The FREE bench vise for the adventurous.
I hadn't planed on making a new vise this weekend. It all started when a friend called and said his dad had a broken down craftsman radial arm saw. He had asked if I wanted it because he was going to haul it off to the dump, of course my response was heck yes! That's a free tool stand at minimum.
I tore it down and used the stand for my bench top drill press.
I took the motor off to keep just in case I needed a replacement for something down the line.
My 3 yr old was very fascinated with the whole process and continued trying to take the rest of the RAS apart.
So I figured I would sit with him and show him how it all came apart. Low and behold in the main column that raises and lowers the saw was a nice 5/8" stainless steel threaded rod that was about 15" long.
Instantly I was thinking Vise! Due to the fact I had a $20 HF special. It also had a round cylinder that was threaded in the middle.
So I grabbed a few pieces of reclaimed hard wood and went to work.
I was trying to come up with a handle for it until I remembered it had this little guy as well.
Added some 3/4" cherry dowels I had laying around for sliding support rails.
Surprisingly it works very well!
Just remember before you throw it away take a closer look at it,
You never know what you might make with those left over machines/parts..
I hadn't planed on making a new vise this weekend. It all started when a friend called and said his dad had a broken down craftsman radial arm saw. He had asked if I wanted it because he was going to haul it off to the dump, of course my response was heck yes! That's a free tool stand at minimum.
I tore it down and used the stand for my bench top drill press.
I took the motor off to keep just in case I needed a replacement for something down the line.
My 3 yr old was very fascinated with the whole process and continued trying to take the rest of the RAS apart.
So I figured I would sit with him and show him how it all came apart. Low and behold in the main column that raises and lowers the saw was a nice 5/8" stainless steel threaded rod that was about 15" long.
Instantly I was thinking Vise! Due to the fact I had a $20 HF special. It also had a round cylinder that was threaded in the middle.
So I grabbed a few pieces of reclaimed hard wood and went to work.
I was trying to come up with a handle for it until I remembered it had this little guy as well.
Added some 3/4" cherry dowels I had laying around for sliding support rails.
Surprisingly it works very well!
Just remember before you throw it away take a closer look at it,
You never know what you might make with those left over machines/parts..