Thread: Sliding Deadman without a leg vise?

Originally Posted by DaveVman

My question is; do I need to have a leg vise with a sliding deadman?

Short answer is no you don't.

As said you dont need a leg vice to use a deadman. Leg vices have become the in thing but to be honest I dont see what the hoha is about apart from being retro. My first vice was a wood screw leg vice as my dad had a couple spare. He said this will do until you can get something better. That said there are improved ways to hold the foot of the vice now instead of bending down to put a pin in a hole but usually expensive. However back to deadmen. Kind of wish I had put one on my bench as its very handy if you work on big items. Trade off is it limits your under bench storage a bit.
Regards
John

Don't miss the chance for a little extra work now for a lifetime of the benefits of the Sliding Deadman as you are calling it . The Board Jack as I have known it .

Mine works with my wooden Face vice no probs . When I built my bench my apprentice built his bench at the same time with a leg vice. It works perfect with all sorts of vices.
My bench build thread.

My Jarrah Workbench

Its not just big stuff you will use it for . I use mine on Big Table top boards for the jointing and some of those are long and heavy . Its held whole doors . House sized things .

It also gets a lot of use every time I build something with drawers. If your vice can open up to hold the drawer depth then all the side and back planing of dovetails or the fitting of the drawer to the cabinet can be done fast.

Their a great think to have fitted but free standing ones is what I had for years before the fitted sliding one .

The other thing it by opening my tail vice right up the board jack slides right out . It needed attention a few times over the years so being able to do that one way or another is important.

Rob