The homemade MEGA Machinist chest! With pictures!!

Finster

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A 6" vise is overkill for a RF45 style mill. A 4" is more appropiate for that size mill & IMO 5" max. I have a 5" GMT vise on my PM45 & it's slightly too big. Not enough Y axis travel to make use of the 5" full capacity. Better to save your money rather than getting something too big & most importantly the weight. I take my vise of the table quite often, a 6" is still light enough for me to be carried by hand but I'm glad I have a 5". I also have a 4" vise as well. I prefer the 5" though.

But those GMT 6" Premium vises are pretty nice. I'd love to have one but don't need one on my current mill. But if you plan on upgrading to a full size knee mill in the future than the 6" will be perfect.


Here's what the 5" looks like on my mill.
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I couldn't even complete this cut without my bellows & DRO scale getting in the way. Not enough Y travel & the 5" vise is not even maxed out.
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Here's what a 6" vise looks like on another PM45 (gt40's)
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Here are the sides, and the top. The cord sticking out is for a piano light that will be mounted on top:

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I decided to make raised panel doors for the front. they turned out well.

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I made all the door fronts and felted all the drawer bottoms. I used old brass drawer pulls I bought off of ebay as well as the piano lamp. Some stain and final assembly and my chest is complete:

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Hope you guys enjoy the pictures.
 
Beautiful piece. Well designed and wonderfully executed.

I was a woodworker for many years before I began to slide down the slippery metal slope. Seeing your work is inspiring - I'm going to have to find some time to get back in the wood shop..

Now you will have to give us a tour once you fill it up!
 
Awesome build thread! Love all the pictures too. Looks like fine furniture not a tool chest. Being a wood worker myself I can appreciate all of the work that you have put into that. Solid wood panels add a bunch of weight to it I bet, lol. It's not like your going to be moving it anyway after its full. A chest to be proud of.
 
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