
Make a Bench Vise for Woodworking
- What You Need. About 16 linear feet of one by six hardwood (actual measurements ¾” x 5½”). ...
- Front Jaw. Cut two 32” long pieces from the one by six board. ...
- Rear Jaw. The rear jaw is L-shaped. The short ‘lip’ is used to clamp the rear jaw to your workbench. ...
- Drill Holes for the Hex Bolts. Drill two ½” holes through the front jaw 3” from the short edge and 2 ¼” from the top edge. ...
- Make Handles. You could stop right here and use ½” hex bolts and washers to complete the vise and open/close it with a wrench.
- Use Your Bench Vise. I did not use any finish on the bench vise or handles. I plan to sand it down if it needs cleaning. ...
What kind of vise do you use for a benchtop?
End vise Essentially a large face vise, this type usually spans most, if not all, of the benchtop’s width [ Photo J ]. Typically, you use two rows of bench dogs to hold long or wide stock. The timing chain on a twin-screw end vise syncs the screws.
What is the difference between a woodworking and metalworking vises?
Woodworking vises differ from metalworking vises in that they attach to the bottom of the bench surface or are built into it, with (typically wood) jaws flush with the benchtop. Metalworking vises usually mount to the top of a bench. Woodworking vises vary in price from about $30 to as much as $400.
How do you cut the side of a vise?
I used a hand plane to true each side and the ends of each panel. Drill out two holes that are slightly larger than your threaded rod on each side of the vise chop. Go halfway through one side, flip, and finish out the hole form the other side for a smooth hole.
What is a shoulder vise?
A shoulder vise gives you floor-to-ceiling clamping space between its jaws. A threaded bushing mortised into the vise shoulder (unseen) keeps the screw on track.

How do you make a bench vise?
0:147:17How to make a Workbench Vise ( DIY MOXON VISE ) - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipThe radius jig definitely made this a little easier and more accurate. But you can totally use a jigMoreThe radius jig definitely made this a little easier and more accurate. But you can totally use a jig saw to round this over. On one side of the jaw. I need to round out a dado slab.
What kind of wood is used for bench vices?
You can use plywood, a good grade, or solid wood, even pine, if that's what you have, to line the jaws of your vise. In this case I've chosen sapele, an african hardwood with perfect hardness and compression for this work. I've used it before and it's one of the best.
How thick should wood be for vise?
I would recommend at least one inch of hardwood onm the outside face of the chop. The inside face need not be as thick since it will not be compressed during tightening, so about 1/2" should do it.
How do I make a portable bench vise?
0:271:27How to make your bench vice portable - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipNow that you've drilled the holes you're going to turn the board over and Mark out the top of theMoreNow that you've drilled the holes you're going to turn the board over and Mark out the top of the bolts. So now you want to chisel out like this so the ball is sits under the surface.
How do you make a wooden bench vice?
0:426:39DIY Woodworking Bench Vise - Quick and Easy Shop Project - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipGrooves. This will make the dovetail cuts cleaner. And will reduce the wear and tear on my dovetail.MoreGrooves. This will make the dovetail cuts cleaner. And will reduce the wear and tear on my dovetail. Bit i went with two equally spaced horizontal cuts. And three equally spaced vertical.
How do you protect wood in a vise?
0:151:08How to Prevent a Workshop Vice from Damaging Wood - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipJust put it in place crank. It down I matter how much pressure you put on this. You're going to haveMoreJust put it in place crank. It down I matter how much pressure you put on this. You're going to have those pads in place.
What is the best top for a workbench?
The Best plywood's for workbench tops The best one to use is Baltic Birch or marine grade plywood. You want to use 3/4 inch or thicker sheets of plywood for stability and strength of your work surface.
Is Birch a good wood for a workbench?
These are heavy-duty, solid European Birch tops which are perfect for use in your shop or home. They can be the basis for making your own custom workbench or a butcher block counter on an island or a coffee table. Birch is a hard-wearing durable material for any top and gives a natural look to any project.
What wood should I use for a Moxon Vise?
2) When building the wood jaws for the moxon vise, which wood should I use? Walnut is my favorite species, but most of these I see are either southern yellow pine, cherry, or maple.
How thick should a Moxon Vise be?
The Vise is made up of 2 parts, a front jaw and a rear jaw. The front jaw should be between 3/4” and 1-1/2” thick, 23-1/2” long and at least 4” tall. The rear jaw should be at least 1-1/2” thick, 29-1/2” long and at least 4” tall. What is this?
How do you bolt down a vice?
0:075:05BENCH VISE - How To Install A Vise - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipSide is close enough to an at the edge. Where if you have a long item that you're working on thatMoreSide is close enough to an at the edge. Where if you have a long item that you're working on that you need to clamp that it will clear. The side of the bench.
How do you mount a vise without drilling holes?
The DesignStep One: Begin by making a plate to mount the vise. ... Step Two: Cut two matching layers of plywood to the same size.Step Three: Cover one side of each piece with glue, then sandwich them together and clamp to allow the glue to dry.More items...
What are bench vises made of?
An engineer's vise, also known as a metalworking vise, machinist's vise, or, informally, a "bench vise", is used to clamp metal instead of wood. It is used to hold metal when filing or cutting. It is sometimes made of cast steel or malleable cast iron, but most are made of cast iron.
What material are vise jaws made of?
Metal vise jaws are usually made of aluminum or soft steel. They are sometimes heat treated, anodized, or coated with black oxide. Plastic vise jaws are usually made of polyurethane (PU), a broad category of polymers that resists abrasion and solvents to varying degrees.
How do you make a workbench tail vise?
0:049:10I Built a Secret Tail Vise into my Workbench - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipBuild this vise was made using an old linear actuator taken from my grandma's old lift chair whichMoreBuild this vise was made using an old linear actuator taken from my grandma's old lift chair which she was throwing. Out now this right here is the second linear actuator that i salvaged from that.
What vise does Paul Sellers use?
Paul has also recommends the Eclipse 9″ Quick Release vise as it is more readily available and seems to hold up well.
Is maple wood good for a work bench?
very nice. The only problem I have is you should have used hardwoods for maximum durability. Some maple would not have been too costly. Over time you will find these things matter in a work bench. It really gets beat up and a soft wood will not endure as much abuse.
Do you need clearance for horizontal movement?
Well you need some clearance for the horizontal movement due to the slop of the thread. When move the jaw you’ll see that it’s slightly misaligned to the other. But that clearance is very small and is easily achieved by the holes where the pipes go into. I used the copper pipes because they were scrap material from an old project and were laying around in my shop. I guess you could easily use different kind of pipes, hollow or solid, of different materials. Take what suites you is the cheapest.
What is bench vise?
Think of a bench vise as a tool that’s as essential to your success as a hand plane, router, or tablesaw. Although clamps might substitute in some situations, they tend to get in the way, and a vise gives you freedom to do almost any type of work.
How much does a metal vise cost?
Metalworking vises usually mount to the top of a bench. Woodworking vises vary in price from about $30 to as much as $400. Generally, once you decide on a particular style of vise, the more you spend, the better the quality and effectiveness of that vise. Now let’s take a look at the most common types of vises for woodworking.
Why is a shoulder vise used?
Because the outer jaw has a tongue that slides in a groove on the fixed arm, it has enough play to let you clamp uneven-shaped workpieces. A shoulder vise gives you floor-to-ceiling clamping space between its jaws. A threaded bushing mortised into the vise shoulder (unseen) keeps the screw on track. Things to know:
What is a tail vise?
A traditional tail vise [ Photos H and I] consists of a rectangular or L-shape block of wood (the jaw) fastened to a steel or cast-iron fixture that slides back and forth in a cutaway corner of the bench.
Where do front vises mount?
Front vises. As the name implies, these mount to the front (long edge) of the bench, typically on a left-hand corner. Left-handed folks usually prefer a front vise mounted on the right corner.
What is a pivoting jaw vise?
The benchtop’s edge or apron typically serves as the inner jaw. A pivoting-jaw vise holds irregular-shape stock without racking the jaws. You also can remove the pivoting jaw for parallel-jaw clamping. Magnet-lined wood jaw pads stay in place without screws. A cast-iron-jaw vise can be recessed into the bottom of a bench for maximum strength ...
How to cut a mortise for a nut?
Use a chisel to chop out the mortise for the nut. Test fit multiple times until nut sits flush with the top of the chop.
How to increase gripping power of chops?
Adding cork to the clamping side of both chops will increase the gripping power and protect the piece being clamped. I used adhesive backed drawer liner. Just line up your face on the unrolled cork, cut, stick the the jaw face, and trim to fit. Make sure the wood is clean and dust free.
Can you clamp a vise to a bench?
You be able to clamp the vise to your bench, you'll want to add a small board a little longer than your vise to act as a clamping surface. I used a piece of southern yellow pine attached with three brass screws to the back side of the rear chop. I used a hand drill to pre-drill all of the holes before attaching.
