(I am posting this blog because there may be some innovations here that some of you may find useful. I have won my share of challenges so please don’t include me in the draw. Thanks Martin.)

While this is the beginning of my construction blog for the V8 Degree bench, I’m not actually going to get into the build just yet. There are a few more features that I didn’t want to clutter the project post with and I’ve added a couple of demo videos on the vices. I thought it would be best to start with a full view of the bench and its operational features first and get into the construction process in the next segment.

This photo shows the dog hole inserts that hide and protect the end grain of the plywood top. It also shows the bolting arrangement for fastening the top to the legs.

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This one shows one of the the “dog houses” at each end of the bench. This is about the only place you can see the plywood construction. I had to leave it as proof.

Finally here is the deadman and its corresponding shim (in the leg vice).

OK, here’s just one more… just for fun. This one shows the “solid walnut” stretchers before installation.

On to the videos.

Disclaimer: These are not professionally done. They are meant only to show the features of the bench and the operation of the wedge powered vices. This is the most difficulty I will ever have operating these vices because I’m not very familiar with them yet and I was trying to operate them and describe them on video at the same time. Even at that I think these videos will show that the wedge vices are efficient and straightforward to operate. Please don’t look at the bench in the background.

The first one is about the Leg Vice.

http://youtu.be/liHVemMxGJQ

…..and the wagon vices.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bj218m8QXmk

Anyway I hope that made the bench a little more real to you and I look forward to getting into the construction next time.

Thanks for looking in and see you next time.

Questions Comments and critiques are always welcome.

Cheers!

Paul