Thread: Is this vice ok?

Originally Posted by Landseka

I returned it to the store thinking it was faulty / damaged but was told that this was normal.

(I did look at others in stock & different brands & it seems that they are all like this.)

So...when I make the wood face to go on this front face, should I shape it so I finish with the faces parallel? This seems to defeat whatever purpose the manufacturer had in mind.

Or...leave the angle there which to me will give a higher pressure pinch point at the top of the face.

Neil.

Niel, This is entirely normal. Using the vice for a decent sized piece of wood (eg 50 mm thick) won't give you a greater pressure at the top of the face because the top is further away from the threaded rod. If the faces were parallel you would end up with a variable pressure across the piece you are clamping. I'd be more worried if they were parallel.

Hi Neil,

The vice is made like this so that as you tighten it up, the jaws will then become parrallel.
Just leave your two pieces off wood square.

What brand is it Neil? and how much was it?

I'm looking at a Record for about $230ish and tossing up as to going for a cheaper one. Guess you pay for what you get, the Record is well finished with a metal dog compared to plastic on some copies I've seen.

Originally Posted by bennylaird

What brand is it Neil? and how much was it?

I'm looking at a Record for about $230ish and tossing up as to going for a cheaper one. Guess you pay for what you get, the Record is well finished with a metal dog compared to plastic on some copies I've seen.

The plastic may be deliberate so that you can use tools close to the dog and not worry about accidentally hitting the dog and ruining the tool. Depending on what I am doing I have a selection of dogs I can use on my front vice (wood, brass and steel).

Thanks Bob, didn't think of that. Should be easy to make up some from other materials to suit, still like the Record though.

I recently bought two new vices for a bench I'm building (nearly there, photos when I finish it ).

I have a Groz - which is the Indian-made copy of the old Record - and a Chinese version.

The Groz is slightly better finished and has a significantly longer thread. It also has a plastic dog. The Chinese version was about $60 cheaper.

I'm not unhappy with either of them. Time will tell if the longer thread on the Groz is any real advantage. I suspect I won't get a lot of use out of it.

Thanks Bob & DJ, I feel happier now about fitting the vice to my bench and will use a square wood faces.

Originally Posted by bennylaird

What brand is it Neil? and how much was it?

I to looked at the Record but they only had the 5" in stock.

This one was $102.50 which is only a couple dollars dearer than the Record 5". The quality & finish is not as good I'm sure but quite adequate for my needs. Also it has a metal dog fitted.

Regards

Neil

I'm gunna go for the 7 inch version of the record. Not that size matters

HI Landseka,
What's with the legs of the bench sitting in ice cream containers? I am intrigued.

I bet he has the same problem I have - leaking shed. (Especially looking at the floor in the shot).

Great idea - might steal that one!

Keeps the white ants out of his bench

"Is this vice ok?"

Yes, but only do it until you need glasses.

Icecream containers are a great way to skid stuff with legs around on concrete or brick paving. They're not so good when your dog decided to pee into them and the stuff soaks into the leg so it never comes out.

Originally Posted by Vernonv

HI Landseka,
What's with the legs of the bench sitting in ice cream containers? I am intrigued.

Stuart got it...with a heavy rain there is quite a flood runs through the garage, in the back door & out the front, good trick really, washes most of the crud out. I just have to remember not to have any good timber standing directly on the floor if rain is expected.

Ha ha, I like the other replies too.

Regards

Neil