Let’s face it; a workbench without vises is basically just an assembly table. Vises provide the muscle for securing workpieces for planing, sawing, routing, and other tooling operations. Of the myriad commercial models, the venerable Record vise is one that has stood the test of time, because it’s simple to install, easy to operate, and designed to survive generations of use.  When retrofitting an existing bench, make sure the vise mechanism won’t interfere with the bench legs. Shift the top if necessary to accommodate the vise. Because a face vise is used for general work as well as for planing edges, I recommend investing in a larger vise (at least 10"). Since it’s primarily used in tandem with bench dogs to secure boards for face-planing, a smaller end vise should suffice. Available Workbench Face Vice Options. Traditionally face vices came in a few types, but you’d generally have a nice big screw, a hefty jaw and some means of keeping it all in line. After making and using many styles I came to the conclusion that the simple, single screw style I have on my bench now can’t be beaten (it’s also the one I started with).  Couldn’t agree more about the wooden screw. Makes a great traditional face vise or leg vise. Of course, if you’re making an English Workbench out of pine (and you should: Richard’s series is fantastic; I often watch it for entertainment), the screw will cost more than the bench. Luckily I found one on eBay for about $ (and only spent about $ for all of the wood for the bench). Paul has a newer Workbench series. If you are interested in the updated version of Paul’s workbench please click the button down below. This page links to a cutting list, tools list, FAQS and much more. Click here to go to the workbench page. The final stage of the bench make is to install the helping hands that grip the work of a lifetime. It’s so good to get to this stage and though I do not need any more benches (wherever I am I have a dozen or more to choose from), I want to know that you and hundreds if not thousands of others will own a fine workbench.  Offer the vise into the hole and lift it to the upper area to make sure it seats properly and doesn’t stick above the bench. In my case I must pack down by 7/8”. A piece of ¾” plywood and some masonite hardboard is perfect.

Although clamps might substitute in some situations, they tend to get in the way, and a vise gives you freedom to do almost any type of work. Woodworking vises differ from metalworking vises in that they attach to the bottom making a workbench vise the bench surface or are built into it, with typically wood jaws flush with the benchtop. Metalworking vises usually mount to the top of a bench. Generally, once you decide on a particular style of vise, the more you spend, the better the quality and effectiveness of that vise.

As the name implies, these mount to the front long edge of the bench, typically on a left-hand corner. Left-handed folks usually prefer a front vise mounted on the right corner. These come in two styles: making a workbench vise with steel or cast-iron jaws you can use as is or add auxiliary wooden jaws [ Photos A and C ], worrkbench the other with no jaws, requiring you wprkbench build wooden jaws [ Photos B, D, and E ]. The first typically costs more, but installs easier.

Your benchtop must clear the bench base or legs for mounting. Making a workbench vise or screw this type of face vise onto an existing benchtop in workebnch than an hour.

You might wor,bench to shim it to flush the jaws with the benchtop and notch the benchtop to align the inner jaw with the edge. A pivoting-jaw vise holds making a workbench vise stock without racking the jaws.

You also can remove the pivoting jaw for parallel-jaw workbencb. Magnet-lined wood jaw pads stay in place without screws.

A cast-iron-jaw vise can makong recessed into the bottom of a bench for maximum strength and stability.

A thick outer jaw distributes clamping force over a wide surface area. Add shop-made accessories to your workbench. The benchtop or apron serves as the fixed making a workbench vise, while the movable jaw travels on a making a workbench vise screw [ Photo F ]. Because the outer jaw has a tongue making a workbench vise slides in a groove on the fixed arm, it has enough play to let you clamp uneven-shaped workpieces.

A shoulder vise gives you floor-to-ceiling clamping space between its jaws. A threaded bushing mortised into the vise shoulder unseen keeps the screw on track. And high humidity could cause the parts to swell and bind. As the name vjse, this vise installs into the bench leg, which sometimes serves as the fixed jaw. With a flush-fitting vise, the leg itself serves as a full-length fixed jaw. A leg vise moves via a single screw with a pinned sliding guide rail to maintain parallelism.

The guide-rail pin rests against end-grain hard-maple pads that prevent compressing the softer alder leg of this bench. However, you can build up some legs to make a leg vise work. These mount to the end of the bench and typically work with bench dogs along vies length of the benchtop. If you prefer rectangular dogholes, cut those notches in the boards before gluing them to the benchtop; round holes can be drilled before or after assembly.

A traditional tail vise [ Photos H making a workbench vise I ] consists of a rectangular or L-shape block of wood the jaw fastened to a steel or cast-iron fixture that slides back and forth in a cutaway corner of the bench.

A long mortise accepts the screw and threaded fixture, and the workbencu guide rail fits in the slot. A lower guide rail, not shown, mounts beneath the jaw. The tail workbencj slides back and forth along the guide rails, held in place by the screw assembly. Too much clamping force, however, can cause boards to bow up. Typically, you use two rows of bench dogs to hold long or wide stock. The timing chain on a twin-screw end vise syncs the screws. You can adjust either screw should the vise jaws get out of parallel.

You can intentionally make the jaws unparallel for clamping irregular-shape making a workbench vise. With an makjng handscrew clamp and some scraps of hardwood, you can set up your thickness workbsnch to Making a workbench vise to main content. Bench Vises. Facebook Pinterest Twitter Text. Printer-friendly version. Read more about Workbenches or Clamps vixe Clamping. Maaking Making a workbench vise All Workbenches.

Where should you position bench-dog holes? Tool-tray system adapts to your changing maming. Buying a Workbench. For more related content, subscribe to our newsletter! Multipurpose Smith Shop. Make the Most of Your Garage Shop. Router Jigs. Century-old Converted Workshop. Tip of the Day. Mill uniform widths with your planer. Magazine Subscribe Magazine Customer Service. Contact Us Advertise With Us. Facebook Twitter Youtube Pinterest Instagram.

Workbenches and woodworking vises - Should you build or buy your woodworking workbench? Highland Woodworking has advice and selection to help you find the best workbenches and vises to match your woodworking style. Feb 14,  · When it comes to a vise one very valid concern is a painful one. You’ll risk running your hip or side into it. And, that makes a compact front vise that uses the edge of the bench as a clamping jaw a very attractive solution. Key features of this type of vise include: Mounts under your workbench; Simple frame typically made from cast iron. Sep 17,  · INTRO: In this project, I’m making a leg vise that goes on the side of my newly-made workbench. If you’ve not seen that traditional woodworker’s workbench project yet, check it out. I purchased a set of plans for the workbench from Jay Bates, and he includes dimensions for this leg vise in those www.- ’re good plans, so I would recommend picking up a set if you’re looking to make.

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