Buy a vise or build my own?

I had a BUNCH of leftover 4x8 stock and used it to build a workbench in the one room the wife let me have for a shop. You can see it here:

top outrigger

--------+--------+ +---+ ===#| 4x8 |======|4x4|#-L

Think 3/4" blk pipe.

Lew

There was an article in FWW in the past few years (0-4) on the construction of a bench based on a pipe clamp vise. Might search their web site, or perhaps someone else remembers the issue.

Yeah, I thought about that and use 3/4" around the house now, but I was concerned about making too large a hole in the 3.5 inch thick sideboards. The 3/4" pipe would require at least a 1 inch hole.

Thanks. Jeff

On 18 Oct 2005 17:26:27 -0700, with neither quill nor qualm, snipped-for-privacy@earthlink.net quickly quoth:

cher?

I made one like that for the front of my old Homey Despot MDF Bench of Champions a decade ago. Faced with 1x4s and using 3/4" pipe clamps, it worked well enough for planing things of little importance. Either go for it, or buy, or make screws yourself.

The Woodwright's Workbook Further Explorations in Traditional Woodcraft by Roy Underhill

Table of Contents for The Woodwright's Workbook

Annotated Text of The Debate of the Carpenter's Tools Making Workbenches

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On Wed, 19 Oct 2005 01:20:13 GMT, with neither quill nor qualm, Lew Hodgett quickly quoth:

Hell, Lew, he's not trying to bend a 24x36" oak keel or nothin'.

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Think section modulus

Z=I/c where I=(b*h^3)/12 and c= 1/2 thickness.

Lew

that looks like a good situation for a leg vise. or two leg vises. do a google search for leg vise....

I think you'll spend about the same or less money and be much happier by using vise hardware with your own wooden jaws. Lee Valley has a wide range of options. Look at their shoulder vise and front vise hardware, $30-$75. A pipe clamp sounds really cumbersome to me for a vise application.

Bob

That a pretty unique bench. It deserves some sort of unique vise, I'd give it a try.

Isn't it though? In Landis' Workbench Book he spends a chapter on the Ruboux? (something French) bench which was relatively shallow, yet very functional (basically one big honk'n timber). The outriggers kind of suggest a double-pontoon version of the same. I can't help but think that it would lend itself to some interesting clamping opportunities.

To the OP:

I think a leg vise would look really cool on that bench.

-Steve

Thanks. Yeah, before I had a bench I was always looking for a way to clamp or support stock where I cut cut. I figured since I had the wood to spare, why not extend the ends. A buddy at worked asked me where the straps went. He thought it was a "rack".

Also, by luck, my portable table saw will hang on between by the table. I haven't tried that yet though. I'd be worried that the weight (hanging from the table) would affect the performance. I need to get a better TS anyway though.

Cool. I hadn't thought of that. I'll check it out.

Hi, Nice workbench.

I have a slightly simpler version on my workbench. About every foot I have a hole in the side big enough for a 3/4" pipe clamp. The clamps come and go as needed. Single clamp. A pair close or far apart. It works and is flexible, but is a bit clunky. You plan is slightly more elegent with the 4X4. All that said, a store-bought vise will be easier to use most of the time. The pipe clamp system would serve you well enough for a while and it would give you some flexibility if you by a vise later.

Thanks Roger Haar

Those are interesting. Here's a homemade one that someone built:

Thanks. I may play with it and see how it goes. I imagine I'll get a normal clamp eventually. I figure I can put bench dogs in the 4x4 and sideboards to clamp wide boards for sanding etc.

Speaking of bench dogs, don't get caught up thinking you can get by with just using them and something like a wonder dog. To really take advantage of a bench dog system, you need both ends of the clamping to sit lower than

Bob