
How to Make a Homemade Wood Vise
- Use a tape measure to measure in three inches from each end of the 2-by-8-by-12-inch hardwood board.
- Place the 2-by-4-by-12-inch hardwood board in front of you. Measure and mark three inches from each end of the board.
- Use a screw gun and three-inch deck screws to fasten the base of the vise to the back-bottom side of the back jaw of the vise.
How to use a DIY woodworking vise?
DIY Woodworking Vise Step 1: Welding a Nut to a Base. I want to use a M16 threaded rod for the linear movement. Therefore I need a nut or... Step 2: Welding a T-Piece, a Washer and the Rod. I want to use a T-piece pipe to hold the threaded rod and a wooden rod... Step 3: First Test Run. Both parts ...
How to turn the rod of the vise?
Now you can turn the rod by turning the T-piece. The washer we added is very important. It will later hold the jaw of the vise and will make it move when you want to open the vise. Be careful by welding zinc-coated material! Acrid fumes can be developed! Both parts are finished. Let's try if everything fits together. Looks very good.
How do you measure a vise?
Use a tape measure to measure in three inches from each end of the 2-by-8-by-12-inch hardwood board. This board is the back jaw of the vise. Make a pencil mark at this measurement in the center of the board on each end. Do the same with the 1-by-8-by-12-inch hardwood board. This board is the front jaw of the vise.
How do you make a pencil vise with a drill?
Use a drill and ¼-inch drill bit to drill through the board at the pencil marks. This board will form the base of the vise. Use a screw gun and three-inch deck screws to fasten the base of the vise to the back-bottom side of the back jaw of the vise. Screw through the front of the back jaw into the base of the vise.

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.
What kind of wood do you use in a wood vise?
Generally, maple is used for wood vise jaws as it is durable enough to withstand the clamping force of a vise. However, softer woods such as pine can be used if your projects will be made from mostly soft hardwoods like cherry to prevent marring.
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 make a wooden screw vise?
10:4013:26How to Make a Leg Vise With A Wooden Screw All Hand ... - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipAnd give it a nice clean look and feel I put in one screw. Into each hole. So there are two screwsMoreAnd give it a nice clean look and feel I put in one screw. Into each hole. So there are two screws in each plate. And can then go around the main screw of the vise.
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.
How does wood vise work?
A wood face vise consists of a movable front jaw that is mounted to a broad, square beam that slides in and out of a matching channel. While the beam keeps the jaw steady and properly aligned, the jaw is driven by a wooden bench screw. The whole mechanism is fastened to the benchtop from below.
What can I use instead of a vise?
Cut out this bird's mouth shape using whatever you have: a back saw, jig saw, coping saw, band saw. Set up the long piece of wood as a stop against the end your worksurface. If you're right handed, that's the left side; if you're a leftie, then the right side. Clamp or screw it in place.
How do you make a wooden clamp?
0:508:53Simple! Homemade (Wood) Bar Clamps! No Hardware Needed!YouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipThe tail just consists of two pieces of plywood that are three inches by five inches. And. I have aMoreThe tail just consists of two pieces of plywood that are three inches by five inches. And. I have a piece that's just slightly. Over an inch and a quarter so it slides up and down the bar.
How do you end a woodworking vise?
0:406:26DIY - Fast Action Vise for Woodworking - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipSo this is a quick look at the Vice in action before we get started here you simply push that buttonMoreSo this is a quick look at the Vice in action before we get started here you simply push that button you can push the the little clamping piece down to wherever you want it and then turn the knob.
How thick should a leg vise be?
You want something thick enough that it will not deflect, long enough that you can use a lot of leverage on it, and wide enough to clamp larger pieces. For hardwoods you want at least 1.5" thick and for soft woods I would not go less than 2.5". Make it as long as your bench top to a few inches off the ground.
How do you make a wooden leg vice?
4:4112:03Making and Installing a Leg Vise - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipI cut a small piece of wood. And then used my scrap pieces of steel to weigh it. Down. After thatMoreI cut a small piece of wood. And then used my scrap pieces of steel to weigh it. Down. After that dried I flushed it out with my random orbit sander and turned my attention to the handle.
How do you make a vice clamp?
1:107:296 homemade clamps and workbench vises - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipThese are just a couple of strips with two bolts. I put the work pieces between the strips. AndMoreThese are just a couple of strips with two bolts. I put the work pieces between the strips. And there are a lot of holes all along both strips.
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.
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.
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 size vise do I need for woodworking?
For general household DIY, a 4- to 5-inch vise is large enough to handle most tasks. (This measurement is the length of the jaws from end to end and is maximum amount of contact your vise has with the workpiece.)
How to attach a vise to a mounting surface?
Place the base of the vise onto the edge of the vise mounting surface. The back jaw of the vise should hang off the edge of the surface. The base should be fully on the mounting surface. Use a ¼-inch wrench to fasten the base of the vise to the mounting surface using the ¼-inch lag bolts.
How to tighten a vise?
Slide the carriage bolts through the back side of the holes in the back jaw plate of the vise. Slide the front jaw plate onto the carriage bolts from the front side . Slide the remaining to fender washers onto each of the carriage bolts. Thread the 3/8-inch nuts onto the end of each carriage bolt. Use the 3/8-inch wrench to tighten or loosen the vise as needed when using the vise.
What is a vise in a shop?
A simple vise can be made from items around the shop. A vise is one of the most useful tools in the shop. It is often overlooked when thinking about outfitting the wood shop. Commercially available vises are costly and have limitations. Wooden vises on the other hand can be made by the woodworker.
How to make a wood vise?
Place the 2-by-4-by-12-inch hardwood board in front of you. Measure and mark three inches from each end of the board. Use a drill and ¼-inch drill bit to drill through the board at the pencil marks. This board will form the base of the vise.
What to use between the jaws of a vise?
Use cardboard or felt between the jaws of the vise when using very soft woods in the vise.
Who is Jonah Morrissey?
Jonah Morrissey. Jonah Morrissey has been writing for print and online publications since 2000. He began his career as a staff reporter/photographer for a weekly newspaper in upstate New York. Morrissey specializes in topics related to home-and-garden projects, green living and small business.
What are the jaws of a vise made of?
The jaws of the vise are made with stacks of individual blocks, glued together. Here, the blocks have been cut to rough size:
How many holes are there in a vise?
Four holes are drilled and these will be used to bolt the vise down to the bench.
What is the donut on a moving jaw?
The plywood donut beside it (photo above) is the keeper that goes on the lead screw inside the moving jaw. I used 1/2″ plywood for that, and it’s the only part that is not solid wood: The handle is a loose fit in the hole that goes through the head. Later, caps will be added to keep the handle from sliding out.
What bit is used for a slot in a sandbox?
The slot in the base is made using a 5/8″ bit and removing the material between the holes:
What is a test fit?
A test fit. The jaws should be matched at this point – same width, same height and meet evenly when pushed together.
Can you glue a vertical jaw?
When the glue dried, I sanded the jaw smooth and to final shape. Where the vertical jaw meets the horizontal is the only significant cross-grain glue joint. Given how narrow the parts are and how well seasoned the wood is, I don’t think this will be a problem. Using plywood would avoid this altogether.
Where are the off cuts from cutting the arc shape in the jaw parts glued?
Mostly for decorative purposes, the off cuts from cutting the arc shape in the jaw parts are glued to the side and base.
How to fix a rod on a nut?
To fix the rod, we added a small hole through the T-piece and the rod and insert a small bolt. Now you can turn the rod by turning the T-piece.
How long is a 5/8 copper rod?
I use two 5/8" copper pipes to support the rod and to keep the jaw from rotating. They have a length of 50cm. You can adjust the length to your needs.
Does a threaded rod work?
The threaded rod works fine, but the slope of the thread is very low. So you need a lot of turns to open the vise. Maybe I would use a higher slope next time. But this is just a convenience thing
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.
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.
Step 1: The Plan
Back in April, I tried to build a vise, but it didn't really work out like what I wanted. You can see that vise here.
Step 3: Cut Wood to Size (& Glue for Making the Final Size)
Since this is made from reclaimed wood, I thought there would be no point in making two different steps, for cutting, and then gluing, to the final size. For example, if this was made from a 2X4, the base wouldn't have been made from two different parts. Makes sense? :)
Step 4: Drill Holes for the Front & Back Jaws
I aligned and clamped both of the 5 X 9 X 7cm pieces one on top of another. Make sure they are totally aligned before you drill, this is REALLY important!
Step 5: Chisel Holes for the Hex-nut
The nut is going to fit inside the back jaw, like my first homemade vise, I decided to chisel out the holes. This works really well!
Step 6: Glue the Rods
I mixed up some 2 part Epoxy, and glue the rods inside of the holes that were previously drilled in the first jaw.
Step 7: Glue the Front Jaw
Glue the front jaw to the base with some wood glue. If you want to turn this into a Bar-Clamp, you won't need to do this ;)
Step 8: Make the Handle
I started by drilling a 9mm hole in the tip of the 3.5 X 4.5 X 7cm piece, and when I made sure that the rod fit snuggly inside, I drilled a 2mm hole through the wood and the rod. This will help strengthen the bond.
What is a gun vise?
Gun vises are simple tools that aid in the cleaning, maintenance, and repair of firearms.
What screws outperform wood screws?
Those who have used particleboard screws are already aware that they outperform both woodscrews and drywall or sheetrock screws. Particleboard screws are more robust, easier to drive in, less likely to strip the wood, and the head sinks deeper than other screws.
How to make uprights more stable?
Drill quarter-inch holes through the stationary uprights so that the spine and holes line up with the floating uprights in a more stable stance when they move in and out .
Why do you need a gun vise?
As a gun owner, having your gun vise is essential because it makes cleaning your firearm easier. It makes applying lubricant and oil quick and easy, and because these tools are so versatile, you can bet that a DIY gun vise will work with a wide range of firearms.
How to keep carriage bolts from coming unstuck?
To avoid getting glue into the carriage bolt threads, insert at least three inches of the threaded end into the stationary upright before applying glue to its shank.
What is a hand wheel?
A loose-fitting ring that only contacts the barrel under recoil holds the forearm in place. A hand-wheel adjusts the back, which tilts from side to side. You can comfortably service, repair, or clean your weapon after placing it on a vise and configuring these components to fit.
How thick is a plywood vise?
Measure and mark all eight pieces of the wood you’ll be using for this vise. There will be four uprights of “one by” thickness, measuring 0.588 inches thick. The plywood base can be from the same material as the rest of the structure.
