Carving Bench

[KettleKarver]

Well, I've started another hair-brained project; I'm building a carving bench. Without going into all the details, I obtained a section of bowling alley pin deck that I'm going to use for the bench top. That's the section where the pins stand. It's about 46' x 40' x 2.25' of laminated maple boards. I was able to cut it down so the finished bench will be about 46' x 24'.
I'm planning to install a side vise. Any recommendations for size or brand or sources?
Also, any suggestions for legs? I've been looking at Bill Judt's plans on the Web and have looked at Chris Pye's books.
Any feature's I should try to include or exclude?
TIA,
KettleKarver

I'd check leevalley.com, they have more styles and sizes of vises than you could ever use. They also have some nice cast-iron legs. So you have some of that wood left over huh?
Hmmm.

Rick

check out the library or bookstore, there are at least a few books on bench construction that can be mined for ideas and methods. Record builds a bullet proof vice (at least they used to)

[woodenleg]

When I finished mine, I realized that I did not have anywhere near enough storage space! :-[

So, I made three columns of drawers, stacked five high, all shoved into an area about 40' wide by 15' high. They are maybe 16' deep. I love them and I have plenty of storage space for my junk (almost).

[Colin-Partridge]

Woodenleg you are a better man than I am if I had ten times the storage area that I have I still wouldnt have enough room for all my junk.
Colin

I've looked at my Lee Valley catalog, and they do have a variety of vises. Â*I'm just not sure what I want. Â*I want to buy the vise before I build and attach the legs so I avoid any interference. Â*I guess that's a reason to head off to the Man Store this weekend.
I like the drawer suggestion. Â*I was thinking about a tray but that might just become a catch-all. Â*I could arrange tools in shallow drawers and not have to go far to find them. Â*Maybe I'll plan those as an add on project. Â*Someday I'm going to run out of projects and actually have to start carving.
Yes, I do have some left over. I'm going to make a workbench for my new sharpener (Chipping Away's Ultimate Sharpening Machine) and small bandsaw. I couldn't recover any useful carving wood from the pin deck because the boards are only about an inch thick and loaded with nails.
Thanks everyone,
Jim

[Kenny_S]

Read a review on the Ultimate Sharpening Machine but would like to hear from some one who actually uses it daily. Most grinders revolutions are to high for stropping use.

If you have the Lee Valley catalogue, check out the 'Twin Screw Vise'. I've been using it on my workbench for about 7 years now. Because it has the 2 vise screws, it won't rack and twist on you if you put a carving in one end and tighten it up. Its a simple idea, but it really works. My Uncle and I installed it on the bench I already had. When we opened the box, the first thing you saw was the instruction manual, and the first thing on the top of the first page of the manual...in BOLD print, was the statement ' If your the type of person that doesn't read instruction manuals, repack this box and send it back to us!'. The instuctions are very detailed, and you have to do it exactly the way they tell you. You cannot fudge anything on this one, but...you end up with a wonderful vise. Once my bench packs it in, I'm going to buy the big Lee Valley bench that actually comes with the Twin Screw vise already installed on it. Check it out, well worth the money. Dave

Has anyone experience with the Wilton 7' woodcarvers vise? Woodcraft has it for about $130 US. It is 4' deep and the entire face lifts to act as large bench dog. Also, the face can swivel 12º. These seem like nice features.
Work on the bench progresses but slowly. Work consumes too much of my free time.
KettleKarver