Good evening everyone!
I have been using a hobby vice from Woodcraft to practice my dovetails and stop shavings. I saw a photo of a bench where they used 2 Pony vices to make a basic twin scre vice. I picked up all the hardware to start on the project but I was wondering if anyone had any other inspirations for me. I will one day buy or make a nice bench with everything I need but for just getting the hang of things I just need something simple that will hold tight.. Z
Replies
Zappa,
you dont need no bench vice. Just get an assortment of C clamps.
Mel.
PS don't believe everything you read.
Measure your output in smiles per board foot.
Mel has a point. He always has one that is sort of reasonable.
Did that for many years. Took be awhile to discover that scrap block of wood would keep the 'C' clamps from denting the wood!
Z,
Do yourself a favor and get a good one. Believe me it will be a smart move in the long run and they aren't really that expensive, all things considered.
Not a Twin Screw (Veritas) but perhaps a good sized front vise. You can always transfer it to your next bench when ye git there.
Next to a good supply of clamps a good vise has to rate pretty high in usefulness.
Regards,
Bob @ Kidderville Acres
A Woodworkers mind should be the sharpest tool in the shop!
Edited 11/17/2008 9:52 pm ET by KiddervilleAcres
Zappa,
I've been using a cheap pony on the end of my bench for years and it works very well at holding stock for planing, etc. On the front of the bench is my main vise,a Jorgensen. You do need a good vise with quick release on your soon to be built big bench :)
In the interim, however, you may want to consider a 'bench on bench solution'. ( article in FWW a couple/3 years ago). The mini bench (24x16x10"h) has a vise on the front that is created with two screw presses...creating a kinda veritas vise. The beauty of this mini bench is it is perfect for dovetails and has great utility for small work. I built mine using scraps of poplar.
An inexpensive vise you can make is a leg vise. It's nothing more than a bench screw attached through a big board on the side leg of your workbench. You can buy these bench screws at Lee Valley for around $30.00. Below is a picture of a Roubo workbench that Chris Schwarz has made. On the left, you will see this vise. For more info on the vise as well as making a workbench you should pick up his book Workbenches.
View Image
View Image
Edited 11/18/2008 8:28 am ET by mvflaim
I've found inexpensive vices to be far less satisfying than the more expensive ones. (Pun intended, of course.)
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