Crisscross Retro

BENCHCRAFTED

The retro vise features two cast iron bearing blocks that can be attached to the arms of the vise with short shafts. When using the retro vise, you do not need to drill holes for the long steel pins that serve as the axle for the arms in the solo vise. This makes the retro vise a better choice if you wish to retrofit an existing workbench with a leg vise. If you prefer the way the retro vise is mounted, you can certainly use it when building a new workbench as well. The arms of the retro vise and the solo vise are identical. The difference lies only in the mounting method.

Weight: 5.9 kg

Contents of the retro vise:

• 2   vise arms
• 1   axle to connect the arms
• 3   snap rings (one as a spare)
• 2   63.5 mm (2-1/2 inch) long steel pins
• 2   cast iron bearing blocks
• 4   5/16 × 1-1/4 inch countersunk screws
• 2   1-3/4 44.5 mm (1-3/4 inch) steel bearing plates
• 2   4.2 mm wood screws (#8)

The installation instructions are the same as for the spindle kit.

Installation Notes:
In addition to the usual woodworking tools you need to create and assemble the wooden parts of the vise, you will also need some tools with inch measurements that are rather uncommon in continental Europe. We recommend first reading the chapter on creating threads (for machine screws) in wood in the instructions, as cutting threads in wood is not common in Europe. (Alternatively, you can use wood screws.)

If you strictly follow the installation instructions, you will need:

• 5/16-18 inch tap for the four countersunk screws
• 3/16 inch hex key for the four countersunk screws
• 1/4 inch or 6.3 mm drill bit for the core hole of the 5/16-18 inch thread (6 mm drill bit is also suitable, even better for wood!)

In case you do not want to deal with inch-sized taps, we have this stainless metric screw set available for you, which can be used in place of the inch screws. The core drilling should not exceed 6 mm in diameter in this case. However, we personally prefer the inch screws included with the spindle kit, as they are slightly coarser and thus the thread grips better in wood.