| A woodworking bench vise is like an extra set of very | | | | Look for a vise that opens wide enough to |
| strong hands, and having one can actually improve | | | | accommodate the thickest piece of stock you can |
| your work: As long as it's attached to a sturdy | | | | imagine yourself working on, and remember that you |
| workbench, a bench vise will hold a workpiece in a still | | | | will need to subtract the thickness of the of the |
| and relatively vibration free state and help you make | | | | wooden pads that you'll be installing on the jaw faces. |
| smoother saw cuts, more steady plane strokes, or | | | | A 9'' capacity vise with 3/4'' thick pads will give you 7- |
| even get your sanding done faster. | | | | 1/2'' to work with, which is plenty in most situations. But |
| Even though many woodworkers would rate a bench | | | | the odd occasion does arise when more would come |
| vise as an indispensable tool, it's an easy one to put | | | | in handy. A 13'' opening capacity vise should have you |
| off buying. You can get by reasonably well with an | | | | covered for just about anything you run into. |
| arrangement of hand-screw clamps and c-clamps for | | | | The screw diameter and the diameter to the alignment |
| a while. But eventually you're bound to conclude that a | | | | rods make the most difference when it comes to |
| vise will help you hold you work steadier, in a greater | | | | keeping the vise's jaws parallel with one another when |
| variety of positions and will let you set up so much | | | | you tighten it down. A 7/8'' diameter screw and equally |
| faster, that the investment is worth the price. In case | | | | husky rods offer enough rigidity to keep the jaws from |
| you're just beginning to realize how central a bench | | | | flexing outward at the top under any normal working |
| vise is to woodworking, here's a little information to | | | | condition. Also, it's important to note that most quality |
| help you pick the one that makes the most sense for | | | | vises use a "toe in" design, meaning that the outer jaw |
| your shop. | | | | tilts inward slightly to account for outward flexing and |
| A Front Vise vs. an End Vise | | | | to apply the greatest pressure at the top of the jaws |
| There are two basic types of bench vise: the "front | | | | where it is most needed. |
| vise" and the "end vise". A front vise is most often | | | | An End Vise for Longer Stock |
| stationed at the left corner of the long edge of the | | | | The other common type of workbench vise, an "end |
| work bench. A front vise is great for holding a drawer | | | | vise", is stationed at one end of the workbench. |
| side upright while you cut the tails of a dovetail joint, or | | | | Typically, the primary function of an end vise is to hold |
| holding a board edge-up horizontally for hand planing, or | | | | material flat on the surface of the bench, pinched |
| for any number of other tasks that require a solid hold | | | | between one or more "dogs" sticking up from the top |
| on the workpiece and for both of you hands to be | | | | surface of the vise's jaw and corresponding dogs |
| free. | | | | fitted into holes in the bench surface. But the most |
| What to Look For in a Front Vise | | | | useful type of end vise is arguably one that's set up |
| One of the most common and reliable choices for a | | | | like a front vise, with the same screw-and-two-rods |
| front vise is the cast iron variety. A cast iron front vise | | | | design. End vises of this type are usually sold with just |
| has two jaws made of - you guessed it - cast iron | | | | the screw and guide rod mechanism, which attaches |
| and a steel screw to move them closer together and | | | | to one end of the bench and is outfitted with a |
| further apart. Most also have two steel rods to keep | | | | wooden jaw equal in width to the workbench. |
| the jaws aligned and help to prevent flexing inward of | | | | Which Type is Right for You? |
| either side of the outer jaw when only one side of the | | | | Which type should you buy? In truth, most |
| vise is used. Some have a quick release mechanism | | | | woodworkers need the type of clamping arrangement |
| that makes it easy to switch among a variety of | | | | a front vise was designed for more often. Many front |
| clamping widths. A quarter turn of the handle | | | | vises also have a pop-up dog on the outer jaw, which |
| counter-clockwise releases the screw and allows that | | | | lets you hold a piece stock face up across the width |
| vise to be quickly positioned anywhere along its | | | | of the table. Still an end vise is awfully handy when the |
| opening range. | | | | need arises to quickly and easily secure a long length |
| Usually, the width of the jaws is used to describe the | | | | of stock face-up. Ideally, one of each is the best way |
| vise. So, if a vise is advertized as a "7 inch vise," that | | | | to go. But if you have to choose just one, look for an |
| means that it has 7 inch wide jaws. You'll also almost | | | | end vise that's set up to function as an end vise, too. |
| always find the maximum opening capacity of the vise | | | | You'll save money, and still have the all the bases |
| and the screw diameter also listed in the specifications. | | | | covered pretty well. |