Thread: Installing vice: how square is square?

if your worried about it make the timber jaw on the moving side parallel with the bench by means of sanding it to match the bench.
it may put a taper on the timber jaw...but that doesn't matter as it will close in parallel.

thats only if it worries you..... i think it would close up fine.

good looking heavy duty bench tom
well done

thanks. I'm going to add dog holes and an end vice.

I think 1mm probably isn't worth the worry... once the wood in the jaw compacts a bit with use i'll probably not notice it.

you will put something vertical in it one day then the 1 mm will be on the other side then..lol

Is the 52 1/2 a quick release type? I had a quick release type where the jaws were out of alignment by about the same degree and it made the mechanism slip. A business card shim or too sorted it out. Don't forget you may have to taper your wooden jaws so they marry top-to-bottom too.

cheers
Michael

Thanks Mic. Where does the business card shim go? It is a quick release. The mechanism doesn't slip, but sometimes it takes a few turns to re-engage the thread.

The way I've installed it means there isnt much play between the bolts and the bolt holes, so i cant really turn it.

Come to think of it, maybe i need to do some more checking of "square".... I have installed the vice, and added the rear wooden jaw. I was measuring from the front metal jaw to the rear wood jaw... so the alignment issue could be a change in thickness of the wood in the rear jaw, or of the front metal jaw relative to back metal jaw....

I'll go and look at it again tonight.....

Originally Posted by tomnewby

Thanks Mic. Where does the business card shim go? It is a quick release. The mechanism doesn't slip, but sometimes it takes a few turns to re-engage the thread.


, or of the front metal jaw relative to back metal jaw....

I'll go and look at it again tonight.....

Sandwich the shim between the wood jaw and the metal jaw.

That was the problem with mine, the front and rear metal jaws were not aligned.

Cheers
Michael

Sounds good. I was thinking about planing the face of the front wood jaw parallel to the rear wood jaw. But this seems a better option.

Thanks for the tip.

I have installed 2 vices so far and both times I found the top of outside metal face made contact first. I put it down to my work being a bit out of square and adjusted the wood cheek to suit. After reading this post I am wondering if the vices are built with a small toe in at the top.
Regards

According to some things I've read, the good ones are made with a slight incline of the top of the jaw.

Mine is contacting sooner on the left top rather than the right top.... different kind of out-of-parallel.

Originally Posted by tomnewby

thanks. I'm going to add dog holes and an end vice.

I think 1mm probably isn't worth the worry... once the wood in the jaw compacts a bit with use i'll probably not notice it.

I'd say you are probably right, after you've whacked it a few dozen times a mil either way will be neither here nor there.

cool. i wont dwell on it then.

Originally Posted by orraloon

I have installed 2 vices so far and both times I found the top of outside metal face made contact first. I put it down to my work being a bit out of square and adjusted the wood cheek to suit. After reading this post I am wondering if the vices are built with a small toe in at the top.
Regards

Yes, there should be a slight toe-in at the top of the jaws to make sure that the jaws are parallel when they are tightened up.