I am about to start constructing my version of the Lon Scheining bench and want to use an Emmert (Taiwanese?) copy as a tail vise. I will be using my Record 52 1/2 ED as the front vise as I like the quick release facility on this.
Here are my thoughts
1. I want as far as possible to retain all of the features of the Emmert.
2. I would like to set it so that the rear jaw is flush with the apron – I understand that this may limit the functionality – Is this true and to what degree ?
3. I intend to set it at the RH front corner.
Concerns
To avoid the 2″ square bar housing the screw from fouling the bench trestle tops or legs it would appear that the bench top overhang would need to be some 18″ or so.
I will be using a 1 3/8″ laminated strip beech counter top ( I can’t afford a 8/4 hard maple top) so I think that such an overhang would be unwise. I may have some counter left over which I could laminate under this edge.
I could mount it in the center of the end apron. I could cut a clearance dado in the top trestle member but this would leave it just 3/4″ in the center which again seems unwise.
My proposal is this;
To set the RH front trestle leg back and to shorten the trestle top member to allow the 2″ square bar to sit in front.
Aha I hear you say ‘what about the front rails ?’
As the top is a little thin I will move both top rails up such that they act as beams for the top. The front one will simply be set back as per the trestle top and leg.The lower one will exit the etc. leg as per Lon’s bench and will join a ‘stub’ leg exiting the RH trestle foot in the usual position that is bolted to the setback leg. It will be low enough to miss the 2″ bar when it is swung from horizontal to vertical.
I have the Emmert copy but can’t figure out all of the possible movements without mounting it. In my suggested configuration I will have a top trestle member and a leg running down vertically from it about 1″ to the right of the 2″ bar – Is this a problem ? i.e. once released from the vertical, can the 18″ long 2″ bar be swung to the right/vise to the left ( when viewed from the front) and if so how much clearance will I need ? I intend to position the trestle leg 10″ back from the end of the bench.
An comments or other solutions etc greatly received.
Replies
I've got one of those Emmert copies and, indeed, one must pay attention to the manner in which it is mounted if one wants to retain all it's possible positions. But I cannot make any sense at all out of your description. Perhaps a drawing of what you intend would be helpful. Or, you could simply mount the vise to a scrap of plywood and see how its mounting and use correspond. As well as reading the instructions it came with, of course.
Oh, additionally, I know there are online tutorials regarding all things Emmert. Sorry, I don't have a link, but I'll bet Google does.
Thanks - sorry my description wa hard to follow.
I did not get any instruction with the vise as I bought it second hand.
I did think about temporarily mounting it bu I don't have any sort of bench etc that I could mount the scrap to - apart from a black & decker workmate - now that would be interesting.
Most websites assum that you are using it as a front vise outside of the legs so the clearance issues I described are not present.
I did a search to see if anyone has posted the instructions for one of these Emmert copies without success BUT I did find a blog with some excellent images that have answered some of my questions.
http://toolmakingart.com/2008/09/22/even-more-tricks-the-pattern-makers-vise-can-do/
In a nut shell my problem is that the top trestle member will have to be cut away to clear the center square bar if the trestle is left in the same postion as the Lon Schleining design or moved. Buy cutting it away I'd lose 75% of its thickness. However I have a solution - reinforce the trestle top member with a steel plate either side which should more than compensate.
Thanks to you all
http://www.highlandwoodworking.com/library/pm-instructions.pdf
Thank you Sapwood you are a gent. Those instructions make everything clear.
Google emmert pattern vise. There is a website that shows you how to mount them correctly to maintain the functionality.
My Genuine Emmert is used as a tail vise. My apron is set back 8 1/2" from the bench surface. So that leaves room for the Hub and 2" left for the square bar. Which will let me swing the vise up if I crank the vise wide open. So I only had to cut a small 3 1/2" square opening in the apron.
Work Safe, Count to 10 when your done for the day !!
Bruce S.
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