Replies

1. 
   john_c2 | Nov 13, 2020 04:07pm | #1

   I used hard maple on mine, and lined the jaws with thin leather. You want wood that is stiff and won't flex too much if you clamp out near the ends. I did mine tall enough to keep the jaw below the top of the bench. That necessitated adding some filler below the bench top, that the vise was bolted into from below.

1. 
   IrishBill_NY | Nov 13, 2020 07:12pm | #4

   Thanks, maple it is. How thick did you use?

2. 
   _mj_ | Nov 13, 2020 04:47pm | #2

   I did the same, and made a cap to bring it up to the height of the bench and extend the jaws to the edge of the bench. I can also pull the cap up above the bench to use with the dog holes.

   
1. 
   IrishBill_NY | Nov 13, 2020 07:11pm | #3

   That looks fantastic.....so the other/inner face is buried in the side rail?

2. 
   IrishBill_NY | Nov 13, 2020 09:37pm | #6

   One more question, just spent two hours on internet looking for thick hard maple. Nothing, big box stores, nothing. Where did you find yours? Thanks..

3. 
   _mj_ | Nov 13, 2020 07:32pm | #5

   Yup.

1. 
   IrishBill_NY | Nov 13, 2020 09:37pm | #7

   One more question, just spent two hours on internet looking for thick hard maple. Nothing, big box stores, nothing. Where did you find yours? Thanks..

4. 
   _mj_ | Nov 13, 2020 11:11pm | #8

   My entire bench is made from half of a shuffleboard table out of a tavern. Place was sold and the table had to go...I was happy to help with the cutting and got to grab it instead of it hitting the dumpster.

   None of that matters for your Q tho... tell us where you are and you might get resource reccos.

5. 
   DRBWWing | Nov 14, 2020 07:30am | #9

   I prefer soft wood for either way line it with leather.

   You can laminate two boards together to get the thickness, but even 2x construction material will work.

6. 
   mikeinohio | Nov 14, 2020 09:58am | #10

   quote/
   One more question, just spent two hours on internet looking for thick hard maple. Nothing, big box stores, nothing. Where did you find yours? Thanks..
   endquote/

   If you have no local suppliers, then check out Bell Forest Products. They have 8/4 and 12/4 in stock and ship promptly.

   https://www.bellforestproducts.com/hard-maple/lumber/

7. 
   john_c2 | Nov 14, 2020 10:20am | #11

   Maple works great, and it's plentiful and cheap. If it wasn't, I would use oak, or ash, or southern yellow pine, or whatever. There is no right or wrong answer.