Crisscross Solo

BENCHCRAFTED

This shears serves to hold the jaw of a leg vise parallel to the leg of the workbench. It essentially consists of two equally long steel arms, which are movably connected in the middle with the help of an axle. The two upper ends of the arms are (also movably with the help of axles) connected to the leg of the workbench and the movable jaw of the leg vise. This resulting mechanism not only ensures that the movable jaw of the vise remains parallel to the leg of the workbench, but it also supports its own weight, as well as that of the spindle and the jaw. Its special beauty lies in its simplicity.

The Solo shear is attached to the leg of the workbench and the movable jaw with the help of two 9.5 mm (3/8 inch) thick and 204 mm (8 inch) long steel pins. The holes needed for this can be made most accurately with the help of a drill press. Therefore, you should use this shear when building a new bench and when the leg can still be processed with the help of the drill press.

Weight: 4.6 kg

Contents of the Solo shear:

• 2 shear arms
• 1 axle for connecting the arms
• 3 retaining rings (one as a reserve)
• 2 204 mm (8 inch) long steel pins
• 2 44.5 mm (1-3/4 inch) steel bearing plates
• 2 4.2 mm wood screws (#8)

The installation instructions are the same as those for the spindle set.

Assembly notes: In addition to the usual woodworking tools you need to make and assemble the wooden parts of the vise, you will need some additional tools in inch sizes that are rather unusual in Continental Europe.

You will need:

• 3/8 inch or 9.5 mm drill bit for the holes for the steel pins

Before deciding on one of the shears, you should read the original installation instructions in German translation.
Instructions in German and construction plan for a complete workbench in metric measurements with videos

Another decision aid: The Crisscross Solo can only be recommended to those who have a large and absolutely precise drill press (100% vertical and without any play!). It cannot be done with a drill stand. Consider that the 9.5 mm wide hole for the rod must be drilled into the 24 cm wide front vise. There must be at least 34 cm of space between the drill chuck and table support. The hole must be drilled from both sides and should of course meet exactly in the middle. Precise marking and alignment is not easy. Even though the Crisscross Retro requires a bit more milling work, it tolerates a few more deviations than the Solo with the rod and the 24 cm long hole that must be drilled exactly vertically and perpendicularly to the vise. The Retro is significantly easier to install, even though it is more expensive. The Crisscross Solo will surely overwhelm some...