcuts - it is likely that I will look back at that and regret doing so. 

 

The bronze bushings came from an on-line supplier. These are to minimise wear.

The diamonds are 3mm brass plate I cut out, shaped, drilled, and morticed into the chop. The bushings sit on top of the brass. The brass has no function other than to look nice

Regards from Perth

Derek

Derek,

 

Clearly you value detail and workmanship and it shows. Taking pride in one's endeavors clearly shows the enjoyment you get from your work. You had me at the introduction picture, simply amazing work. Thanks for sharing not only the pictures but the explanation of the design and use. Extremely useful posting.

Very nice!