Thread: An improved leg vise

Good idea, Derek.

I think it's the type of thing that would drive me crazy. I could see myself always forgetting to retract it and then it always being in my way when I didn't want it to be!

But as long as you're a bit more conscientious than I am it should be the perfect solution to any thickness board.

Ah, the simple solution. I like it, although I take Luke's point too.

Regards
Paul

I like it!

Have you considered drilling a shallow hole in the chop, and inlaying a coin (or some other metal disk) to stop the screw chewing up the timber? I know in practical terms it probably doesn't matter, but it could be a nice (dated) feature, and keep your chop looking nicer longer.

Do you have young kids visiting often? The kid inside me looks at that where the screw hits the wood, and thinks it would be a perfect place to sticky tape one of the old school "caps" we used to put in our toy pistols (do they still make them?). That would be entertaining for an on-looker.

Lance

Hi Lance

I neglected to add the following pic. There is a steel plate in the chop to prevent wear ...



Regards from Perth

Derek

It might sound a bit perverse but I would try turning it around because I think it could be turned quicker & easier with thumb and index finger. Hopefully the threads don't collapse due to the pressure on the vise when closed. That is well thought out Derek, you certainly do come up with good ideas for the workshop.

Originally Posted by Chris Parks

It might sound a bit perverse but I would try turning it around because I think it could be turned quicker & easier with thumb and index finger. Hopefully the threads don't collapse due to the pressure on the vise when closed. That is well thought out Derek, you certainly do come up with good ideas for the workshop.

Or have a screw on both sides?

Yes, good idea Derek (for any vise that racks).

Originally Posted by Chris Parks

It might sound a bit perverse but I would try turning it around because I think it could be turned quicker & easier with thumb and index finger.

It would probably prevent the vise handle from turning when the screw is fully retracted.

However, if this was incorporated into the original design it could be done. Then you could either have a little handle on the screw thread or use a threaded bolt (say M10 or M12). I have a dedicated cheap as dirt 200rpm cordless drill from Aldi that has Nut Setter in it, and I use that for the travel on my compound table (on the drill press).

15. Quick Table Position adjustment.jpg

Originally Posted by BobL

Or have a screw on both sides?

Too much fiddling around I suspect. The process needs to be as quick as possible.

I don't think Chris was referring to locating the screw on the front of the vice but moving it from the left to the right hand size still behind the vice itself.

The reason to have screws on both sides is so that any rack can be removed from either side of the vice because sometimes it is easier to put the workpiece in the vice on on one side than the other.
An alternative mount cold be a piece of say 6mm thick x 50mm steel angle in place of a wooden and tap a thread for the screw directly into the angle.

Mounting screws on the front of the vice would indeed come into contact with the main handle unless a collapsible screw was used - these are interesting devices - I looked for an image example but could not find one. They consist of links of rod that have an thread on their outer. Their construction forms a rigid rid under compression but when under tension the links can follow and would drop out of teh way of the vice handle.

Anyway I like what Derek has done.

Originally Posted by BobL

The reason to have screws on both sides is so that any rack can be removed from either side of the vice because sometimes it is easier to put the workpiece in the vice on on one side than the other.

Ah, sorry, that's different. I thought you meant two opposing screws that would meet each other on the one side (say left), so now I can say what I really thought of that particular idea - bloody ridiculous!

Yeah, agree that one on each side of the chop would be useful.

Originally Posted by FenceFurniture

Ah, sorry, that's different. I thought you meant two opposing screws that would meet each other on the one side (say left), so now I can say what I really thought of that particular idea - bloody ridiculous!

Yeah, agree that one on each side of the chop would be useful.

That could be done with a swinging arm pivoted on the moving face quite easily and it would be adjustable from the front of the vise.

Well, I suppose you could also do half a turn, push the handle through, do half a turn etc. Tis a bit tedious but gets it there.