Bench vises are expensive, and while small kids workbenches equipped with vises are the best route, the costs of vises may be a deterrent to some schools and parents just starting out. Vises, too, must be carefully thought out. Some readers have made benches from a design I wrote about in Woodwork Magazine, but I have also been working on a new type of saw horse intended to serve the sawing and hammering needs of students and be produced for much less cost, as shown in the drawing above. I bought the wood for it yesterday for a total cost of $10.70, but it could also be made from salvaged materials, construction 2 x 6 and 2 x 4 lumber. It is complex enough that it needs some demonstration to show the full range of use. And it relies on the use of "c" clamps to hold stock while it is being cut and should allow for both ripping and cross cuts. It also has a small assembly space on the top that serves as a workbench. With the addition of 2 large "c" clamps, the total investment should be about $30.00.
Don't build it yet. It requires testing, and while I build it, I'll take step-by-step photos to help that would aid in your own construction.
If you want to know about Jason's castle vise follow this link. If you want a link to my earlier article about building benches for student use, it can be found here.
On the Fine Woodworking website, the bench can be found here.
Today I travel to Little Rock to help choose the 2017 Arkansas Living Treasure and to attend a meeting of the A+ Schools Fellows, attempting to restore the arts to Arkansas public schools.
Make, fix, create, and increase the likelihood that others learn likewise.
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