Joanne in Point Pleasant, PA
I have just started working on a "real bench" too. I have a section of some old bowling alley to use for a top and some old fir (I think) beams that came out of someone's house to use for the base. While I'd love some of the fancy vices from Benchcrafted or Lake Erie, I think I'll wind up with "homemade" leg and tail vises. Still working out design while I'm on vacation. The bowling alley needs some stabilization and flattening, so I need some kind of "ribs" or battens instead of just mortising the legs into the bottom of the benchtop. Keep us posted on what you do for vises.