Thread: Mounting a vise

Hi Bigus,
Is it like this one?

If so then my bench top is 70mm with vice attached directly under the top. Front jaw is 500x140mm. This does fine for my needs but give some thought as to how you work. If your top is thicker then go with that. Depending on how deep you want to the guide bars you can always add extra packing under the top. Deep section work pieces like wide boards, panels or doors even can be clamped at one end so they extend below the vice bars. the far end of the work can be supported by clamps, holdfasts or a deadman.
Last tip is very slightly taper the holding face of the front jaw so that when you close it the top of the jaw makes contact first .
Regards
John

Originally Posted by orraloon

Hi Bigus,
Is it like this one?

If so then my bench top is 70mm with vice attached directly under the top. Front jaw is 500x140mm. This does fine for my needs but give some thought as to how you work. If your top is thicker then go with that. Depending on how deep you want to the guide bars you can always add extra packing under the top. Deep section work pieces like wide boards, panels or doors even can be clamped at one end so they extend below the vice bars. the far end of the work can be supported by clamps, holdfasts or a deadman.
Last tip is very slightly taper the holding face of the front jaw so that when you close it the top of the jaw makes contact first .
Regards
John

Yep, that's the sort. Is your front jaw 140mm in total top to bottom or from the guide rails and/or thread to the top of the jaw?

Top to bottom but the exact measurement is not critical. Make the front jaw slightly proud of the bench top, tighten it up then plane flush to the top.
Regards
John

Thanks mate, just trying to calculate how much packing to use mounting it under a fairly thin (40mm) top. On the basis of what you've told me I figure a packing block of equal thickness to the top should see me in around the right area, which is what I was figuring on doing with an offcut from the top, I just needed some feedback from someone who knows what they're doing.

Many thanks, and may your shavings always be full width.

Yes that should be fine. For what it's worth I built the bench over 6 wears ago and am very happy with that vice. Nice, simple and does all that a vice needs to do.
Regards
John

Good advice above. If you add a spacer block to make the jaws deeper, you will introduce vertical wracking, which is not desirable.

Also, don't be tempted to add a jaw in front of the edge of the bench. You want the front jaw to mate directly with the edge of the bench for best work holding. i.e. the edge of the bench becomes the rear jaw. (You could add a piece flush with the edge and below the bench so the jaws match in depth, but I've never found that necessary.)

Hear is an example of how NOT to do it taken from the 'net.

vice1.jpg