Shop Tips
Magnetic vise-jaw pads prevent bite marks
Oct 01, 2014
I use a cast-iron machinist’s vise for a lot of woodworking projects. To keep the steel jaws from damaging my workpiece, I always used a couple of pieces of scrapwood between the jaws. But I often fumbled to keep them in place while I secured the work.
To solve the problem, I cut two pieces of plywood, drilled two shallow 1/2-in. holes into each one, and glued in rare-earth magnets. Now the protective pads are held securely in place on the jaws while I’m working with wood, and can be quickly removed when I’m working with metal.
Jim Richey
Bill Wells, Olympia, WA
Fine Woodworking Recommended Products
Bahco 6-Inch Card Scraper
The size and thickness are what matter here. A consistent performer, this Bahco scraper is found in many shops we visit.
Marking knife: Hock Double-Bevel Violin Knife, 3/4 in.
This heavy, double-beveled knife stays on track in all directions, and works just fine without adding a handle.
Veritas Precision Square
This precision square is incredibly versatile, from checking squareness to dialing in machine setups.
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google
Privacy Policy and
Terms of Service apply.
Log in or create an account to post a comment.
Sign up Log in