Hi,
I’m very new to woodworking, and I’m trying to figure out how I make and purchase a vise for my bench. All vises I see on workbenches have wood attached to the metal. Is that something one does after purchasing the steel vise.
The local stores do not carry woodworking vises, except for a small one. Do I have to purchase at Lee Valley or some similar company?
Thanks, Pam
Edited 3/13/2008 4:05 pm ET by WoodYou
Replies
Lee Valley is certainly one good place to purchase a woodworking vise. I retro-fitted their twin screw vise to my work bench and really like it. I used some 8/4 maple (2" thick) for the jaws. Most, but not all, woodworking vises are designed to have wood inserts mounted on the metal jaws. This allows you to clamp your projects without marring the surface.
There are metal vises, like these:
View Image
You would normally line these with sacrificial wood jaws, but the wood needn't be too thick; 3/4" would be typical. You could go thicker; that would also allow you to make the jaws wider. But it would also start to eat into the throat capacity.
Then there are vise screws:
View Image
These don't have any jaws, so you have to install relatively thick wooden jaws, usually at least 1-1/2" thick. These are a little more finicky to install, but they're obviously more flexible, too. To get an idea of how much work is involved, go to the vise pages at the Lee Valley web site and click on the Instr links to read the installation instructions.
-Steve
Thanks very much for your help. Can you tell me what manufacture are the blue vises? Also, the jaws of those type vises seem to sit up above the table, yet most pictures of a table show the top of the vise jaw flush with the table. How does one do that since it appears to me that the jaws sit up above the table? Thanks again, PI
Rockler is currently having a sale on 7" and 9" vises similar to the blue ones above. They all mount below the bench similar to the pattern makers vice pictured at:
http://www.woodcraft.com/images/family/web3516.jpg
Actually, the jaws of the vise sit flush or a little below your bench when you install the works to the underside of the bench. That way, you can plane boards and such without the plane body hitting the vise, etc.Vises today are made by many different companies. Some are dirt cheap, others (which cost more) are build like tanks - exactly what you want yours to be like!Another option is to look at your local school system - they will occasionally replace old vises. I got an old Wilton vise for my bench that was being tossed out that way. That thing must be at least 40 years old and it's a monster.Tom Iovino
Tom's Workbench
http://tomsworkbench.com
I don't know who manufactures the blue vises. The photo is from the Lee Valley web site. They might be able to tell you.
As for mounting the vise flush with the benchtop, the way you do that is to attach a wood block of appropriate thickness to the underside of the top, and then attach the vise to that. That moves the vise down far enough that its top edge is flush with the benchtop. I'd recommend that you make the block about 1/4" thicker than required to do that (so that the top of the vise is actually a little below the benchtop, and then attach wooden jaw liners that extend a correspoinding amount above the metal jaws. The advantage is that it keeps the iron a little further away from your sharp tools.
Another thing that some people do is to notch into the front of the benchtop as well, so that the rear jaw of the vise is flush with the front edge of the benchtop.
-Steve
Thanks to everyone, I think I've got it now!
http://books.google.com/books?id=pks1lGO6zvYC&pg=PA75&lpg=PA75&dq=record+vise+installation&source=web&ots=Wysd7rq5Cu&sig=pwOpI8MiFhxl9AUDO-4qANZIII8&hl=en#PPA75,M1
This link take you to a page that shows a cut-way of a Record Bench vise mounted correctly, with the back jaw inset into the bench behind the front apron. I run the mounting block all the way across, so the bench dogs go into it. That way you are putting the block under pressure, and not the top.
In practice it is better, and easier, to leave the face of the vise inset a bit back from the edge of the top, and firmly attached to the bench top. Then before installing the skirt, put some slow setting epoxy putty between the vise face, and the skirt, (if you want to ever take things apart put a couple of sheets of waxed paper on the front of the vise face, and back of the skirt, so the epoxy doesn't adhere), and then close the vice to squeeze the epoxy down. This leaves the vise firmly attached to the top, so it doesn't move if you use bench dogs, and the skirt solidly against the face, so that it won't move when you close the vise against it.
thoughts on what's better?
metal vs vise screws that you need must add your own chop too?
A metal vise is easier to install, but vise screws look better. You'll need to add wooden jaws to either for woodworking, of course.Chris @ flairwoodworks
- Success is not the key to happines. Happiness is the key to success. If you love what you are doing, you will be successful. - Albert Schweitzer
Like I said, the jawless screws are more flexible, so you have more freedom in terms of location, size, etc. As for performance, I don't think there's much difference; there are good quality products in either category.
-Steve
Hellow pam.
FWW Article link on vises:
http://www.taunton.com/finewoodworking/FWNPDF/011191049.pdf
Some good links for vises:
http://www.leevalley.com
amazon.com
toolsforwoodworking.com
woodcraft.com
rockler.com
All will ship and should give you an idea of multiple options.
Brad
Pam, a few questions;
1-how thick is your bench top-not at the edge, at the center?
2- do you have chisels,drills etc?
3-what is your budget?
4-what type of work will you do?
Look at the article in fww to see the types . I think you will be looking for a quick release metal vise like the Lee Valley blue ones. the largest is $150, a good vise made in Europe. Next is another blue vise, a copy of the old Record mod 53 from http://www.highlandwoodworking.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWCATS&Category=325
it is $130, I have one and it is quite good. Also on the lower left in their tips/help section is the installation instructions that come with the vise. These vises are best installed with MDF spacers under the top to bring the top of the vise below the top of the bench(MDF does not compress like ply wood and get loose over time as bad)
The pattern makers vise $200+,-also on the Highland pages- requires a bench top in excess of 2 1/2" to work well, is neat but a great burden to install and weighs over 60 pounds.
Get the largest quick release you can afford and it will serve you well for almost all of your wood working. You will buy one once and never look back. Paddy
About 10 years ago I installed a "blue", quick-release Record vise (don't know if they are still made.) It has been trouble free and is very stout.
I purchased magnetic, felt covered, jaw liners which are still in good shape. (I've had to re-glue the felt a few times.) I don't know where to buy them now but highly recommend them.
Frosty
"I sometimes think we consider the good fortune of the early bird and overlook the bad fortune of the early worm." FDR - 1922
Hi Pam look at the third reply see those green Lee Valley vises their great but like $70-80 I believe my green grizzly vise looks just the same for $31 and you can download the PDF from Lee Valley for free and use those because they are the exact same thing.
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