Mounting vice...

Guy Thomas · Apr 3, 2000

As suggestive as the subject is, this is purely a technical question about the location on my bench for my vice. I'm mounting it near a corner directly above the leg of the bench. How close to the front edge of the bench should it be? My thinking is that it should be close enough to the edge so that something clamped vertically in the jaws is able to extend down past the edge on the front of the bench, but that just doesn't seem right when I position it there...any suggestions?-Guy T.

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Results! Why, man,
I have gotten a lot of results.
I know several thousand
things that won't work.

Thomas A. Edison

tim wagendorp · Apr 4, 2000

Hello Silent,

I'm not an expert in these things, but i've been knifemaking for the last 3 years and i can say what works for me. I Mounted my regular vice at the left side of my bench. At +/- 35 cm from the left edge. This gives me enough place to store tools or clamp larger things (the left side is standing against a chimney). At the right side of my bench i clamped a 'reversed vice'. Hey sorry, i don't know how to call it; I took a piece of heavy steel angle, bolted it on my bench and fixed a vice on it. Something similar can be achieved with a piece of wood. This vice opens horizontally: the cheeck of the vice are hoerizontal, it's great to shift from one vice to another whilst finishing handles or filing or sanding a blade.
Start with a regular mounting of your vice and think about it, after some time you'll set up a second vice in a similar way.
What's important is, like you stated, the cheeck of the 'regular' vice are positioned in such a way that the clamping of long stuff is possible. The height is also very important: to low and your back will hurt; to high and working gets very tiring. When you're standing in front of the bench, let your arm hang next to your body and bend it: the point of your elbow should be the same height as the top of your vice.

If any problems, don't hesitate to contact me (but i'm not an expert, i just combine someone else's knowledge).

Have a knife time,

Tim

tom mayo · Apr 4, 2000

I dont want to blow anyones minds...but maybe you guys should try mounting a vise and stay away from "mounting vices".....

sounds like something you could get in trouble for.

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http://www.mayoknives.com

[This message has been edited by tom mayo (edited 04-04-2000).]

Guy Thomas · Apr 5, 2000

Ha, I was so intent on my play on words I didn't even realize I had misspelled vise!
Good one on me!

Guy Thomas · Apr 4, 2000

Tim, thanks for the advice, I made my bench right at 36" high and that puts the jaws right at around elbow height, though I didn't plan that in advance. I was considering mounting another vise as you suggested and I can see how useful that would be.-Guy T.

Matt Shade · Apr 4, 2000

Now I'm into tools as much as the next guy, but I've never had the urge to mount them

Seriously, you should get some help.Mounting your tools is an even worse idea than having sex with a phone

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Fix it right the first time, use Baling Wire !

[This message has been edited by Matt Shade (edited 04-04-2000).]

Guy Thomas · Apr 4, 2000

Hey I represent that remark! Better watch out or I'll have Tom send you a virus, Hey Tom you got any handy, I've got some mounting to do!

Jerry Hossom · Apr 4, 2000

Silent, your first thought has merit. There will be many times you will want to clamp something vertically, so put the vise as close to the front of the bench as you can. It is also a good idea to place it so you can get to the side of it. Mine is on the right front on my bench and swivels so I can get at whatever is in it from all angles. I've used it for many years without a problem.

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Jerry Hossom
www.hossom.com