DIY Budget Moxon Vise

How to build a Moxon Vise (Twin Screw or Dovetail Vise) on a budget. This handy bench top accessory elevates your work, making hand cutting dovetails and other actions easier to manage. Using materials purchased at a home center, you can build this vise in a weekend.

2x 3/4" All Thread Rod 1' Long

4x 3/4" Washer

4x 3/4" Nut

4x 3/4" Wingnut

3x 3" Brass Slotted Screw

10ft 1' x6' 4S Popular Board (Cut into 4 2ft sections)

28" 1"x2" or 2"x2" Scrap for Clamping Surface

I used a handsaw for this operation.

Glue each pair of boards together with wood glue.

Use a saw to flush the sides and ends of the glued up panels.

I used a hand plane to true each side and the ends of each panel.

Drill out two holes that are slightly larger than your threaded rod on each side of the vise chop. Go halfway through one side, flip, and finish out the hole form the other side for a smooth hole.

Use a marking knife to scribe a line around the nut that has to be mortised into the chop. Use a square to make sure it's square to the side of the chop.

Use a chisel to chop out the mortise for the nut. Test fit multiple times until nut sits flush with the top of the chop.

Pick which face will be the front of the vise. Add a chamfer to each side of this face. This is not only aesthetically pleasing but also gives you more clearance when sawing.

Sand all side of both chops up through at least 220 grit.

Adding cork to the clamping side of both chops will increase the gripping power and protect the piece being clamped. I used adhesive backed drawer liner. Just line up your face on the unrolled cork, cut, stick the the jaw face, and trim to fit. Make sure the wood is clean and dust free.

I coated all pieces with a Boiled Linseed Oil and Beeswax mix (making sure to not get any on the cork face).

You be able to clamp the vise to your bench, you'll want to add a small board a little longer than your vise to act as a clamping surface. I used a piece of southern yellow pine attached with three brass screws to the back side of the rear chop. I used a hand drill to pre-drill all of the holes before attaching.

Assemble everything together and enjoy your vise. Thanks for following along.