Australian end vices

**snafuspyramid** · 26th March 2013, 02:53 PM

I'm trying to decide what to use for an end vice.

I am tossing up between the venerable vintage quick-release Dawn Australian-made vice. Fantastic examples can be had for around $50. Anybody who uses these will agree that's a lot of vice for the money.

download.jpg

However, I'm concerned that the width of the vice would prevent me from locating my dog holes as close to the front of my bench as I would like (perhaps 2 1/2 - 3" for plough plane use). That's because, in my opinion, it's best to centre the dog hole in the vice. So if I purchase an 8" vice, it'll be 4" out. I've not seen any Dawn 6" QR vices, although they probably exist.

The second option is the significantly more expensive HNT Gordon aluminium inset vice, $175 including postage for the smaller model (necessitating dog holes spaced at 4", which is fine).

tailviceonbench.jpg

Much less metal hanging about. Also very easy to install. However, comes at a premium of about $100 over the Dawn, but still very reasonable IMO.

My other vice will be a leg vice. Will probably build a benchtop roubo thingie if the inclination arises.

For now, I'm using the Veritas wonder dog. Handy device, but frustratingly fiddly and slow.

**orraloon** · 26th March 2013, 09:06 PM

You can have a double row of dogs in the bench and a single dog on the vice. Or make dog holes in the wood cheek liner on the vice to suit. The vice I used had no metal dog so I made a wood one and will use 2 rows of holes in the bench. 2 dogs could be put on the vice if you like. Round pin dogs could also be used and would be quicker and easier to do
Regards
John

**FenceFurniture** · 26th March 2013, 09:28 PM

Did you see this thread Eddie? Post #2 for the HNT.

**bsrlee** · 26th March 2013, 09:38 PM

Lee Valley/Veritas have made a surface mount end vice in steel for a while & it has about a 7" travel rather than 4". Neither of the end vices have a quick release either, if you are changing sizes of timber regularly.

Veritas also make a very nice QR end vice which is intended to have wooden jaws, which they show with dogs near the front, both horizontal and vertical.

**snafuspyramid** · 27th March 2013, 09:28 PM

@Fencefurniture, I did see that post - I'd actually never heard of the HNT Gordon vice before. I see that it has a stellar reputation for the short time it's been available. I was really concerned with whether the price difference compared to a vintage Dawn - a formidable piece of engineering in its own right - could be justified.

I'm definitely set on the HNT Gordon though, probably the longer of the two.

Regarding the Lee Valley vices, I'm not that thrilled by any of their vices. The inset vice looks much to slow and reminds me of their wonder dogs, which I find extremely handy, but nonetheless dislike - although in fairness they're not intended as "everyday" vices. All that fine thread, not good for my patience. The big face/end vices would not offer any advantage over the Dawn, to my mind, but would cost far more. I did consider the twin screw for a while, but it's out of my price range and I'd prefer a leg vice / Roubo combination.

**auscab** · 27th March 2013, 11:38 PM

The quick action release on the Dawn would be a very nice feature in a tail vice, never really though of it till now .

How about trimming the left and right sides of the Dawn's jaws back with a angle grinder ?
Or mounting it on it's side as well and you could then use long bench dogs which are handy as well some times.
Are you putting in a well ?

Rob

**johnredl** · 28th March 2013, 09:20 AM

I have a dawn #9 set up like your talking about. Here is a pic. I've had really no issues at all with it. (Yes I know that I haven't finished the 2nd jaw liner yet!)
ImageUploadedByTapatalk 21364422807.980666.jpg

**johnredl** · 19th April 2013, 08:57 AM

Just wondering, which vices did you end up deciding on?

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