I’ve decided to build myself a proper workbench rather keep making do. I’ve got a basic idea for the design; sort of a cross between the Essential and Matt’s Monster workbenches. The thing is I’m a bit confused as to why the vises are traditionally positioned the way they are. I’m left-handed and I find I have no problem having the front vise on the left-hand of the bench (I don’t yet have an end vise). I tend to have the waste end of the wood out towards the end of the bench with my body positioned more in front of the vise. My question really is this – if I put my vise on the left of the bench and the end vise on the right hand end (if you see what I mean), am I likly to encounter problems as my scope of work increases or is it all just down to you lie to work?
Sorry if this sems like a daft question but the vise on the left like that seems more designed for left handers than right so I wondered if I was missing something.
Jon
Replies
The vises are placed in this manner because most people are right handed, you should place the vises in the manner that best fit your work. Due to space constrains I did what you are planning to do and found no problem with the vises in that configuration. Of course being right handed it was a pita for me. The upside is that I learned to plane with both hands... :-)
If you're right handed it seems to make sense to me to have the vise on the left, as you're facing the bench. This puts your right hand in a better position to plane as your right hand is on the tote and is a more natural position, at least for me anyway. Just the opposite for lefties, as this puts your power arm in the right position too.
I also have the Veritas Twin Screw mounted on the right end of the bench. This combination works very well for me.
Regards,
Its the long stuff that dictates vice location
Jon:
the idea is to be able to use the whole front of your bench as a clamping surface. If you are only working short pieces of stock, which corner you put the vice on doesn't matter all that much. However, if you are planing long stock it does. The idea is to anchor the far end of the stock and plane into the vice, not away from the vice. The "free end" of the board can then be clamped to the front of the bench, either with a deadman lending support or just a couple of screw clamps applied to the other front leg.
If you plane with your right hand pushing the tote, mount the vice on the left side of the bench. If you plane with your left hand pushing the tote, then mount the vice on the right side of the bench. Again, this allows you to use the whole front of the bench to clamp a long board for planing.
gdblake
thanks
Thank you for all your replies. Now it's been explained, it makes perfect sense. So far I've been planing away from the vise and wondering why I've had a few problems. I did some experimenting over the weekend and was pretty surprised at the difference planing into the vise makes (of course I would find this out after I've just finished building an attic bed for my son ;D ).
I will definitely be installing my front vise on the right of the bench.
Regards
Jon
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