good news from benchcrafted

[adidat]

saw this on Chris Schwarz's blog, one day i would love to build a bench with there vices on but the bending over to change the pin had been on the Cons list. i was thinking up rack and pinion ideas with a motor etc etc, but then i saw the idea in chris's book.

this now seems to be the perfect non racking vice (somewhat expensive) but totally awesome



http://www.popularwoodworking.com/w...og/st-peter’s-cross-and-the-ultimate-leg-vise

 

[marcros]

On a cheaper note, I have seen somewhere where the lower guide rail is a second vice screw. A "through" handwheel on this is moved in and out to replace the pin. On this model, the operator moved the handwheel with his foot.

 

[No skills]

Loosing a bit of versatility there so not for me I'm afraid but I'm sure many will.

 

[AndyT]

Or if you want to make your own, here is the 'old book' which describes it - "the Croix de St Pierre is nothing more than two flat bars of iron of equal length connected at the centre of each by a pin"

http://www.archive.org/stream/everymanhisownme00youn#page/228/mode/2up

 

[SammyQ]

As Andy quotes, it's not a new idea by any means. Check out Scott Landis's book and some back issues of FWW.

Sam

 

[custard]

Is changing the pin really that much of a burden?

I'd have thought most (not all...most) woodworkers spend most (as before!) of their time working on material that's about an inch thick. So basically you set the pin and leave it for hours if not days. Sharpening or sweeping up surely takes a much bigger bite out of your bench time?