Does anyone have the Veritas Twin-Screw end vice with the chain drive? If so, what are your impressions on it. Worth the price, well made or flimsy, does it get the job done an would you purhase it again if you did not already have it?
Don’t expect many replies, but would appreciate anyone that has one to give some feed-back…
Thanks….
sarge..jt
Replies
I have used several and it is a very solid and well built vise. I have one bought for my new bench that I plan on building this fall so cannot tell you how it stands up to my use yet. But my buddies have never had a problem with theres and they use them hard.
Scott C. Frankland
"This all could have been prevented if their parents had just used birth control"
Scott
Thanks for the feed-back. I went to Highland Hardware Sat. to look at one. They were out of stock. I really prefer to see a tool before I make the decision. I wanted to see how they have it set up.
What you posted is a step in the right direction...
Thanks again...
sarge..jt
Sarge,
I have a few of these in my shop, and I give them top performance marks. They are solid pieces of hardware that work hard without even the slightest falter. It is important that the directions are followed carefully, and that the chain is set up at its optimum tension - too loose and it will slip (and more), too tight and it will stretch and possibly come apart under heavy load. I did accidently manage to crack one of the plastic chain covers on one of them (banged a large oak project piece into it) - Lee Valley sent me a free replacement.
If you have any questions, please feel free to ask!
Dan Kornfeld, Owner/President - Odyssey Wood Design, Inc.
Edited 8/3/2003 9:34:08 PM ET by Jackie Chan
Dan
"I have several in my shop". Got any spares you want to put in action so it doesn'r rust? ha..ha..
I have a few questions. I went to look at one to see how they have it set up. Out of stock, hence-forth the post. I am going to install an end vise on my bench. I am not a big fan of tail vises. I feel an end vise is better suited an will preform more functions in my personal situation.
I could not tell from the pics on the Lee-Valley web-site how heavy duty it was. Here are the questions: What diameter are the tail screws. What size chain and sprockets. I cannot see the internals on the web-site, but it doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out there has to be a sprocket on each screw an one is set up with a dis-engage of some nature. Simple enough.
What I'm getting at is, my BIL (machinist Delta Air Lines) an I were looking at the pics an we thought about building one. I can get 1 1/8" tails screws from Highland Hardware or Veritas for $31 apiece. He can get sprockets from a company that supplies Delta. Same with the chain #50. With the exclusion of the hard-wood jaws (have to get those separate on the Veritas also), I can put a heavy one together for about $86 as opposed to the $159. If the Vertas was chincy, I would go this route for sure.
You an Scott say it it a well made. If that is the case, I may just save time an write the check. I want a second opinion before I decide. What cons do you see in building one. What pro's? Any feed-back from you are Scott are anyone else would be welcome. Someone might catch something I have missed in thinking about it.
If you can get back at your conveniece, I would appreciate it as always. Will put a decision on the "back-burner" till I get a few more details on the store-bought vise. < G >
P.S. They have a aluminum gear housing available on the current vises. They also sell replacement update for the older ones their too. Should have been metal to start with. My opinion, of course. he...
Regards...
sarge..jt
Sarge,
Here are the answers to your questions: The diameter of the tail screws are just over 1.25" - when installing the screws a 1.5" (forstner or saw tooth) hole is drilled. The chain is a #35 with a 3/8" pitch. This vice comes in two sizes: Standard - which gives you 16&7/8" measured from the center of each screw, and the Long - which gives you 24" center to center. You are correct about the disengage feature - the vice uses a spring loaded drive/shear pin. Both screws can be turned in tandem or independently by releasing the pin. The kit includes an extra shear pin just in case you feel the need to gorilla clamp your work piece and shear the first one!
If you'd like, I can e-mail you the instruction manual that comes with the Twin-Screw Vice. It is very detailed and includes very specific pictures and charts. It's 18 pages, but well worth the read if you buy the Veritas or build your own.
The available aluminum gear housing is a must! Or, tell your BIL that you'd like a housing milled from solid aircraft-grade aluminum billet stock with a Lexan viewing port so that you can watch the gears go around!
Please send along any questions that you may have!Dan Kornfeld, Owner/President - Odyssey Wood Design, Inc.
Dan
Thanks again for the leg-work. The 1.25" is what I wanted to hear. 7/8" is too small for the application with that much clamping ability, IMO. No sense in building a great temple an putting it on a skimpy foundation.
All of you have been positive about this vise. I'm leaning that way at this point. Now I know why it cost so much. Not only do you get a lot of capability with the vise, you get a "novel" to read with it. Does it come in hard-back? ha..ha..
Have a good day, Dan...
sarge..jt
What is the difference bettween the tail end and front vices and the advantages of one over the other?
Thanks, Dick
Dick
A standard front vise will generally not allow as much clamping space as the twin vise we are referring too. The twin vise has two screws that are spaced wide on the jaws. This allows you to put wide pieces in between without guide rod interference. You can also mount it on the front of bench. You can also put long stock in it on edge without having to support it in another manner on the other end.
Which is better? That depends on your style of work an what you need to accomplish. Only you can answer that question. I would suggest that you look carefully at pictures of several types of vises. Have a clear mind an concentrate while looking at them at all the various ways you could use it. Make notes on each one.
When you are done, go back over those notes an analyze what your needs are an which kind of vises would best suit your personal WW needs now an what you hope to do in the future. Then, an only then; you will have your answer.
If you have more specific questions about each type, ask them. I hope this will help you understand the big picture.
Have a good day...
sarge..jt
I have one. Good equipment. Then again it came from LeeValley.
IMERC
Thanks.... I like end-vises and the dual screws gives you plenty of power and space in between those screw mounts. It's a great idea to chain drive it..
Lee Valley has a patent, but they are not the first to think of the idea. There is a fruniture maker in Ca. that I know has been using a home-made chain drive on his for 25 years I am aware of... That's when I saw the first one.
Have a good day... off to work..
sarge..jt
Sarge
Bob Key has one on his "ultimate" bench look at http://www.terraclavis.com/bws/benchu.htm
ian
Thanks... That was not only helpful from the vise aspect, I got an idea for the bench from it also. I like the idea of the twin on the side. If you could have only one vise, that would be th one I would go with for the versatility. I may mount it on the side and put a Record on one end. I know where Records are still available.
His bench was very nice. I am not a tail vise fan, but I liked the sturdiness. I am getting ready to build an Ian Kirby bench with a few modifications. 3" thick top, legs an strechers. 3" over-hang on the sides with 6" over-hang on the ends. I'm into sturdy and simple. Will make the bottom from Douglas Fir as I have some old recovered beams aroung. No tool tray for the moment. May put one at one end latter, maybe not. I love trays an hate them. ha..ha..
Thanks again for the help, good article...
sarge..jt
Sarge,
I almost went the Veritas route cause I think they look great and i like the idea of being able to put a board between the two vises for things like dovetails, etc.
Just to make your decision a bit harder....have you looked at the pattern makers vice in Garret Wade catalogue?..(he,he)
BG
Yep.... Highland has a Emmert knock-off on sale for $199. I looked at it an decided my first step should be a end vise that is capable of securing things in between those screws. It gives you both vertical an horizonal lock for some pretty wide stuff. The pattern-maker would be like buying a great car stereo system an worrying about getting a car to put it in latter. ha..ha..
Every journey is always just one step at a time...
Regards...
sarge..jt
Sarge.
I don't own one, but I've heard that the chain can be a little tricky to set up, so I'd thought of making one with gear drives.
So I have a few questions (too anyone who'd know)
Does the chain drive have any backlash or slop between winding in and out?
Would it be possible to use gears with no backlash (cogs from motorbike gear box)?
Or am I way off on that idea?
Ben
Ben
My BIL (machinist) could give a more qualified answer, but I think it is possible. As long as the chain is taut and the gears are properly timed, I can see no reason it wouldn't work. I will step aside with that statement an let someone better qualified give some reasons it will or won't..
Good luck an keep me posted, as two heads are better than one. I might borrow an idea from you if you are successful. I will throw that idea to my BIL an get his opinion also.
sarge..jt
Sarge,
The chain may still end up being the best idea, I'll just have to wait and see. The gear setup I was referring to had no chain, just gears from one vise handle to the other (odd number of course), to disengage just pull one of the gears towards yourself.
I'd be interested to hear what any of the experts out there have to say.
Ben.
Ben
I got it... I thought you were referring to the gears mounted on each screw with a chain, which in essence is the same as sprokets used in that manner. You are referring to a series of gears from one screw to the other that allows one to be pulled from the series to get free-wheel on one of the screws.
If you already got the gears, should work. If not, I would be hesitant to purchase just to find out. Even though in theory, I know it can be made to work. It may just boil down to simple is better. I have based my whole life on that theory.
Well, till I win the lotto. Then I'm going to make everything very complicated. ha..ha..
Good day... keep me posted
sarge..jt
Ben
Just had a thought in the shower. If you go gears, you will have to be careful of what size you use in the series. If they vary incorrectly, you will end up with a different turn ratio on the second screw if you operate off of one handle like on the Veritas.
sarge..jt
Sarge.
As I think about the gears, and read the positive feedback for the Veritas, I'm becoming convinced that gears could be very difficult to get right, and Veritas has done a fine job with their chain, so I'd likely go that way.
I believe the manual for the vise can be found on the Veritas web site, just below the price of the vise.
Keeping it simple is definitely the best way to go.
Ben
Ben
Agreed! Enjoy when you get it.......
sarge..jt
I have the Veritas bench top with the twin-screw vice. Was a close-out when Lee Valley changed over to metal chain-guards. About as close as LV ever gets to a sale.
Great vice to use. Came with 4 bench dogs which work well for large panels.
Only a couple small concerns,(not really complaints). The small brass thumbscrews that keep the vice handles centered have a tendency to catch on clothes. Can't take them out, the two handles run into each other if not in centered position and sometimes you need to be able to slide the handle to one end for some extra torque. The factory-drilled holes in the wood for the nut-plates were slightly oversize. If you reefed on one handle, it would pull the other nut-plate out of alignment, resulting in some binding of the screws. Solved that problem (mostly) by drilling in place for the next size larger bolts. Wood & metal-snug fit on the bolts. With the tight section of the chain running across the top of the sprockets, when tightening with one handle, use the right handle for tightening and the left for loosening. Reduces strain on the idler support.
I have learned to live with its idiosyncracies and it's still the best bench I've ever owned.
Paul
Paul.
Thanks for the advice, like you I think I can live with those sorts of little 'idiosyncracies' and it's always interesting to hear them. The second one about the 'nut-plates' won't be a problem to me as ill be purchasing only the vise hardware, and will get to drill my own holes (or do you mean the hole in the plate was to large?)
Ben.
Sarge,
I have one, three years now. They are built solid, but as one respondant said you need to follow the directions closely regarding the chain tension. I have had no problems with mine, set up as a tail vice. The fixed jaw only moved once, when I was using it as a metal brake to bend some heavy guage metal. I don't recommend doing it, but it did no permenant damage, just had to reset the jaw. I'm sure that one could be made up from parts, but it might not be worth the effort. Veritas provides all the parts, machined well and an excellent set of instructions. The installation is pretty straight forward. Building a good set of jaws might be more time consuming than the installation.
Elbert
Elbert
Thanks for the positive in-put. As with any gear-chain set-up; alignment, tension an proper timing is always important. I agree with not using it for metal. I have a separate bench back in the wood-rack room set up with the metal vises. As you, I learned the hard way a long time ago.
What do they say about experience is the best teacher. ha..ha..
Regards for the day...
sarge..jt
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