Installing a Cast-Iron Vise
There's more to it than sinking a few lag screws
Synopsis: A cast-iron vise is a staple in any workshop, but if your shop lacks a good bench-mounted vise one can be installed without much fuss. In this article Fine Woodworking editor Tom Begnal offers tips and planning advice for installing a cast-iron vise in a variety of shop configurations. He explains the best places to locate the vise on your bench and demonstrates how to add a wood face to the cast-iron jaws to protect the workpieces.
It’s hard to imagine working in a shop that lacks a good bench-mounted vise. After all, woodworkers come from the factory with just two hands, and we need both of them to use most tools. So it usually takes some help to keep a workpiece fixed firmly in place.
The cast-iron style of vise has long been a staple in woodworkers’ shops, and for good reason. A cast-iron vise that’s well…
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