Bench Questions

[noodle_snacks]

I am about to build myself a workbench. But have a few queries.

1. Would Tas Oak be alright for the Top and Legs, is there anything better that isn't much more expensive availible?

2. I am on a budget and plan to use one tail vice with a row of dogs and one front vice. The record 9in vices go for about $200 each but I have noticed some carba-tec clones that have the adjustable bench dog built in as well. Has anyone used these and would they be OK instead of the Record vices?

[Zed]

Try this thread for some answers - hope its what you're after.

http://www.woodworkforums.ubeaut.com...ad.php?t=12779

BTW - I've got a 9" chinese vice on order - they are ok apparently...

[IanW]

This subect has come up a couple of times recently.
I bought a clone of the 52ED several months back, to fit on a secondary bench, and posted a short story of my experiences. The first one I brought home had the jaws out of parallel by several mm over the width of the jaws. I compensated on the wood insert, and it worked ok, but decided I'd prefer one with parallel jaws, to avoid undue wear on the guides when tightening. The seller was happy to exchange. The replacement was parallel left to right, but the vertical slant was a bit more exagerated than the first one. However, the jaws snug up on tightening, the quick-release works well, and it holds anything I've put in it firmly.
There are peopole who claim the original (famous brand name) vices 'ain't what they usta be', and given you can buy 4 of the clones for the price of one 'original', there isn't going to be a lot of decision-making for anyone on a tight budget. Durability is something it's going to take a while to assess, but they seem to be well-enough made to last a generation or two.
I like the look of the new Dawn w'working vices, and was keen to give one a try on a new bench I have planned. No-one I've contacted seems to carry them, so I emailed the company for a local stockist, but so far have been answered by a deafening silence. Their web site is one of those masterfully designed sites that tells you b-all, gives no hints as to retail prices, and is generally about as useful as mammary glands on a bull. I'd like to support local companies with good products, but this sort of marketing approach doesn't make it easy!
Cheers,

[himzol]

I like the look of the new Dawn w'working vices, and was keen to give one a try on a new bench I have planned. No-one I've contacted seems to carry them, so I emailed the company for a local stockist, but so far have been answered by a deafening silence. Their web site is one of those masterfully designed sites that tells you b-all, gives no hints as to retail prices, and is generally about as useful as mammary glands on a bull. I'd like to support local companies with good products, but this sort of marketing approach doesn't make it easy!
Cheers,

Hi Ian,

I believe Glenfords carry tham, but have to order them in. As for contacting them and getting pricing I found the same problem with E-mail. I phoned and got all the answers straight away.

H.

Noodle _snacks,

As for using Tassie Oak, I wouldn't use it for the top of the bench as I have found it splinters really easily, so may not be suited to an area which would get a lot of abuse from sharp pinty thing like chisels etc. (personal view only)

having said that people do use it for flooring so it may be OK.

Himzo.

[noodle_snacks]

If you wouldn't use Tas Oak what would you use that would be availible in tassie?

[himzol]

If you wouldn't use Tas Oak what would you use that would be availible in tassie?

Can't help with whats available in Tassie, havent been there in 10 years, though I'm hopeing to get there next year.

Why don't you get in touch with Tasman, this is his web site:

http://www.diyinfo.com.au/forestsalvage/

not far from Hobart and may be able to supply you with the timber you need. He may even tell you that I'm full of when it comes to Tassie Oak. As I said it's a personal observation.

Himzo.

[IanW]

Hi Ian,

I believe Glenfords carry tham, but have to order them in. As for contacting them and getting pricing I found the same problem with E-mail. I phoned and got all the answers straight away.
Himzo.

Ta Himzo - didn't try calling, but might give it a go since you seem to get the desired results that way.
Avagooday,

[Optimark]

I myself have been quietly looking at vices and narrowed it down to a few, one of which was the, "Dawn, Pivot Jaw, Woodworking, Quick Action, 250mm vice".

I set out to physically find one so that I could see just what it looked and felt like and how it would be attached.

I eventually saw one of them at my local Total Tools shop and decided that this was the one for me.

It really is well designed, and, made in Australia, I'm led to believe. Apparently the majority of their products are now sourced outside to give them a possibility to compete on price in the lower class of product, but when it comes to their premium product, it's produced locally and the price is higher.

You may find their products in a lot of tool shops as they sell a vast array of clamping devices for metal working people. My local nut & bolt place has a Dawn stand with a whole rack of clamps and metal vices. I gave him the part number and he priced it straight away.

He also mentioned that he has never, in the last 15 years, waited more than 2 days for any Dawn product. His biggest selling vice was their 100mm or 4" offset engineering vice, he keeps one in stock, when he sells it he orders another and it turns up pronto.

One of the things I liked about the Dawn vice was that the screw is fully enclosed and therefore keeps any timber shavings and dust from dropping down to the screw mechanism.

The one I handled was smooth and the jaws were dead parallel, I also liked the way the whole front jaw can be raised to act as a dog.

I will be purchasing one about June next year after the new garage is built and the new bench is about to be constructed.

I've been told the RRP is about $230.00 but it's also available in the Timbecom 2004/5 catalogue on page 19 for $199.00

Mick.

[Harry72]

These one's?

http://www.timbecon.com.au/productsd...0&prodid=27906

[bitingmidge]

Hey Optimark,

If you've actually seen a pivot jaw vice, maybe you could help me!

Is the pivoting bit able to be fixed? How would one go holding a verticle board on one side of the thing only?

Cheers,

P

[IanW]

Yep - them's the ones.
I'd really like to hold one in my hands or at least get a good look at the mounting arrangements before signing up. Has anyone out there seen a pikkie of the back of one of these, or can someone who has one tell me if it's a similar arrangement to the Record style?
Thanx,

[Optimark]

H'mm I hadn't thought about holding timber on one side being a problem. I'll visit the store again today and check that situation out.

According to Dawn's web site the pivoting piece is easily removable for widening the clampening applications, I would think that that is what one would do. I'll check out the feasability of doing just that.

I'll take the digital camera down and see if they'll let me photograph the back of the unit. It could be a bit difficult as it's mounted onto a steel stand for display.

From memory I seem to remember there being two holes in the front jaw which could be used to locate and/or hold another faceplate which would be solid. and possibly what one would leave in for most of the time.

I am currently using my 4" Dawn offset engineering vice with super hard old floorboard inserts screwed into the vice jaws as my wood vice, it's all I have, apart from a much battered workmate.

Give me until tonight and also how to load a picture onto this site.

Mick.

[Garrett in Cda]

Don't overlook the Taiwanese clone of the old Emmert Patternmaker's Vise for $200 in the US. Should be cheaper in Australia depending on duty.

<img src=http://members.shaw.ca/glia/Bench/Emmert.jpg>

It rotates 360° around the screw axis, swings up so the the jaws can be set in any position between vertical and horizontal, the front jaw tilts sideways for awkwardly shaped work, there is an insert rocker jaw for even more awkwardly ahped work, and it has 4 dogs, 2 each in the front and rear jaws. Oh, and it's also really big.

The fit & finish on mine is excellent.

Cheers, Garrett

[Optimark]

Right, I've been down to the Total Tools store again and checked out the vice. I will, after pulling it apart and really checking things out, purchase one of these.

I also telephoned Timbecon in Perth and ascertained that they have one in stock on the shelf. That is the 250mm quick release model for $199.00 + $20 freight to Melbourne in my case.

I'm going to try and attach pictures, there are 5 of them.

The main attachment for the vice is via 4 bolts which are plainly seen in one picture.

I took out the pivoting face in a matter of seconds and took a picture of that.

I also took a picture of the front of the vice with the pivoting piece out, you can clearly see where one would attach a face which could be relatively easily removed for insertion of the pivot piece.

I took an overhead of the vice with everything in and you have to bear in mind that this is the smaller of the two vices, it's the 175mm version.

Another picture is of the pivot piece and it's spring loaded spindle and holding pin out for looking at.

Hope this works.

Mick.

[Optimark]

I just noticed I did something wrong when I put the vice back together.

The pivot pin shouldn't stick up like my picture shows. In it's normal position it sits flush.

When one wishes to have the whole front up for clamping something, using a dog or dogs. on the bench, the pin is inserted lower, and, I think upside down, to lift the pivoting front.

Mick.