Thread: Gold-plated tail vice

What a cool vise! Love it! Looks like it would be easier to work from the side than the traditional.

Not sure I want to pay for it, though particularly since I recently bought the tail vise hardware from Carbatec.

Interesting how he's left it open on the top, presumably to prevent him (or someone else) from working over the gap.

Tex

Looks sweet but a bit of a luxury item.

Just had another look, since I'm about to start building a tail vise myself.

Are those domino dogs?

Tex

If you are interested, Tex, do you wan t to borrow Schwarz's book from me? PM me and I can arrange to drop it by

Boy I'm thick sometimes. Just had a look at the video. No, Tex, no domino dogs, no avoiding working over the gap. I need new glasses....

Been working through the Landis Workbench Book lately. Maybe we can catch lunch or a drink next week and swap books?

I still like the wagon wheel part, though. Great idea.

Tex

That is a sweet looking end vice Might even adapt something like that for myself!! Looks simpler to make that the standard ones I've seen.
I reckon it seems a tad pricey for what it is, but not extreme. The down side would be the time and effort fitting it, but the same could be said for any end vice.
My ultimate woodworking vice (not an end vice, so bit of a side track!) is the Emmert, I'll never get one of course but one needs to dream!

Cheers

Originally Posted by jmk89

Now here is what happens when someone starts something like that - a made-to-order wagon vice - yours for US$325 plus postage! More than most of us would spendon our entire tool kit!

You obviously haven't looked at Derek Cohen's tool kit And I think there are a few other people out there that have spent more than that on a single plane.

Nice looking vice though.

Well if you want the cheap version of the same type of vise then you can do this . It cost about $35 for the vise screw and the idea is taken directly from a Woodsmith design. I only modified it a little.

For what it's worth, some people find paying for legal advice too much like paying for letters engraved in gold. They are only words after all.

It's just one of those specialty items that will find a market amongst some serious woodworkers. When the cost is divided up over the life of the vice, its probably pretty cheap.

I have just just viewed the video of that vice in operation. It is smooth. There is no way the timber version can ever work that well. In terms of end use, there is no difference but the quality of that vice is quite evident IMHO.

Here's mine.

I have used it about 5 times in 2 years.

It's a beautiful thing, no doubt.

As for price, I paid $350 for my Chinese patternmaker's vice and it's no great shakes on the workmanship stakes.

It is one very handy bit of gear which is in constant use, and one that I'd save for again!

Cheers,

P

I'm building a bench at the moment and have been debating vise configurations.

The bench crafted one has come across my sights.
It is expensive I agree. What I like about is;
- I like the wheel over a t-bar (personal choice)
- I like how smooth it is. I've used carbatec ones what creak, jam and annoy me.
- I like how the construction drops into place.

Would I buy it? I dunno.

Is it better than a wonder pup for $60? I dunno.

I'm keen to get the new bench crafted leg vise.
I've always wanted a sliding leg vise.
If you get all three that's about $1300. Which well...

Schwarz rule #1 - always over build your workbench, but never at the cost of your marraige.

I've been thinking about making a few vices, maybe I can fetch a few hundred $$ for them too

I wouldn't call that a vise - it's what previously got called a 'travelling dog" system, and 400 bucks is a rediculous price to pay for the mechanism that can be cobbled up for way less, a la Boban illustration.

Depending on the work you do, it's a very handy item, for sure. I started that way about 30 years ago, then decided to make the traditional shoulder vise. That was definitely the best move I've made in bench construction - I use it constantly - probably 80% to 20% cf. the front vise. It's much more versatile than the travelling dog - just having 3 or 4 dog holes is a great leap forward & saves a lot of winding in & out. And the open jaws of the shoulder vise at right angles to the bench front make a great place to work on small items like plane totes or saw handles, or even biger stuff like shaping the edges of chair seats.

And even if you buy the hardware, it's a helluva lot less than $400!

Cheers,