Results 1 to 9 of 9

Thread: Tail vice uses

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Feb 2009
    Location
    Adelaide - outer south
    Age
    67
    Posts
    935

    Default Tail vice uses

    My bench has extended overhang to accommodate a traditional tail vice but I'm not sure how much I would use one. This is mainly because I don't understand what advantage they have. Several posts I have seen indicate that they are the best option for some types of work and I'm after some examples of this.

    I know there are a number of tail vice users here so I wonder if some of you can please post a photo or two of examples where the tail vice is the best type for the job along with a brief explanation of why.

    Thanks in anticipation .
    Cheers, Bob the labrat

    Measure once and.... the phone rings!

  2. # ADS
    Google Adsense Advertisement
    Join Date
    Always
    Location
    Advertising world
    Age
    2010
    Posts
    Many





     
  3. #2
    Join Date
    Feb 2006
    Location
    Perth
    Posts
    27,757

    Default

    I did have grand plans to use dogs and the two vices together to affect faster glue ups without using clamps but in 10 years I have only used it this way a couple of times.
    I also have a removable corner vice (which I spent a lot of time making) that is held in place to the bench by the tail vice and have used the corner vice about the same number of times

    The main use I have for my tail vice is it's the vice I use when the main vice is occupied usually with a glue up or holding a jig etc.
    I could take out or maybe use clamps on what is being held in the main vice but it's usually just quicker and easier to use the other vice.
    I find it's better than having a second vice on the same side of the bench as the main vice because they can conflict with each other.

    If had enough shed space for a free standing bench I would probably fit some form of vice to at least 3 sides of my bench. I have 4 vices in the metal working side of the shed for the same reasons.

  4. #3
    Join Date
    Feb 2003
    Location
    back in Alberta for a while
    Age
    68
    Posts
    12,006

    Default

    I use mine to hold boards for edge and face planing.
    the vise when teamed with a row of dog holes works a treat.
    one caveat, when the board gets a little thin it is too easy to clamp a bow into it, with not nice consequences when face planing.
    regards from Alberta, Canada

    ian

  5. #4
    Join Date
    Mar 2005
    Location
    Camden, NSW
    Age
    74
    Posts
    3,576

    Default Tail vises..... oh let me count the ways!

    Hi Labr@, I am a very heavy user of tail vises but firstly, I should also explain that my workbench is currently against a wall and so I can only access it from one side and limited (= cluttered?) access to the ends. I actually have 2 tail vises and they are on the same end!

    2554A590-DBEB-4976-9F36-3965D4F631E6.jpg 7933E2CA-EF10-4797-ABFA-CCF326C95DB5.jpg

    As as you can see, I had to get ‘creative’ to mount my HNT tail vise by setting it into the bench and in line with the closest row of dog holes. There are 3 rows of dog holes, 2 circular and one rectangular. The circular holes are aligned to the 2 outer dogs on the big tail vise AND the HNT wheras the centre rectangular dog holes align with the centre dog on the big tail vise. The lateral spacing of the dog holes is less than the movement of the vise/s and so I can positively clamp ANYTHING that is shorter than the full length of the bench and with NO obstructions such as freehand clamps above the surface. Most darksiders (and me if anyone is watching ) use the tail vise to clamp regular and irregular shaped workpieces to plane, chisel, sand etc....

    2527FCF9-3A25-4C8C-AC6B-082255FB34F8.jpg 08F22582-B471-459F-8719-EA7872E539AC.jpg

    ..... however, probably my most common use is clamping jigs and fixtures to the bench top for safer and more accurate use. These jigs and fixtures include my ancient gasket cutter (for cutting LARGE circular photo-mounting mats), my homemade wet stone holders...

    9215BDBF-5CAA-4A2A-8D31-769324FDEB4D.jpg 98C06A59-E4B1-439D-A0D3-5BF9E9D4C6EC.jpg

    .... and even my INCREDIBLY EXTRAVAGANT Bridge City Tools chopstick maker!

    97F10ABB-888D-45CC-B91C-744C15716312.jpg

    I also have a traditional plane stop on the far end of the bench in line with the front row of dog holes....

    6F690A58-2E0B-4A05-93A2-EB57E799A801.jpg

    AND, to complete my vise portfolio, I have a traditional Dawn 4” vise bolted to a batten that clamps into my front woodworking vise...

    7DC399D5-2725-4990-A94B-8C2054924C8C.jpg

    BTW, the Dawn 4” vise was given to me on my 7th birthday because Dad thought I might need one ?

    fletty
    a rock is an obsolete tool ......... until you don’t have a hammer!

  6. #5
    Join Date
    Feb 2006
    Location
    Perth
    Posts
    27,757

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by fletty View Post
    BTW, the Dawn 4” vise was given to me on my 7th birthday because Dad thought I might need one ?
    Love it!

    As a 13 year old with my first Xmas holiday job I saved up for 3 weeks to buy my first vice, a 4" Joplin. MY mates (who BTW didn't have jobs) thought I was stupid. I still have that vice and use it more than any other of the vices in my shed.

  7. #6
    Join Date
    Feb 2009
    Location
    Adelaide - outer south
    Age
    67
    Posts
    935

    Default

    Thanks for the photos Fletty. Maybe my terminology is wrong - I think of your type of vice as a "wagon vice". The tail vice I'm talking about is the L shaped type.

    As for your dad, he sounds like a man of great wisdom and foresight.
    Cheers, Bob the labrat

    Measure once and.... the phone rings!

  8. #7
    Join Date
    Mar 2005
    Location
    Camden, NSW
    Age
    74
    Posts
    3,576

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by labr@ View Post
    Thanks for the photos Fletty. Maybe my terminology is wrong - I think of your type of vice as a "wagon vice". The tail vice I'm talking about is the L shaped type.

    As for your dad, he sounds like a man of great wisdom and foresight.
    In my (limited) experience, the “L shaped” vise works largely the same way. There is a limited ‘grip’ area where the arms of the ‘L’ meets the fixed part of the bench but the main clamping is between the dogs on the moveable L and the dogs on the fixed bench?
    a rock is an obsolete tool ......... until you don’t have a hammer!

  9. #8
    Join Date
    Apr 2001
    Location
    Perth
    Posts
    10,810

    Default

    Holding short stuff ...



    Holding long stuff ...



    I posted not long ago about making a metal serrated planing stop on a bench dog ..





    Well, I added one to the end vise as well. Super holding power!



    In that photo is also a Doe's Foot, which is another form of tail vise. More in that link above.

    Regards from Perth

    Derek
    Visit www.inthewoodshop.com for tutorials on constructing handtools, handtool reviews, and my trials and tribulations with furniture builds.

  10. #9
    Join Date
    Apr 2006
    Location
    Hobart
    Posts
    5,107

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by BobL View Post
    .....The main use I have for my tail vice is it's the vice I use when the main vice is occupied usually with a glue up or holding a jig etc.....
    And I am the opposite of BobL. I mailnly use my face vise when the end vise is busy. Not sure why; just the way of the world.

    If the bench is away from the wall then access may be a little easier around the end vise.

    Note the differentiation between end vise, tail vise and wagon vise.


    Cheers

    Graeme

Similar Threads

  1. Tail Vice
    By pmcgee in forum HAND TOOLS - UNPOWERED
    Replies: 5
    Last Post: 1st January 2015, 04:01 PM
  2. Face vs tail vice?
    By hellofellow in forum THE WORK BENCH
    Replies: 19
    Last Post: 17th December 2013, 07:08 PM
  3. Tail Vice
    By MatFinish in forum THE WORK BENCH
    Replies: 8
    Last Post: 12th July 2011, 05:56 PM
  4. Tail vice retrofit
    By ryanarcher in forum WOODWORK - GENERAL
    Replies: 38
    Last Post: 24th June 2005, 05:26 PM
  5. Tail Vice
    By stevejr2002 in forum WOODWORK - GENERAL
    Replies: 0
    Last Post: 16th January 2002, 04:49 PM

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •