Every once in a while you find somone who doesn’t necessarily reinvent the wheel, but they rearrange existing technology into a forehead slapper that puts a whole new spin on that old wheel.  Len Hovarter, a mechanical engineer from Michigan, has done just that with his new quick-acting threadless bench vise.  You read that right, there are no threads involved with this vise.  The clamping action relies on a wedge-like operation controlled by a geared wheel acting on the smooth shafts of the vise.  A toothed transfer bar, mounted under the benchtop, synchronizes the clamping action on the two shafts, allowing one handle clamping, just like a chain-linked screw style vise, except this vise has the luxury of quick-acting slide rods.

Inspired by a workbench built by Mike Dunbar for an article in Fine Woodworking issue #153 (Tools & Shops 2001), Len decided that there had to be a faster method of moving the front vise jaw than tediously turning a couple of 1-3/4in. diameter wood screws.  He started designing a quick release/ sliding rod mechanism that would eliminate all the cranking, but his first efforts were a bit off the mark.  The clamp mechanisms were physically too big and heavy and the vise needed three rods, two to guide the vise and one for the clamp.  Undeterred by this less than ideal start he continued working on the design, refining and improving the parts until he arrived at the current configuration.  Len claims that his patent-pending design’s clamping action is identical to a traditional vise, the higher the pressure applied to the handle the higher the force applied to the workpiece.

Tapered work is easily and securely held in place and clamping stock at one end of the vise doesn’t need a second, identical piece to space the other end, the vise will accommodate the offset.  With a bit of disassembly/ reassembly work the rotation of the vise handle can be changed for those who like to fly in the face of conformity.

Originally, Len’s plan was to produce most of the parts himself but initial interest in the product has raised the bar and he is now settiing up outside vendors to help produce parts to Len’s sringent quality demands.  Len can also customize the vise for special purposes.

The vise kit should be available in September with a price in the mid-three hundred dollar range.

Future versions will be available with single-handle operation for tight quarters.  Len is also well along with his prototype design for a leg vise that utilizes the same hardware but has a little twist to make it perform.  As the vise is clamped against a workpiece the upper clamp pulls tight while the bottom clamp pushes away providing parallelogram clamping much like the action of a handscrew clamp.

I have a set of the hardware on order and I’ll give it a thorough thrashing as soon as I get my hands on it.  I’m planning on building a new bench for myself this fall, so if the vise passes muster it will be incorporated into the design, and maybe Len’s leg vise too. 

Watch for updates and a full test.

Roland Johnson
Follow him on Twitter: @Toolwriter

More on Workbenches from FineWoodworking.com • Fine Woodworking‘s New Guide to Workbenches • The Essential Workbench • Matt’s Monster Workbench • New-Fangled Workbench • An Innovative Workbench • Rock-Solid Plywood Bench • Rolling Lift for Your Workbench  • Pipe Clamps as Holdfasts and Extra Vises  • Video: A Benchtop Bench to Save Your Back  • Video: Make Your Own Bench Dogs  • Drawers That Don’t Impede Clamping

 

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