Replies

1. 
   brnaclbil | Dec 10, 2003 01:00am | #1

   Dick,

   The front vise is to clamp things in. (what you think a vise is used for).

   If its inner jaw is flush with the end of the bench, then other devices can plug into dog holes along the edge of the bench to support long boards on edge.

   The tail (end vise) is used to move dog holes which are bored in it's moveable jaws.

   By putting dogs into those holes and those in the table top, big things can be clamped flat on the bench, which is very useful for hand planing, sanding, routing

   Bottom line: face vise: clamp stuff on edge

   tail vise: calmp stuff laid flat on bench.

   Bill

2. 
   Alan | Dec 10, 2003 03:41am | #2

   Dick,

   I would not like a bench that has any vices.  My current bench has no vices that I know of--but it does have two vises.

   Alan

3. 
   user-5880422 | Dec 10, 2003 09:22pm | #3

   I certainly would not want a bench with vices, there's enough trouble in the world as it is, I don't need my bench creating more.

   Ah, but a solid bench with vises is a pleasure to use.

   I went with a Veritas twin screw vise on my new bench, it's not only serves the primary purpose of cinching work between dogs, but it also doubles as an effective face vice. I wasn't willing to give up a face vise altogether, regardless of how good the twin-screw is, so I went with a patternmakers vise on the front, which can hold workpieces at a variety of angles and positions. The patternmakers vise is really very useful and I'm enjoying having it.

   Also, I'm left handed so I mounted the vises opposite of what most benches feature. The end vise is on the left, when standing in front of the bench, and the patternmakers vise is on the right.

4. 
   RANGERP75R | Dec 11, 2003 04:28am | #4

   dick38

     I use a twin-screw end vise and a large front vise. The front vise is used to joint edges on stock with the help of a clamp that holds the other end. I can use it for smaller work also. The end vise is used in the same manner as a tail vise, but it can do more than hold stock flat for planing.

     With twin rows of holes, it can 4 point clamp panels and flat clamp for hand planing surfaces. The 16" open width between the screws allow larger peices to be clamped securely in between the screws. You can cut some dove-tails and fine joints on up to 16" wide stock or panels with it. I think it gives more flexibility than a straight tail vise as it does what the tail does, but much more.

     It all boils down to what type work you do, what your personal preferences are and your style.

   Good Luck...

   sarge..jt

   Proud member of the :  "I Rocked With ToolDoc Club" .... :>) 

   
1. 
   user-5880422 | Dec 11, 2003 04:59am | #5

   Sarge,

   nice bench, I'm curious as to what the 5 holes are on the end cap... is that where you bolted the end cap to the top, or are they for some other purpose?

1. 
   RANGERP75R | Dec 11, 2003 07:30pm | #6

   Jeff

      You nailed it on the first shot! It's where I bolted the inside vise jaw to the end cap. The only metal in the bench itself are those 5 bolts, 4 to hold the front vise and the vise hardware itself. Everything else stays put with joint design and lamination. 

   Regards...

   sarge..jt 

   Proud member of the :  "I Rocked With ToolDoc Club" .... :>) 

   Edited 12/11/2003 11:32:17 AM ET by SARGE

1. 
   user-5880422 | Dec 12, 2003 09:14am | #9

   that's what I did as well, although I only used 2 barrel bolts... but I did mortise and tenon the end cap to the benchtop (and it's 16/4 hard maple to boot). How do you accomodate for expansion of the top, did you slot the bolt holes?

   I agree about the bench staying together with good joinery and precision laminations. I debated using all-thread to mechanically fasten the lamination together, but opted to rely on the end caps and the lamination itself.

1. 
   RANGERP75R | Dec 12, 2003 07:14pm | #12

   Jeff

      I did not slot the bolt holes. I only have $30 in the top altogether. I think too much emphasis is put on don't end-cap anything. Woods going to move, a fact. But you see end caps on every high dollar bench (Ulmia) to low end benches. How else would you mount an end vise. The way I see it, if you need the vise you make the sacrifice. That's what they make hand planes for.

      No sleep will be lost in this camp. I figure if you want one that will be absolutely, positively stable from day one; make a metal top and cover it with a 1" hard rubber top. But that is not going to happen with WW's.  ha..ha...

   Regards...

   sarge..jt Proud member of the :  "I Rocked With ToolDoc Club" .... :>) 

5. 
   kensshop | Dec 12, 2003 02:28am | #7

   The twin-screw vise is very popular and can be found on many benches.  While designing the bench illustrated below I realized that my needs called for something with more flexability.  A standard iron vise is located on the side near the opposite end.   

   
1. 
   RANGERP75R | Dec 12, 2003 06:27am | #8

   Ken's Shop

      Clever idea. I like it! How do the Wilton cant faces work in action and how long are the "tommy" bolts?

   Regards...

   sarge..jtProud member of the :  "I Rocked With ToolDoc Club" .... :>) 

1. 
   kensshop | Dec 12, 2003 05:02pm | #10

   I'm not sure I understand your question about "tommy bolts".  The vise gives me up to 10 degrees of angle.  The inner jaw is assembled into the end of the bench with about 1/4" of the end cap over it, snug. 

   The bench is built from 8/4 maple.  My local hardwood supplier made me a sweet deal on this lumber because it is off-color and has an occasional knot.  The end caps are mortised on.  I cut the dovetails only for the side caps, this made grooving for the mortises simple.  Basically, I'm relying on the laminate and end caps for overall stability.  So far so good, time will tell.  The frame is assembled using mortise & tenon, the mortises are 2" long.  There are no frame pieces running lengthways attached to the top, this allows me to clamp, strap, whatever with nothing in the way.  The bench is 36" high and 30"W x 85"L plus the vise.

1. 
   RANGERP75R | Dec 12, 2003 07:22pm | #13

   Ken's Shop

      A "tommy" bolt is what our English friends have pegged as a metal handle on the vise. Looks like plenty of leverage on the Wilton as the handle looks long. On some metal vises, I think they could use an extra inch or so for leverage.

      I am familar with the Wilton and was considering putting one on the other side of my bench the first time I need to clamp something with more cant than my current tail-vise allows. Looks good on the shelf, but I prefer getting the scoop from someone that has used it. If there are problems, you have probably already idenified them. ha.. ha...

   Regards...

   sarge..jtProud member of the :  "I Rocked With ToolDoc Club" .... :>) 

1. 
   kensshop | Dec 13, 2003 03:04am | #14

   Sarge, 

   So far I have no complaints.

2. 
   RANGERP75R | Dec 13, 2003 04:10am | #15

   Ken's Shop

      Thanks.... It looks like a substanial vise on the shelf. It's not often I need to cant that drastically, but that Wilton will cant farther than a pattern-markers vise. It's kind of like a set of hole-diggers for me. They just sit there waiting but when you need a fence-post or mail-box hole you got your best man for the job. 

      Hey, who knows when I will suddenly drop all other WW'ing and strickly do canoe paddles. ha.. ha...

   Have a good evening...

   sarge..jtProud member of the :  "I Rocked With ToolDoc Club" .... :>) 

2. 
   Dick38 | Dec 12, 2003 05:23pm | #11

   Ken's Shop,

   Beautiful bench, I plan on buying that same vise at Lowe's. They have it for 99.00

   seams like a good buy. I was thinking of using this for the front vise and a twin screw for the end vise.

   Thank's for your post.

   Dick38