Movable Bench or Stand for a Post Vise

lepto

lepto

Joined
Dec 7, 2005
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I've decided to take a shot at knifemaking and have begun assembling my tools. Fortunately I've access to our farm's old blacksmithing tools and I've been able to secure an anvil, assorted tongs and an old 4" post vise. I only have a small amount of space in my garage in which to work so I need to be able to move my implements into a non-offensive (for my wife :D) corner when not in use. I've solved the anvil mounting issue, however, I'm at a loss for mounting the vise. I don't have a welder so a metal mount is not doable for me right now.

Does anyone have advice, plans or pictures for a simple wooden bench or stand for a post vise that can easily be moved around the shop?

Thanks!
 
That is a hard thing to do with a post vise, as the nature of the tool is that it will often be under bending and prying stress. It is also top heavy. The best solution I have seen is to make a post to mount it to out of 4" square tube or something, then weld the post to a baseplate large enough for you to stand on. That way the vise will be immobilized by your own weight while you stand on the plate, yet not be overly heavy to move when you are off of it. Another way might be to make the base of the vise mount/post out of something truly heavy, then put locking up/down casters on the corners so you can at least roll it around as needed. I really can't think of a workable way to do this with wood, since you really need weight and rigidity to make this vise work well. I guess if you build a fairly large bench... forge a little bracket for the foot of the vise post to go into and lag bolt it near the bottom of one of the bench legs. Then maybe have a lower shelf on the bench where you can put your heaviest tool box for ballast against the vise when you are done dragging it around. Here is a pic of one if my vises mounted to a bench, you can't see the foot but you get the idea.
IMG_2730.jpg
 
To get the most out of a leg vise, for heavy bashing-- which is what it is mainly for, so you don't destroy your machinist's vise-- the end of the leg should be in solid unyielding contact with the ground so as not to put stress on the mounting bracket. The mounting bracket should be solidly anchored to a post for heavy twisting and bending. I've tried mounting one onto a bench, and onto truck rims, etc. This works for portable, occasional use, like taking to a jobsite. But an immovable permanent fixed anchor point is the only thing that really works in the long haul. How about some kind of socket in the garage floor that would accept a pipe mount for the vise? Be sure to cross-pin the pipe in the concrete you set it in so it can't twist. And be sure to aim it so you can run long stock in the door and into the vise. With lots of room overhead for swinging a hammer.
 
I really appreciate you gentlemen taking the time to give me the benefit of your wisdom. I was afraid I might be chasing a dream as far as an easy answer for the vise mount. It looks like I may need to move my anvil and vise just outside a pair of double doors that open off the side of my garage. That way I could mount the vise on a post and just cover it and the anvil with a tarp when I'm not using them. I'm building a small propane-fired forge that will be mounted on a cart so I can roll it in and out when I need the heat. Or, as a very reasonable alternative, I could try to convince my wife I need one of those arc/plasma/tig combo cutter/welders so I could build my own portable vice stand....:D
 
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