This project was built and designed by Rob from Let’s Make Things. It’s a straightforward version of the traditional Moxon vise, built using common materials and just one power tool, making it highly accessible for any woodworking setup.
With a double-screw design that dates back centuries, the Moxon vise raises your work off the bench and offers clamping flexibility that single-screw vises often can’t match. Rob’s version sticks to the essentials, focusing on function, simplicity, and affordability.
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Why a Moxon Vise Belongs in Your Shop
The Moxon vise design features two horizontally spaced screws that create even, adjustable pressure across wide workpieces. Unlike modern bench vises with a central screw, this setup leaves the middle area clear for tools or long boards.
It’s particularly helpful for hand-cut joinery like dovetails or mortises. Raising the stock makes it easier to see and access your layout lines, and the vise’s ability to “rack” slightly lets it clamp irregular or tapered boards with ease.
Choosing Materials and Attachment Methods
The vise is built from basic construction lumber—Rob uses a mix of 4x4s and 2x8s for the jaws and mounting blocks. These pieces are easy to find and strong enough for clamping tasks without needing expensive hardwoods.
There are two main ways to attach the vise to your bench: using holdfasts or using F-clamps. Holdfasts work best if your bench has dog holes spaced to fit the mounting blocks. If not, longer mounting blocks can be used to accommodate standard clamps from the front.
Drilling for the Screws
The most important part of the build involves drilling two perfectly aligned through-holes for the vise screws. These need to pass through both jaws and the mounting blocks so that carriage bolts can slide smoothly from front to back.
Rob emphasizes careful measuring and marking before drilling to prevent misalignment. Even slight errors can cause binding, which affects the performance of the vise.
To enhance function, Rob installs conduit sleeves inside the holes. These allow the front jaw to pivot slightly, preserving the vise’s racking capability. It’s a small upgrade that makes a big difference when clamping uneven stock.
Locking the Hardware in Place
After inserting the conduit, the carriage bolts are set in place with epoxy to prevent movement during tightening. This creates a stable screw axis that won’t loosen over time.
The mounting blocks are then secured to the back jaw using glue and screws, forming a solid base. Once attached, the vise can be positioned on the bench and held in place with your chosen clamping method.
Making Easy Wooden Knobs
To operate the vise without a wrench, Rob creates custom wooden knobs that slide over the square nuts on the carriage bolts. These are made from two glued wooden blocks—one larger for grip and one smaller to house the nut.
The nut cavity is carefully chiseled to size so the nut sits snug and flush. This keeps the knobs from wobbling and allows for easy tightening and loosening by hand.
While the design is simple, it leaves plenty of room for customization. You can shape the knobs to match other tools in your shop or finish them to suit your style.
Adding Grip to the Jaws
To improve the vise’s ability to hold workpieces securely, Rob glues a piece of shelf liner to the front jaw. This material has a rubbery texture on one side and a soft finish on the other, adding friction without marring the wood.
Only one jaw receives the grip material to preserve a flat clamping surface. This setup helps hold even slick or oddly shaped boards without shifting under pressure.
Minimal Tools, Maximum Function
One of the standout features of this build is its simplicity. Aside from a drill (or drill press), everything else can be done with hand tools. This makes the project ideal for anyone with a small shop or those just getting into woodworking.
Despite its minimal tool list, the vise delivers real capability. It’s strong enough for joinery, adjustable for different tasks, and compact enough to store away when not in use.
Room to Modify and Expand
While Rob’s version sticks to the basics, it offers a solid foundation for more advanced designs. Builders can experiment with different handle styles, alternate jaw materials, or custom mounting solutions based on their own shop needs.
This project also opens the door to learning more about traditional woodworking tools. Rob hints at a future build that will cover a more complex Moxon vise design, including its historical background and added features.
A Worthwhile Shop Addition
For any woodworker focused on precision joinery or looking for more ergonomic clamping options, a Moxon vise is hard to beat. Rob’s build keeps things approachable while still delivering high performance.
The project is affordable, customizable, and doesn’t require a full workshop to complete. It’s a great weekend project that results in a truly useful addition to your bench.
Get Rob’s plans here: https://makethingswithrob.com/make-a-moxon-double-screw-vise/.
Matt’s Take
These are my personal thoughts and tips based on my own experience in the shop. This section is not written, reviewed, or endorsed by the original creator of this project.
The alignment of those screw holes really is make-or-break for this project. When drilling through multiple thick pieces like this, I always take extra time with the setup. A drill press makes life easier here, but if you’re using a handheld drill, clamping a guide block or using a drilling jig can help keep everything straight. Even being off by a degree or two will cause binding when you try to operate the vise.
That conduit sleeve trick is brilliant for maintaining the racking ability. Traditional Moxon vises were designed to handle slightly out-of-square stock, and those sleeves preserve that flexibility. Without them, you’d essentially have a rigid vise that can only clamp perfectly parallel pieces. The slight pivot this creates is what makes these vises so versatile for real-world woodworking.
Construction lumber works perfectly for this application. The forces in a vise like this are primarily compression, so you don’t need expensive hardwood. That said, if you’re planning heavy use, consider sealing the wood with a few coats of finish. Pine and fir can get pretty beat up over time, and a protective coating helps prevent dents and makes cleanup easier when glue inevitably drips on it.
The shelf liner idea is clever – it’s basically creating a sacrificial surface that grips without marking. Just remember that grip material like this can collect dust and shavings, so give it a quick brush or vacuum occasionally to maintain its effectiveness.