Workbench Vises - all the different ones in the same thread - contributions please

[FenceFurniture]

I thought it might be timely to see if we can get some feedback on all the different vises available, and keep the info in one thread for future reference. That way it would be a very valuable resource for those contemplating a benchbuild (like me ).

I'll kick it off with what I have come across, and other contributions are most welcome.

It would be great to have input from people who have used the different vises, talking about what they really like about them, but equally anything that's a bit off-colour.

Cheers
Brett

[FenceFurniture]

First up is Tail vises and Wagon Vises

I can think of five here, but I'm sure there are others.

HNT GORDON TAIL VISE
These are quite a simple little number that are easy & quick to fit, can be fitted to thinner benches. They are a very reasonable price, and with the added advantage of being readily available for the cost of domestic postage, as they are made by Terry.

They are available in two sizes:
100mm Travel $160 (March '13)
150mm Travel $195 ( " ")

I have been using the 100mm version for about 7-8 months and find them very good indeed. Had the 150mm been available at the time I think I would have purchased that because it means lee dog changing on the front end when planing different lengths.

When they first appeared about a year ago there was some discussion about them looking like they were slow to operate because the knob is small and has no momentum. However, I can do the full 100mm travel in just about 5 seconds by rolling the knob from the tip of my forefinger, through the V of my thumb down to it's tip in one movement.

When changing workpieces of the same length it is very rapid indeed. A very slight unscrewing, remove piece and replace, and then just a little flick of the knob is enough to secure the piece.

The dogs for the vise are 1/2" diameter, and that seems to be plenty. You can use whatever you like on the front end, as that is in the bench. I have also been using these 1/2" dogs in the bench, and if you do that then you will need two of each size (height from bench).

Terry tells me that someone(s) have mounted two of these facing each other on each end of the bench - can't quite remember the logic behind it though.

If you wanted to you could recess the knob so that it doesn't protrude past the end of the bench.

They could also be incorporated into a timber drill deck or fence and used as an adjustable stop and/or quick clamping. I might have a play around with that one day.

BENCHCRAFTED WAGON VISE
US$369 (March '13), and has to be freighted to Oz (not cheap).
As I look around the benchbuilds, this seems to be a very popular vise. It is far more complex to fit, requires an endcap for the bench to be dovetailed on. It obviously has far superior holding power, but I wonder if that is required. Certainly for thin stock there is only so much pressure can be applied before it bends.

It also means having a large wheel hanging off the end of the bench.

Rapid travel is possible by giving the large wheel a good spin - the momentum carries it through.

It's entirely possible that I'm missing something, but I'm struggling to see any advantage over the simpler, much less expensive, more readily available, and far easier to install HNT.

VERITAS SURFACE VISE
An even less expensive alternative (US$79) that can be placed anywhere on the bench (depending on your dog'ole pattern). Looks like it could be very slow to adjust because the knob has to be flipped over every half turn unless the whole thing is lifted up.

VERITAS SLIDING TAIL VISE
US$279 + freight
Can't comment on these, but they kinda look old school, and possibly outdated.

VERITAS TAIL VISE
$US72.50 + handle + freight
Stock standard screw vise, with the advantage of being able to hold workpieces longer than the bench.




Leg and face vises posts to come.

[BobL]

I'm down south helping some friends set up their WW shed at the moment and one of the things we are doing is building a bench and installing a vice.

They have already purchased a vice, a quick release 9" Eclipse, but unfortunately is not suitable for a bench with a front skirt or apron. The price they paid was something like $236 !! I think this might have been an inflated "country price" given that Timbecon have the same vice for $160 and Carbatec have the Groz quick release Eclipse knockoff for $167. The Eclipse casting appears kind of rough but the screw and sliding shafts appear OK.

I'm suggesting they return the Eclipse and get themselves a twin screw Lee Valley vice ($309) from Carbatec, which will fit the bench with apron a lot better than the eclipse.

On my own now 7 year old workbench which I made just to get me started I have a basic Torquata single screw which I got on special for $39 (price now is $79.90). The faces I made for this vice are 16" long which contributes to some serious horizontal racking on the outer edges and by now it's starting to wear so it also have some vertical racking. I also have a Torquata shoulder vice which I also got on special for $29 (price now is $45) but it gets very little use so I cannot report on its long term effectiveness

[FenceFurniture]

Good stuff Bob - just the sort of feedback needed. Make sure you friends don't buy the Groz QR as it has one VERY annoying characteristic. For certain thickness (and this probably relates to the thread pitch) when tou quick close it up and then spin the handle for tightening it can pop back one thread and drop your job on the floor. Nothing serious has happened to me yet, but then again I haven't put anything too serious into it (yet) .

When we have a good amount of feedback on all the various topics I intend to collate it all and put it into a PDF as an attachment. This will save people having to trawl through the whole thread to make sure they haven't missed anything.

[FenceFurniture]

BENCHCRAFTED LEG VISE (Criss Cross or Scissor action)
US$399-439 (+freight) They mention a Solo and a Retro (the two different prices) but they don't actually say anywhere what the difference is

There is the previous Parallel Guide style still available as well, but for a saving of $40-80, and the remarkable improvement of the scissor action over the PG style, I doubt you'd buy anything else (wonder how long they'll keep the PG going ). The advantages are a much simpler build, the parallel glide isn't in the way under the bench, but mainly the dramatic increase in operational speed of the scissor over the PG.

As far as I know Benchcrafted are the only manufacturers of Leg Vises. These seem to be very popular with benchbuilders on this forum.

I don't know enough about them to make much comment at all, so those who have one would need to fill us all in here.

From what I can gather, you can get a deeper job into the vise, and also clamp a job right down one side of the leg. There may well be more to it than that (I hope so).

[szczepan4069]

decided to also look at buying a few good quality vises for a new work bench i am hoping to put together......have pulled together lots of fabulous images of the various sorts out there.....decided to build my vices instead. I will make the "plunge" ...pardon the pun...into building my own timber vices with timber screws. Thats the most interesting part of the vise as far as i'm concerned...and will be definitely be a challenge. check out the following sites for wooden vices......

Målilla Hyvelbänkar - Handcrafted workbenches for woodworking
Big Wood Vise - WorkBench Gallery - Jameel A:

these are amoung my favourites.....

good luck.....may get another thread happening once i get some progress shots of my wooden thread router jig setup .....

[Ray153]

BENCHCRAFTED LEG VISE (Criss Cross or Scissor action)
US$399-439 (+freight) They mention a Solo and a Retro (the two different prices) but they don't actually say anywhere what the difference is

There is the previous Parallel Guide style still available as well, but for a saving of $40-80, and the remarkable improvement of the scissor action over the PG style, I doubt you'd buy anything else (wonder how long they'll keep the PG going ). The advantages are a much simpler build, the parallel glide isn't in the way under the bench, but mainly the dramatic increase in operational speed of the scissor over the PG.

As far as I know Benchcrafted are the only manufacturers of Leg Vises. These seem to be very popular with benchbuilders on this forum.

I don't know enough about them to make much comment at all, so those who have one would need to fill us all in here.

From what I can gather, you can get a deeper job into the vise, and also clamp a job right down one side of the leg. There may well be more to it than that (I hope so).

The retro comes with a steel "box" that you mortise into the chop or the leg at the top of the cross assembly. That box is screwed to the timber and contains the pin that the cross pivots on. The solo has no steel box, instead you drill a hole through the width of the chop and a long steel rod goes though one side of the chop, though the pivot hole and then through the other side of the chop.

Each version requires a groove for the arm of the cross to sit in and travel up and down as you wind the vice in or out, the retro simply has a wider "socket" at the top of the groove to accept the steel box. It's so you don't have to drill through a wide structure by hand as I am told the hole must be drilled very accurately for it to work properly.

I bought one but am still in the prep stage of my build. Haven't got all the timber yet......

[behai]

BENCHCRAFTED MOXON VISE

Hardware only, no timber bits.

$USD 205.00 in total to get to Melbourne. I am ashamed to disclose that I have not used my pair yet. Still in the process of learning how to build a proper woodworking bench.

I like the look and feel of this vise. It just feels indestructible if we use it in the correct manner.

[behai]

Zyliss Vice or Z-VISE

$NZD 399.00 to get the full set to Melbourne. I did not make a mistake, I am stating it in New Zealand dollars.

In the last 12 months or so, I have been using this vise for planning.

The top of my bench is 45 mm thick by 190 cm wide, so this vise clamps on very suitably. I dismount it and use the clamp for vertical clamping too -- very useful for gluing.

For planning, it is difficult to use this vise on narrow pieces -- that is, less than 10 cm wide or so. I feel that at least 5 cm on the right hand side (I am right handed) is not well supported it, too much pressure on this side, and the whole piece will fall down.

I have not use any other features of this vise. But what it is, I feel I got good value for money.

*
* *

A wing-nut lost it wings during transit. Mr. Wilkinson (of New Zealand) sent me a replacement for free. During usage, I broke another wing of another different nut. I am only a small boy and not very strong compared to other boys, so we have to be mindful of the pressure we put on these wings.

[FenceFurniture]

BENCHCRAFTED MOXON VISE

Hardware only, no timber bits.

$USD 205.00 in total to get to Melbourne. I am ashamed to disclose that I have not used my pair yet. Still in the process of learning how to build a proper woodworking bench.

I like the look and feel of this vise. It just feels indestructible if we use it in the correct manner.

G'day behai, yes I was getting to that - you beat me to it! No worries mate, as long as the info is there.

So about $55 for freight? That's not too bad, given that they're heavy little suckers. Mind you, US freight to Oz has just risen very significantly as I understand it (like 40% increase or something).

[FenceFurniture]

Maybe the castings are not too good?

Can you post any pics of it in action?

I saw them demonstrated at the Sydney Show last year - they looked pretty versatile.

[behai]

Hi Brett,

Here are a few Zyliss vice images.


Vise Clamped Onto Top

The above photo shows that the upper jaw, the jaw that grips the work piece, is always outside the top -- regardless how wide the top is. This jaw is 7cm (70mm) wide.

So, if we use the full width of the jaw, the work piece must be positioned at least 70mm to the right -- if you are right hand side.

Also showing is the wing that I broke by accident


With a 90mm wide work piece - a


With a 90mm wide work piece - b


With a 42cm wide work piece - a


With a 42cm wide work piece - b

-- So with a work piece less than 10cm, we will lose some support from the jaw.

But it is a very versatile vise. I have no complaints. I use for gluing and sawing too.

Regards,

...behai.

Maybe the castings are not too good?

Can you post any pics of it in action?

I saw them demonstrated at the Sydney Show last year - they looked pretty versatile.

[FenceFurniture]

Good work behai, thank you.

[FenceFurniture]

There are quite a few of these to look at, and so I don't particularly intend to discuss the garden variety types in any great detail. Vises like Groz Quick Release, Record, Dawn etc etc are all pretty much the same, as near as I can tell, so given that they don't do anything particularly special, we can probably limit discussion to the problems that may arise with them (such as my comments on the Groz in response to BobL's post).

I shall post the face vises that I have turned up one at a time.

I also have Gerhard "Thousand Words a Post" working on what is available from Europe, so that should be interesting.

[FenceFurniture]

MCW AUMINIUM VISE
$550 + delivery from NSW







This may look like a traditional face vise, but there are some important differences, apart from the very pleasing visual treatment that Micheal has given it.

The screw is covered by the horizontal alum plate, so no rubbish gets into it. I presume too, that this can be used as a reference for settings boards parallel to the bench top (not sure how important that is though )

The handle is quite short so it has much less potential to get in the way. It only needs to be this long because of the incredibly smooth action of this vise (I've briefly used one).

Being aluminium, it is much lighter than steel/cast iron vises.

Mounting it is a very simple task.



For my bench, I'm considering a leg vise, tail vise, and also one of these on the other side. Not sure yet. Perhaps I may mount it on the tail vise end of the bench (assuming that I go with an HNT Tail Vise). You know what we all say - "You can never have too many clamps" - well a vise is a clamp!