That's essentially how I installed my vice of the same kind/size (different make). It works great and gave me a lot of clamp space.

@AussieWoodshed

2 ай бұрын

Excellent, the wide clamp space is definitely nice to have.

My first vise on my current English workbench was a homemade leg vise. It wracked like crazy. Did the same upgrade as you. Woodworking seems to be all about problem solving and installing this vise was no exception. Great video.

@AussieWoodshed

2 ай бұрын

Thanks, yes i agree there is definitely a lot of problem solving in every woodworking project and always lessons to be learnt.

So, I had a similar problem. I built a laminated top Roubo. When I was looking for guidance on the vise installation, I couldn’t figure out why so many were installed with the rear jaw proud of the face of the bench. I cut a mortise in that first board and also cut up from the bottom (basically having to put a notch almost the entire width of the underside of the bench top, perpendicular too the length of the top. Instead of using a thick plank on the two jaws, I used heavy leather which I made allowance for on the face notch. The rear jaw also has leather and it’s worked very well. I used leather so I wouldn’t lose the full capacity of the vise (from the thickness of the planks). Although most stuff that I secure in the vise is probably less than 6 inches (150 mm) thick, I have used it to hold some 14” thick (355 mm). On long edge pieces, they lay completely flat against the face of the bench and can be easily secured with a clamp or holdfast from the dog holes in the leg. Finally, I used threaded inserts on the bottom of the bench to secure the vise. The inserts were a bit tough to find, as I wanted to use an imperial 3/4” 16 thread per inch tap for the wood, and an external matching thread. The internal thread was 5/8” or 1/2” and work beautifully.

@AussieWoodshed

2 ай бұрын

Thanks for sharing your installation, sounds like you came up with a great solution.

When I rebuilt my workbench (from a hardboard top sheet over MDF to a thick breadboard hardwood top) I wanted to replace my vises. They had standard 8" cast iron front plates with a similar rear mount like yours, but also quick-release, a really helpful feature. I wanted to make a side vise like yours and a wide one at the end. I looked for something larger, stronger, simpler, cleverer, etc. until I finally saw that I already had what I needed. Building hardwood faces, attaching the vise face to the outer one (inner one on the bench edges) with cork liners is all I needed to do. The short side vice is strong as is. The long one at bench end is great for longer pieces, or those standing on edge using a shim set in the other side of the vise. One can easily overthink, to great cost and little marginal gain.

@AussieWoodshed

2 ай бұрын

Thanks for sharing your experience with bench vices, much appreciated. I agree with you, some times there is no point in over thinking the situation and spending money if you don't have to. I ended up going full circle and coming back to the first vice i purchased and it ended up being my best option.

Interesting to me because I will be fitting at least one vice in my new bench that will be ready within about a fortnight, so it's good to see how others are doing it. My old bench, which had a small clapped out vice in it, is now gone so I need it done soon. Like yourself, I didn't want to spend a fortune, so I bought 2 @ 9-inch copies of your new vice that has British retailer branding (though probably made elsewhere). This is to have one extended to 12 inches width as a face vice and one staying at 9 inches as a tail vice (if I decide to fit it). They are very sturdy and feel as if they will work about as well as major branded ones - I'll soon find out. I've never tried a vice like the racking one you removed so I can't comment on them. I'll let you know how it goes and how they perform when all done.

@AussieWoodshed

2 ай бұрын

Excellent, hopefully they work out well for you. I look forward to hearing how it goes.

That was a lot of work. Some jobs just eat time. If that had been me I would have dithered over whether I should leave the bench where it was or dismantled the top to flip the top to make the job easier. Whatever I chose I woul vo to do it the other way next time.

@AussieWoodshed

2 ай бұрын

Yes, it was definitely a lot of work to get the vice fitted. The main issue i had was how heavy the bench was to turn upside down to fit the vice and the limited space in the workshop so i decided on this more annoying way to fit it, but got there in the end. I'm not sure I'd do it this way again.

I prefer to bolt my Record vice , a restored 53e, thru the bench rather than coach screws, which can slowly work loose. Yes you have bolt heads visible. Thick birch plywood is my choice of jaw face, in the face vise. But !, I did the same as you did, mounting a 52½ as an end vice with two thick +2inch hardwood jaws, 15 inches wide, the width of the bench top. Some Veritas bench dog /pup holes could be drilled in the jaws and the bench top to add to the grip options.

@AussieWoodshed

2 ай бұрын

Thanks for sharing your vice installation method, much appreciated

What kind of cast iron vice ya got there? I have a "1940s Record No.52e Woodworker Vice' and at the other end of my work bench I have a 'Record No.6 Vice' and 10 'Record No.0 Vice" that I have restored, and also 2 'Record No.00" ...

@AussieWoodshed

2 ай бұрын

I have a Eclipse EC-EWWQR9 (9" quick release), which i purchased new at the time as i couldn't find a vintage one. Sounds like you have a nice collection of Record vices, im sure I'll find a vintage one eventually until then my eclipse one will do.

Changing over vise is a pain.

@AussieWoodshed

2 ай бұрын

It certainly is a pain to change them over, especially when they attach completely different.