Unboxing

Matt Vanderlist, of Matt's Basement Workshop Podcast and Woodtalk Online sent us this link for Shannon Roger's video podcast of him unboxing his Benchcrafted Tail Vise. We think it's worth a look. Thanks Matt and Shannon!

Unboxing the Benchcrafted Tail Vise

Wagon Vises At Work

Last fall we debuted the Benchcrafted Tail Vise.

Since then we've shipped vises to everyone from beginning woodworkers building their first bench, to woodworking schools and seasoned professionals. We received glowing reviews from the likes of Chris Schwarz of Popular Woodworking (check out his review here) who put one in his own Roubo bench (the very bench that started a huge rebirth of this bench style), and infill plane maker Ron Brese of Brese Plane.

After a few months, the Benchcrafted Tail Vise is starting to pop up in benches across the country and around the world (yes, our tail vise has gone as far as Japan!).

One such place to see one of our vises at work is the Renaissance Woodworker blog, written by Shannon Rogers of Rogers Fine Woodworking. Shannon is building a Roubo bench featuring our tail vise. (that's one of his massive Ash bench legs above). We're looking forward to seeing Shannon's completed bench.

We've put out a call for submissions for vise customers' bench projects. Please send us pictures and commentary, blog or forum posts about your project featuring the Benchcrafted Tail Vise. Every submission gets a 10% discount on your next order. And that includes vises.

Woodworking in America 2009

The first of two Woodworking in America Conferences for 2009 has been announced. The first conference will focus on furniture construction and design and the second one, later in the year will focus on technique.

The good news for tool makers (and tool junkies like us!) is that there will be a marketplace at both events, giving attendees the opportunity to see some of the best hand tool manufacturers and their wares in one location. If the turnout at last year's event is any indication, this year's events should be even more amazing, with even more makers present. We know of at least one relatively new company that plans to exhibit. Yes, Benchcrafted is hoping to make it to both conferences this year. And hopefully with new products to offer!

We're excited!

Vise Orders on the fly!

For those of you watching, waiting and eagerly anticipating; another good size batch went out the door today. We are now officially ahead of schedule.

Amazing how many of these are going to Europe and beyond. Japan even has one or two floating around!

Benchcrafted ads that didn't fly....

A little humor is all we need. From the vault (way deep back in the corner), here are a few of our failed banner ads that never got off the ground.

Whew..........disaster averted!

Well, it took us about an hour but we got the new servers up and the site is running smoothly again. Thanks go out to IBM for this great equipment. IMSAI, we'll miss you.

Site is Down!

Our servers are down this morning over at the website so please be patient! It's dinged our header here also!

Maybe we should upgrade from our vintage IMSAI? Or maybe it's just a bad punch card in the loop?

Next Batch of Vises on the way.....

We're happy to report the next batch of tail vises shipped today. We've only a few left from the Black Friday influx and we'll be caught up.....

More Tail Vises Heading to Shops Nationwide...

Here's another quick update for those patiently awaiting the arrival of their Benchcrafted Tail Vise. Another batch of vises is awaiting packaging, and will be shipped out Monday, January 12th. Another batch will soon follow. Thanks again for your support and patience!

UPDATE! Tail Vises Now Shipping!

For those of you who ordered a Benchcrafted Tail Vise on Black Friday, and have been patiently waiting these past few weeks, we have some good news. Today we shipped the first of several runs of vises that we've been making since then. We greatly appreciate your patience during this incredibly busy time of year. We've been working our fingers to the bone trying to get these finished asap. (By the way, the Benchcrafted Tail Vise is made in the USA!) If you were among the first who ordered, expect your vise sometime this week. The rest will be shipping at regular intervals. If you're desperate for your vise, just think how extra sweet it will be when it finally arrives! We think it will be well worth the wait.

One other item. If you've ordered a vise, please download and print the installation instructions from the vise page (link). Instructions are not included in the box. If you don't have access to a printer, drop us a line and we'll be glad to drop a hard copy in the mail.

Happy and Prosperous New Year!