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  1. #1
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    Oct 2016
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    Default Front vise location?

    Hi all
    I am building my first woodworking workbench . Got stuck at where to put the front vise.

    Should the vise be on the left and flush with left edge?
    20181111_100230.jpg

    Or on the right side of left leg?
    20181111_100208.jpg

    cheers
    Hoey

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  3. #2
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    Dec 2012
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    NSW
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    Default

    I would go with right side (2nd picture) as this allows support on both sides of the vice

  4. #3
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    Oct 2016
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    Default

    Ok to the right it goes, thanks Grant.

  5. #4
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    Default

    Hi Hoey, front vises do present a problem as to the best place to put them - while it's traditional to stick them on the front left (for right-handers), there are pros & cons. You could even make an argument for putting them on the right side of your bench if you're a right-hander, depending on what it's mostly used for.

    I see you have a slot prepared for a 'wagon vise', and depending what your main game is, you'll probably find you use that far more often than you use the front vise, anyway. I reckon I use my front vise less than 10% as often as the tail vise. A 'wagon vise' (aka travelling dog) is a great addition to a bench, though it isn't quite as versatile as a traditional tail vise, which provides you with an extra set of jaws at right angles to the front of the bench. This can be extremely handy for holding small things like saw-handles, for e.g., while you get to work on them. Between my two main vises, I reckon I have 'half' a pattern-makers' vise. I would have loved to fit a genuine pattern-makers' vise, but they were way out of my price range when I made my bench (& still are!), so I've just learned to live within my means. There's nearly always some way around the problem of holding awkward things, and for an amateur, it really doesn't matter that much if a job takes a little longer, after all.....

    Cheers,
    IW

  6. #5
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    Jul 2015
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    Default

    Whilst this isn't a topic I've done a lot of conscious thinking about, instinct tells me if you're right handed, install the front vice on the left, and vice-versa if you're left handed.

    As Ian says, it depends on what you want to use it for.

    The instinctive response in my first line assumes you're going to be using some level of hand tools, particularly planes etc, on pieces of timber whilst working on them. When you consider the normal stance of a person when planing, the left for right handers and right for left handers locations tends to become a natural location.

    Just my opinion - there are many arguments surrounding this, and it all comes down to personal preference.

  7. #6
    Join Date
    Feb 2019
    Location
    Upper Hutt, New Zealand
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    215

    Default

    Hi Hoey,
    Just finished installing an old Record vice to my workbench. As a leftie, I've put it on the right side with the extended tail of the bench for a (future) tail vice on the left.
    One thing I did do was drop the steel jaws of the vice about 1 - 2mm below the finished level of the benchtop then flushed up the wood facings to the surface of the bench. It just keeps that steel away from my planes/chisels etc.
    Cheers,
    Pete

  8. #7
    Join Date
    Oct 2016
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    Melbourne
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    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by woodhutt View Post
    Hi Hoey,
    Just finished installing an old Record vice to my workbench. As a leftie, I've put it on the right side with the extended tail of the bench for a (future) tail vice on the left.
    One thing I did do was drop the steel jaws of the vice about 1 - 2mm below the finished level of the benchtop then flushed up the wood facings to the surface of the bench. It just keeps that steel away from my planes/chisels etc.
    Cheers,
    Pete
    Yeah! I did set the vise 2 mm below the bench top even though the vise is made of aluminium

    Cheers
    Hoey

  9. #8
    Join Date
    Oct 2016
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    Melbourne
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    Default

    20190101_214143.jpg20190101_214059.jpg

    Thought I should put up a pic or two of my half finnished bench cos I still not sure where to put holes for the holdfast clamps.

  10. #9
    Join Date
    Feb 2007
    Location
    blue mountains
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    4,882

    Default

    Hi Hoey,
    Aim to have as few holes as you can manage with. You can always add more later if really needed. The dog holes in line with the tail vice double as holdfast holes and a couple towards the back should be enough for starters. It gets very frustrating when small parts and screws drop down them. Enough space on the bench to draw a sketch plan on paper without the pencil poking down a hole is good to have too. As we all work to our own ways of doing things any extra hole positions will make themselves known in time.
    Regards
    John

  11. #10
    Join Date
    Oct 2016
    Location
    Melbourne
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    169

    Default Drawers for the workbench.

    A friend gave me some aluminum drawers and trays they all got 3mm rubber linings . I need more storages for tools and sh...its in my garage so some went under the workbench

    20190724_201228.jpg20190728_195841.jpg20190728_205049.jpg20190807_212425.jpg20190807_212528.jpg

    I think if i screw the top tray and bottom plate to the timbers would make the bench stronger for now all the aluminium bolted together with 5mm nuts and bolts But how to hide the screws ?

  12. #11
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    Default

    Nice & neat!

    You might find the open tray at the top a bit of a rubbish trap if you generate anything like the amount of wood chips and shavings I do.....
    Cheers,
    IW

  13. #12
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    lower eyre peninsular
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    Default

    Dont look at the first thumb nails with red wine under the belt.
    I looked at them and thought ...'why the 'ell is he putting the vice at floor level, need to read my forums then sink the reds..... as you were
    I would love to grow my own food, but I can not find bacon seeds

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