End Vise advice

[Darren Wright]

I looking at the old workbench and trying to figure out how I can use the end vise. It doesn't have a screw and earlier suggestions think the original intention was to add a wood screw to it, but it wasn't completed.


There is a cross support that has a tongue that fits the dado on the end vise section and an area the support slides into.


I ordered this screw to see if it would work.


The nut on it is pretty large and may be too big for the current cross support and an additional hole would need to also go through the benches leg. I may be able to shift the top further down than it is to avoid this, though I think the top is in the original placement.

I feel like I need a taller cross support to use this vise screw and support the nut side of it, and the hole in the leg isn't in an ideal location if I need to do that.

Anyone have any other suggestions or other vise screw mechanisms they think would work for this?

 

[Darren Wright]

Someone recommended this kit, which I think I'll order. I'll use the other one on another project.

Wagon / Tail Vise Kit with 12" Long 3/4"-10 Threaded Rod, 4-1/2" Cast Knob, Bushings, Square Nuts and Stop Collars

A tail or wagon vise is a great addition to any traditional workbench. It allows workpieces to be secured to a bench via bench dogs for hand or machine tool operations. Finding a cost effective and easy to install wagon vise can be a challenge. This wagon vise kit comes with all the hardware...

taytools.com

 

[Darren Wright]

The screw kit arrived today. Looks like it should work quite well. Short enough it won’t require a hole in the leg either.


I’ll cut a mortise in the support below the handle in that pic for the square nut to slip into.

 

[Darren Wright]

I got the new screw installed tonight. I drilled the hole for the screw, but got it a bit off in the cross support, ended up widening that hole. I installed the screw with it running through the widened hole to mark the center. I the mortised the hole for the nut in the correct location. There was an existing bolt hole on the edge of where I needed the mortise, but no bolt was in it. I didn’t find that until I removed the piece to make the mortise. Neither affected the fit and function though.


There weren’t any instructions, but read online they expected you to locktite the handle onto the screw. I did use locktite, but drilled and tapped for a set screw as well, I also filed a flat on the screw for the set screw to tighten against.


I picked up a couple 3/4” washers to put on the inside between the handle and stop collar to protect the wood. There is a bushing the screw goes through on the end piece too.


I need to make some dogs to test out clamping things that way, but have about 4”-5” of travel.


Dessie the inspector came by to check on my work at the end.

 

[Ryan Mooney]

Looks like it could be fairly handy for some things! Nice to see it working.

 

[Brent Dowell]

That oughta work!

 

[Darren Wright]

Thanks! Should be somewhat useful, more so than it was at least. I need to get the bench top cleaned off and flattened. I'll be removing the old bench vise, but have a new home for it. I also have a face vice to install on the front at some point. One of the legs is also needing repairs as one of the mortises is blown out, currently has some sort of clamp holding it together.

 

[Brent Dowell]

I use my vice on my beat up workbench all the time. probably more than my metal vice.

 

[Charles Lent]

I use my side bench vise all the time, but the end vise almost never get's used. When working on the flat sides of my work, I usually go with my vacuum clamps and they sit high enough off the bench that I can use just about any edging tool and not worry about damaging the bench, so the end vise almost never sees any use.

Charley