Moxon in a MFT Table

[suds]

I have a Moxon Vise attached to my Walko table and for quite some time it was attached to one of my MFT tables and it was very handy.  Once I removed it from the MFT table I missed the convenience but it was clamped to the top of the table and seemed to always be in the way.
I decided I wanted another Moxon Vise in my MFT but mounted offf the rail. I was able to accomplish it today by utilizing MFT table connectors attached to the jaw and then sliding it into the channel on the side of the MFT.  A picture should give you an idea of how simple it really is. [[attachimg=1]

The four Allen head bolts are attached to the table connector. I will be adding a L bracket to attach to the top rail as added support. More pictures tomorrow. This was a pretty simple project and will give me a second Moxon Vise to be used with the MFT.

 

[suds]

Pictures show the two table attachment bracket, L aluminum that attaches to the top channel on MFT and attached to MFT.  I’m making this Moxon much smaller and with lighter wood for use off my MFT table.
[attachimg=1][attachimg=2][attachimg=3]

 

[live4ever]

Good stuff!  I'll be doing this soon and will probably borrow your approach.  It looks like the L profile in place of the usual wedge is a good way to provide additional clamping of the vise to the MFT profile.

 

[suds]

The L channel adds a little stability but the table connector really snugged everything down. There’s very little slop and when the table connector is tightened just a little there is no movement at all. Pretty simple project. I was worried about the weight off the MFT channel but since I’m using much lighter wood it is not a factor. I used 2” Oak on my other Moxon and it was way overkill and heavy.

 

[nclemmons]

That's a great idea!  Thanks for the inspiration!

 

[suds]

I’m going to experiment with different boards for the outer jaw. I learned the hard way to do the outer jaw last in order to make sure it lines up height wise to the stationary jaw.  To keep the weight down I had some redwood left over so that’s my first movable jaw. Not sure how it will do
As far as stability and strength but I’ll soon find out.

 

[AJD3]

Building a Moxon vise now and really like this method of attaching it to the side rail of the MFT. Where did you get the aluminum rail that fits into the top side rail of the MFT? Also, specs for your through bolts you used with the Festool connectors? Thanks in advance!!

Cheers,
Alex

 

[derekcohen]

Building a Moxon vise now and really like this method of attaching it to the side rail of the MFT. Where did you get the aluminum rail that fits into the top side rail of the MFT? Also, specs for your through bolts you used with the Festool connectors? Thanks in advance!!

Cheers,
Alex


View attachment 381797

I doubt tht you will receive a reply as this thread is 8 years old!

In any event, it is a silly idea. I doubt that a vise held in a slot like this will be rigid/stable enough to withstand the racking of sawing. Further, the point of a Moxon is to raise the work above the height of a bench to make sawing more ergonomic.



Regards from Perth

Derek

 

[AJD3]

Oops... meant to reply, not post a separate comment.

A

 

[AJD3]

I doubt tht you will receive a reply as this thread is 8 years old!

In any event, it is a silly idea. I doubt that a vise held in a slot like this will be rigid/stable enough to withstand the racking of sawing. Further, the point of a Moxon is to raise the work above the height of a bench to make sawing more ergonomic.



Regards from Perth

Derek

Thank you for your commentary Derek - I saw that the thread was old, but figured that with a post, someone more experienced would speak up with some tips.

I realize that my overall plan may seem silly, but like many other things in life, there are multiple considerations - I simply did not go into my reasons for only having a Festool portable MFT3 as my work bench, because I wanted to keep the question short and simple. I would love to have a bench and work space

I want the vise mounted on the side of the table so that it is able to accommodate longer pieces of wood. The overall reason I made the vise is so that I can cut dovetail joinery for drawers and boxes. If the vise is sitting on top of the bench (even along the side - the aluminum rails would block the base aperture), I can't mount a board vertically so I can work on the ends and cut the patterns. I also have a really nice seating situation and have found that I can easily cut dovetails while seated without losing balance or being imprecise, so raising the work surface isn't that important to me presently.

I could probably "get away" with forgoing a vise entirely and just use rail clamps to attach the boards to the side of the table, but where's the woodworking fun in that?

As far as the stability issue is concerned, I haven't found the MFT to be rickety or unstable with even moderate sawing / chiseling. I am planning on making a cart to place the MFT on with the legs folded up so I can have even more stability and storage. I would absolutely LOVE to have a set up like your photo - absolutely beautiful and functional.

Cheers!

Alex

 

[derekcohen]

Hi Alex

I did not mean that a MFT bench with Moxon vise was silly - just that a Moxon vise in a track alongside the top was inappropriate.

In addition to my Roubo bench, I have a very stout MFT which can be used with hand planes in a pinch ....



The MFT does multiple duty, largely for assembly, work holding for power tools, sawing and routing. In fact, it really is a workshop-in-one. Still, it is not my choice as a hand tool bench. Because of the wheels, it does not have the rigidity available from the Roubo. If I did not have the Roubo, I would make it work.

Regards from Perth

Derek

 

[AJD3]

Hi Alex

I did not mean that a MFT bench with Moxon vise was silly - just that a Moxon vise in a track alongside the top was inappropriate.

In addition to my Roubo bench, I have a very stout MFT which can be used with hand planes in a pinch ....



The MFT does multiple duty, largely for assembly, work holding for power tools, sawing and routing. In fact, it really is a workshop-in-one. Still, it is not my choice as a hand tool bench. Because of the wheels, it does not have the rigidity available from the Roubo. If I did not have the Roubo, I would make it work.

Regards from Perth

Derek

Nice - I am planning to build something like this to serve as a more solid base for my MFT. I will have casters on it, but they will be retractable so that I don't lose the stability you mention. Definitely want something sturdy and able to provide the leverage so I can use hand planes and other hand tools for woodworking.

Now, given your experience, I am curious - what would you recommend for the task as a modification for the MFT? I need something that will allow me to cut dovetails on longer boards so I can make drawer panels, so the aperture can't be directly over a perpendicular surface.

Thanks again for engaging in this discussion - this is precisely what I wanted to happen when I asked the question on this Methusalean thread... learning some new thoughts and getting out of my own.

Cheers,
Alex from Pittsburgh, PA, USA (Not as exciting as Perth!!!)

 

[onocoffee]

@derekcohen While the Moxon is a bench surface mounted vise, is the difference between a "Moxon" and a "twin screw" vise the position that its located?

I've been considering adding a moxon/twinscrew vise to the end of my workbench.