Moxon Vise – The Nuts

2013.07.07

The final step was to recess the nuts in the back side, to hold them in place while the screws turn.  I threaded the nuts and screws together in the vise, and marked around the nuts.  I have a 1–5/8″ sawtooth forstner bit from the workbench build, which is almost exactly the size of these acme nuts.

Marking around the nuts on the back of the moxon vise
Setting up to drill out most of the waste to sink acme nuts into the back of the moxon vise

Then it was some chopping and paring with chisels to finish shaping the hexagonal recess.  It doesn’t have to be a piston fit, just snug enough to keep the nuts from rotating.

Recess for acme nut in moxon vise
Acme nut in recess in moxon vise

So, there it is: my very own moxon vise.  I haven’t decided if I will add a finish or not, and I have a couple ideas for accessories, but for now at least, the vise is ready to go.

Shop-made moxon vise with acme screws
Shop-made moxon vise with acme screws