I’m wondering if anyone could comment on purchasing the Jorgensen 9″ vise vs the 12″ vise. I think the difference in price is $20 but I’m wondering if I need it. I have a fairly small shop and this is my first real bench but if someone can convince me I will get the 12″ vise. Right now I’m leaning toward the 9″. My bench top is 80″ long X 25″ wide with 1 3/4″ maple top. My skirts and end caps are 4 3/4″ wide (from top of bench down) X 1 3/4″ thick white ash. Any comments would be appreciated…
Regards,
Buzzsaw
Replies
Buzz,
I think bigger is always better. I bought the smaller version on an impulse ...I was in NH, it was on sale and I did not think about there being a larger version. That said, I cannot tell you the larger one is better...the smaller one has done everything I have asked. If I could afford it I'd like to consider the pattern makers vise.
I do hold stock vertically quite a bit (dovetailing) and perhaps the larger model can hold wider stock a bit more secure...
BG,
That is a good point. I will probably opt for the 12". It's weird, for some reason it is showing me as Unknown. Don't know why. But it did include my signature line.. Thanks for your input. I will probably hit Woodcraft today and buy it.Regards,
Buzzsaw
Buzz,
This time your name did show..something screwy going on..
One other point, no matter how well the cap fits on the handle....sand down the end and glue it well. My cap fit well and fell off about 5 times and cracked before I glued it...sigh!
Thanks for the suggestion. Now it is showing the wrong alias. should be buzzsaw. crazy...Regards,
Buzzsaw
I have the 9" and am very happy with it. Have yet to have a project that required a 12" vise. BG is right about the handle. Mine fell of 2 times before I glued it.
Stuart
Thanks GRW for your input. Do you know the difference in weight between the 9" and the 12"?Regards,
Buzzsaw
Buzzsaw,
Sorry I don't know the weight difference. I've never had the need for a 12" vise. Maybe you will.
Buzz.here is another option . Buy the smaller one now and mount it on the face. After you get going, you might convince yourself that the big one is better so you get the big one and mount the small one on the end as a tail vise and drill your top to accept bench dogs.
But for $20.Id get the big one nowWicked Decent Woodworks
Rochester NH
" If the women dont find you handsome, they should at least find you handy........yessa!"
thanks john. i'm wondering if it's significantly heavier than the 9"...Regards,
Buzzsaw
Little one is 28 lbs
Big one is 36 lbs
I just got them both as gifts. I don't yet have a bench top to attach them to, but the top of the inside face is 2 1/4" (or so) above the mounting brackets. So to set the vise flush you need a top or apron no thicker than that.
My intention has been to use the big one as a face vise, the smaller as an end vise.
Also, FWIW, I was told that they were both purchased for the same price ($99 or so) from Amazon. I haven't looked to see if this is still the case.
TXJon,
I'm a little confused. My apron is 4 3/4" wide and 1 3/4" thick. Would that be a problem?Regards,
Buzzsaw
Buzz,
No, you attach wood to both vise jaws...
I incorporated the inside jaw into the apron and cut a piece of wood for the movable jaw..the wood is proud of the metal jaws by about 1/2" and flush with the workbench top...could be more or less proud. I've replaced the movable jaw wood and am thinking about chopping out a piece of the apron where the inside jaw is to replace that side too but have not done it yet
COuld you possibly post a picture of your vise?Regards,
Buzzsaw
Buzz,
I have a couple of very old pictures from when I first set up the bench, I don't think they would do you much good.
As TX indicated, you can build up the apron (glue on a strip) or possibly, because your apron is fairly wide, notch out the apron for a good fit. There was a 'how-to' article some time ago in FWW...it was a Record vise but there is little difference...wish I could remember the date of the issue. However, trust yourself, you'll see quite quickly what your options are and what needs to be done. This is one of those things that is much more difficult to describe than do....
here's a lousy pic...
Here are a couple of pictures of my 9" Record clone (from India, via Rockler, but a better jaw alignment than any of the Jorgensens I looked at ). First pic shows the blocking. I notched the table skirting to act as the rear jaw face and attached a 1"+ face to the movable jaw. Not sure how well that shows up in the second picture - I was kinda focused on the twin-screw :-). The Wood jaw faces stick up about an inch above the metal jaws.
BG,
Thanks for posting that. How thick and long are your wooden vise faces? It looks like you could easily stand a board on end without hitting the vise hardware. I cut my tails last night for my skirt and left end cap. Next week (this is a woodworking class I take) I will cut my sockets and pins but I will practice over the weekend. It looks like you just butt joined your skirt to your end caps...Regards,
Buzzsaw
Buzz,
I have swapped out the wood on the movable jaw face wood since that picture was taken. Originally it was 1.5" thick ash and long enough to reach the end of the bench...with the expansion/contraction of the bench top and not so much with the breadboard...it caused a bit of racking. I replaced it with 2" thick q.s. oak and cut back to avoid the breadboard. It is long enough to hold a board in the verticle...but unless I put a piece of scrap on the far side of the vise I'll get a bit of racking and less holding power on the far side of the verticle board...a minor issue...
If you look at Wrudiger's vise you can see some of the issues. First, does the vise get mounted on the inside or outside of the legs. Second, given the thickness of your bench top, you'll probably need to build up underneath the bench top for the vise. Depending on the dimensions of your apron it'll dictate if you add a piece to the bottom of the apron or notch out the apron. Third, note how the jaws angle. If you incorporate the inside jaw into the apron (recommended) the slope of the jaw needs to be addressed. On the external jaw (movable jaw) do not accomodate or adapt to the slope... leave as is.
Thanks BG for the info. I finally got my alias back to Buzzsaw...Regards,
Buzzsaw
I'm not sure we mean the same thing when we speak of width and thickness, so...
If the distance from the bottom of your benchtop to the top of your benchtop is less than 2 1/4", the vise jaws will stand proud of the benchtop. You can add filler strips to bulk up the apron thickness if this is the case.
The distance from the front of the inside (fixed) jaw to the back of the mounting bracket is 5 1/4", so you may also need to bulk up a little under the benchtop behind the apron.
These measurements are the same for both sizes of vise.
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