Hello Woodlings,
I am getting near the end of my Moravian bench build and I have an issue with the leg vice that I would like pick your brains on.
The question is can a chop be too heavy? As per the picture the chop is a lump of sheaok 50mm/2" thick, 200mm/8" wide 880mm/34 ¾" tall. It's a piece I've had for ages and her indoors thought it would make a nice contrast. It's roughly the same dimensions as per Will Myers plans (a bit taller).
The problem is that the weight of the chop causes the screw and parallel guide to angle down and makes the screw stiffer to turn (running on the bottom of the through holes) but more critical the parallel guide binds in the vertical direction like a holdfast in a dog hole. If I put a bit of melamine on the floor to a) straighten the alignment and b) provide a slippery surface (instead of say a wheel) the system works well. I have also tried a parallel tensioner which works well when clamping but does not improve the tracking when not under tension.
Attachment 525536
I noticed in Derek C's vice he had wheels above and below the guide (only below at the front after installing the chain tensioner). I could put a wheel on the bottom of the chop. Or go to a thinner, smaller, lighter chop. Or I could make the mortice in the back board taller. However, this later option does not solve the issue of the screw binding on the through holes and may make it worse.
Anyone have any thoughts?
Thanks as always Tony.