Replies

1. 
   photonut | Jul 26, 2012 05:01pm | #1

   The Jorgenson rapid Acting Vises got good reviews in a magazine article. They large one should be under $150 with the sale. Carvers like patern makers vises, but they aren't cheap.

2. 
   roc | Jul 26, 2012 09:28pm | #2

   Consider a few more alternatives

    In short make your vises and use these :

   http://www.woodcraft.com/Family/2000308/...

   Shoulder vise hardware : I am not sure of my source for the shoulder vise screw. May have been Woodcraft or Garrett Wade.  The finish on the threads are smooth and finished and it seems I could only determine that in person so maybe Woodcraft.

   The Lie-Neilsen looks really good.  Do they make them ?  In the USA ?  That would be great.

   The long story

   http://forums.finewoodworking.com/fine-woodworking-knots/hand-tools/klausz-frid-scand-bench-dead

   For carving

   http://www.leevalley.com/en/wood/page.aspx?p=31172&cat=1,41659,41667&ap=1

   http://www.leevalley.com/en/wood/page.aspx?p=31075&cat=1,41659,41667&ap=1

   For carving this would be really great to have

   http://www.leevalley.com/en/wood/page.aspx?p=31153&cat=1,41637

3. 
   RalphBarker | Jul 27, 2012 10:18am | #3

   Vise vices

   I, too, am a fan of the large Jorgensen vise for a basic "git-er-done" vise. Add some nice 8/4 auxiliary jaw faces of the width you desire, and then under-bench spacer blocks to get the mounting elevation right.

   There are, of course, a plethora of alternative designs that are also worthy of consideration. For me, the problem was that I spent years contemplating the alternatives and the comparitive advantages of each. ;-)

4. 
   SawdustRay | Jul 27, 2012 01:09pm | #4

   Wow - thanks for all the info.

   I've been doing this on and off for long enough now that I should really invest the time in making a real woodworker's bench.  I'm like a lot of the posts - I contemplate everything for so long that nothing gets done.  I need to get out of that habit.

   Tomorrow I buy a bench vice!

   Ray