Acer-Ferrous Toolworks leg vise screws

Acer-Ferrous Toolworks was started by a young man, Paul Peters, whom I have been mentoring in woodworking since he was a boy.  Paul recently graduated from a trade school as a machinist, and decided to combine his two interests, woodworking and metalworking, into a business venture.  He purchased a 1910 Monarch lathe, and made his own tooling to produce wood vise screws.  His first product, a leg vise screw and nut, is shown below.

The 2 1/2″ diameter, 2 threads per inch screw is made of hard maple ( Acer saccharum), riven out of the log to ensure straight grain, and vacuum kiln dried.  The octagonal hub is a separate piece of wood, and is threaded and glued to the screw.  Overall length of the screw is approximately 24″, of which 4″ is the hub.  The hub measures 3 1/2″ across the flats.  There are two 1/4″ moats cut into the screw; one at the base of the hub and the other 1″ below it. These grooves are at 2″ diameter and are for for the garter, either user supplied or available in brass from us.  A 1″ diameter hole is also bored through the hub for the handle, also provided by the user.

The nut is also hard maple, and measures 8″ x 4″ x 2″, with the threaded hole centered in the face. This leaves plenty of room for mounting holes to be drilled.

As an accessory, brass garters are also available.  More information about the garters can be found here.

The two piece design allows the option for making the hub of a different wood, and retaining the maple screw. See images below for other options that have been made.  Anyone interested in a custom hub, or with requests for other sizes, can contact Paul at prpinthehills@gmail.com

Red Rose Reproductions is currently marketing and selling these screws. Price is $230 for the standard, all maple screw.