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Since I got retired from where I worked I’m sure missing the nice shop there. We had a 20 ft work bench with a vise in the middle which was mounted over one of the bench legs. 8ft is about as long as will fit here at the house. For the placement of your vise where would you place it? In the middle or at one end over a leg.
Thanks
It really depends on what you're using your vise for?
Also how much room you have for longer projects, or how heavy the project might be? Would designate placement for me.
Generally I would install my vise at the end of my bench, to utilize more room on the bench when not using the vise.
Is the bench made of wood or steel? I have made brackets using 2" receiver material mounted to the corners and in the middle of my bench to accept 2" square stock to which is mounted a plate that holds my vise. I can now move the vise to any location I need it on the bench, or leave it off for a smooth top bench when needed. I have also used the 2" square stock for mounting grinders, anvil blocks, reloading press etc. Takes a little longer to build this feature into a bench but well worth it in the long run.
Also depends on the type of vice and what you will use it for. Mine is a heavier one and it sits at the end of the bench over a leg. A smaller one could do well in something that greybuff mentioned - similar to Inline fan's docking stations.
J, I had mine made 42" high for gun work. It's great. Legs are 4x4"s with leveling bolts underneath, top kinda funky but I beat it up a lot. Probably change it some time. 2 Vises; one 4" on end, and a small one next to it for fine work.
Good luck, Max
Make your bench in the old way mortise tenon and doweled joints forget the nails screws and bolts. For a heavy use vise I prefer a stand alone vise on a post bolted or poured in the floor. This way it can be mounted at the height best for it, and you can work around it from 3 or 4 sides. Mounted on a bench if the bench is correct height the vise is high if the vise is right the bench is low.
I prefer a corner mounted vise as the vise can be worked at from 2 sides and 2 vises can be mounted. I have a parrot vise on the right corner, this is a very versatile light vise for fine work, and a 5" wilton on the left corner, this is a heavy vise with rotating jaws and body. Both are mounted so that the back jaw is ahead of the bench edge so long work can hang down past the front of the bench. They are also close enough in height that long work can be held in both.
The versa vise ( parrot) is able to lay flat stand up rotate in horizontal plane and with the adapter rotate in vertical plane. Its not a supper heavy vise but is very versatile and work with. Its meant for finer more delicate work.
If I come across a 6-8" heavy vise it will be mounted on a post in the floor as mentioned above but its not a high need item in my shop.
I always put my vice on the end/corner.
So far, I've always been happy with it there.
I’m using a 2 inch thick solid core door as the top with 4x4 legs. Hopefully in couple years I’ll be moving to a place with less house and more shop room so I’ll use bolts and screws so I can take it apart for the move and put back together at new place.
greybuff would you happen to have a pic of the bracket mounts you mentioned?
Thanks all
Windows and light are more important to me than other geographic issues. I have two,both in front of a window.... one is at,say the 20 yard line,the other is at a corner...both over a leg. Once in a great while they get used in tandem.
The corner location is a touch more versatile. But this is a "live" end(dead end is,you can't see the end of the bench. Live=access to end).
I do not use a vice often in the reloading shop and normally it is for light duty work. I have mounted one on an In-Line plate and use the "docking" system they offer.
For real shop work, I prefer the vice mounted at the end of the bench so it is not the way for doing other work. But what you do and what you work on will guide you. If in doubt, set it up so it can be moved.
Vote for corner location here although the moveable option sounds nice. I tend to smash on the vise with big hammers so over the leg is paramount.
Another very versatile vise is grizzlys pattern makers vise. jaws swivel so it can hold tapered or straight parts.
Another way to go and these are interesting but some work to make is a leg vise that is part of one leg.Being a part of the bench they can be lower than a mounted vise. Being made from wood they dont marr and they hold good. a hinged on a dowel outer jaw with a thread runs along the leg up to just above bench top. this opens and closes as needed and the threaded rod clamps thru the leverage provided. Holes can be drilled in bench top for dogs and it can clamp quite a range of widths.
Best location for a vice I ever saw was on a pipe in the middle of the garage. Socket in the concrete floor to receive the pipe. The gentleman who set this up built longrifles and was very good at it. He remarked that he could work all the way around the vice. It was about 3 feet from his bench.
One thing that makes the post mounted vise so handy is they can be height adjustable. Sawing filing and most operations are mush easier with better control when working at the right height. Being able to get in a good solid position helps also.
The post mounted vise in the tool room was a 8" Colombian with copper jaws. The post was adjustable for height. Draw filling was much easier and quicker with it, Height could be set to where body weight did the work not so much muscle. Another plus was you could see what you were doing easier when at the right height. This height is also dependent on the parts being worked on.
I was able to rescue some cypress wood from a building that had been torn down and used it to build another work bench. Pretty strong table for scrap wood.
Attachment 326005
I miss my old bench, it had a 1/4" thick stainless top that was 3'x10'
Vice mounted at the end of my 16’ bench over one of the 6x6 legs.
I have one mounted at the center of one end of a bench and one at the front left corner of another bench.
I’ve thought about a parrot vise on a quick release plate, but haven’t done it yet.
I have several. Bench mounted has plenty of room on both sides. I also took a 4" cast pipe and welded it to a car wheel, filled the base with concrete and welded a flat on the center top to receive the vise. Very stable and easy to roll around.
That is a fine looking work bench ! It’s always nice to run across some nice wood and find a way to re-purpose it. Something to be proud of .Quote:
Originally Posted by Hondolane
My last work bench was a big project.
The top is 2 x 4s on edge doweled together with 8 3/4" dowels 2 x6s in to form the pockets for the legs. bench top is 30" x 8' x 3 1/2" thick except where the 2 x 8s are.
The legs are 3 2 x 6s doweled together with a slot left for the cross support to go through. The top center boards bottom edge is cut at a 10* angle. This slot is roughly 4 1/2" wide. A wedge was made with the matching 10* angle on top side.
The legs are also notched for the cross braces front to back.
Legs were inserted into their pockets and 1 dowel set thru the top. then the long leg braces installed the legs squared and the braces glued then the wedges drove in tight when dry they were glued and doweled. The front to back leg braces were inserted in their pockets and glued and doweled.
The tops dowels were set below center so the top can be planed down several times to clean it up as needed.
This bench is heavy it dosnt wiggle shake or move. there are no nails screws or bolts. other than the bolts that hold the vises on. its solid and stable.
The bottom leg braces and shelf are at a hieght I can use my die cart to move it when needed.
I really recommend some 2x4s or other on edge even using a solid door. A simple square of 2 x 4s on edge with one down the center or in a X pattern really stiffen the top and make a good mounting point for the legs. Use 6 x 6s or 3 2x6s laminated and doweled together. leg braces front to back and length wise to stiffen support the legs. A cople cross bars in this and some thin plywood makes a shelf and the flat plywood really stiffens the base up.
When building a bench use plenty of glue in the joints and lock the joints together in a solid pattern.
I always want a vice on the end. If it is in the middle you are always going to have to go over it when moving from either side. This goes for regular work benches or loading benches. On my loading bench I have a small vice mounted on the right end that I use to hold my Forster Case trimmer the majority of the time. The trimmer is mounted on a 2x4. If I need to use the vice for something else I can quickly remove the trimmer. This makes the rest of the bench accessible without interruption.
Mount a vise in the center over a leg with a 12" square 1/4" steel plate under your vise with a 2" bench overhang. I used 3/8" carriage bolts to secure the 1/4" bolster plate to the bench top. Strong like bull, smart like tractor!
If it has to be on the bench the best place is a corner, especially if it has a swivel base.
Consider mounting it so the fixed jaw is even with or proud of the edge of the bench. That way you can clamp long items vertically. Can come in handy.
Thanks for all the ideas