Workbench vice

lwhughes149 · 08-11-2008, 10:46 PM

I just purchasd a workbench vice from the big box and it didn't come with in directions as to how it is to be installed. Help please. I don't have a picture to show, you know I have trouble with pics. It has the large metal knob on the front and three screws coming out the back. I think it should be flush with the bench top which means I would need to drill out for the screws in the back. Maybe someone can find me a link that will show how it is installed. Lorraine

lwhughes149 · 08-12-2008, 05:04 PM

Thought I would try this again. I need help with directions on how to attach a Wilton 6 1/2" Woodcraft Vice. Anyone have any thoughts, I would appreciate them.

Travis Porter · 08-12-2008, 05:33 PM

I think I found a picture of it.

Yes, I would want it flush with the top of the bench. You will need to add whatever spacers/shims/gap fillers to get it to be level. I am not sure if there is a manual available for it. Do you have the part/model number?

This looks a lot like the one that I put on my daughters workbench.

Bas · 08-12-2008, 05:42 PM

Hi Lorraine,

I think it's this one from Lowe's:

I'm not the best person to ask for help on installing a vise, but you obviously haven't had a lot of replies. I searched the web for the Wilton vise, and although there are numerous retailers, nobody has a manual for it. Harbor Freight sells a similar vise, but the instructions aren't stellar.

If your workbench has a thick top or apron, you will definitely need to drill holes for the three screws.

Fine Woodworking has a video on installing a vise, it may not be quite the same but it should help -> http://www.taunton.com/finewoodworki...season-two.asp

It's the third video. Vise mounting starts at 5:00.

Hope this helps.

Travis Porter · 08-12-2008, 05:46 PM

Drilling pilot holes for the screws is definitely not optional.

DaveO · 08-12-2008, 06:20 PM

Lorraine how thick is your bench top and/or apron? That will make a lot of difference in how you attach the vice. I like to have wood faces on the vice to protect the piece it's holding, some use cork also. Ideally the inner jaw will be in line with the bench edge or apron. You might have to notch out the face of the edge to allow the space for the thickness of the jaw and whatever facing you want on it. Depending on the thickness of the bench/apron you might also have to notch out, or add spacers to bring the top of the vice flush or lower than the bench surface. It's better to be a little lower and use the vice facing material (if wood) to bring it up to flush to help protect any tool edges.
Here's a pic of my vice, I was able to recess the back jaw behind the bench apron hiding it completely, and added a thick wood facing on the other jaw to give a bigger width (I might have overdone the thickness

)

HTH,
Dave

Woodman2k · 08-12-2008, 06:22 PM

Lorraine,
I'm not sure which 3 screws you are talking about but if you are referring to the acme screw and the 2 guide bars that part of the vise should be under your bench when the install is finished.Measure down from the top of the vise jaw to the flat area where the mounting hardware goes through the bottom of the lathe and that is the thickness you need to get your bench thickness down or up to.How thick is your bench.I routed a pocket into the bottom of my bench top that left the jaws dead even with the bench top when it is installed.Hope that helps.
Greg

lwhughes149 · 08-12-2008, 08:44 PM

Bas, thanks for the help, I clicked onto the links and they were lots of help.

lwhughes149 · 08-12-2008, 08:47 PM

Dave, my vice is the one Bas has on his post, my table is simular to the one you have posted and the edge is about the same as yours. When you see his picture of the vice you can see that the back has two holes that bolt from the bottom and two that bolt to the front of the table side. For some reason, while looking at it earlier this afternoon, I felt like I would need to add a section of 2 x 4 to get extra thickness. Do you agree?

lwhughes149 · 08-12-2008, 08:52 PM

Ok guys, this helps, I can't get into the shop tomorrow, so will get back to it on Thursday. Dave, again, let me know what you think after seeing the vice Bas shows from Lowes. Thanks for your help as well Greg.

Bas · 08-12-2008, 09:04 PM

Lorraine, Dave will give the definitive answer, but I think you'll need the extra piece of 2x4 on the bottom. If you plan to add wooden facing to the jaws (which I highly recommend), your final jaws will be a little taller so to sit flush with the top the vise needs to be installed lower. Dave may have overdone it on the thickness (I like it!), but the height looks really good.

I suggest you figure out roughly how tall you want to make the wooden facing, then determine how low the vise needs to sit to accommodate such a face. That will determine the extra piece you need to add to the bottom. Add the spacer (glue, screws) and drill the holes for the screw/ bars. Make them slightly oversized so you have clearance. Then, install the vise, and then measure the final height you'll need for the facing to get it to sit perfectly flush with the top.

DaveO · 08-12-2008, 11:11 PM

Originally Posted by Bas

Lorraine, Dave will give the definitive answer, but I think you'll need the extra piece of 2x4 on the bottom. If you plan to add wooden facing to the jaws (which I highly recommend), your final jaws will be a little taller so to sit flush with the top the vise needs to be installed lower. Dave may have overdone it on the thickness (I like it!), but the height looks really good.

I suggest you figure out roughly how tall you want to make the wooden facing, then determine how low the vise needs to sit to accommodate such a face. That will determine the extra piece you need to add to the bottom. Add the spacer (glue, screws) and drill the holes for the screw/ bars. Make them slightly oversized so you have clearance. Then, install the vise, and then measure the final height you'll need for the facing to get it to sit perfectly flush with the top.

I think that Bas has the definitive answer this time. I would agree 100% with what he has said. It all depends on the thickness of your bench. Take measurements from the vice and compare them to your bench and compensate for what ever difference there might be. Make sure that you have adequate clearance for the guide rods and screw, if your bench is very thick.

Dave

Bas · 08-13-2008, 12:05 AM

If you're worried about drilling holes in your bench...you can always make a template. Take a scrap piece of 3/4" plywood ~12" long and as wide as your bench is thick.
Cut the extra piece for the bottom and attach the plywood on its edge with some hot melt glue, double stick tape etc. Now mark and drill the holes for the screw/ rods. Inser the vise and fiddle with it until your happy with it. Only then drill into the bench.

BarryC · 08-14-2008, 08:23 AM

I installed that very same vice on my workbench a few weeks ago. The top of my bench is 2x4s so it is kinda thick. What I did was seperate the the vice by unscrewing it and pulling to front off. I could then clamp it to the top and use the vice itself to drill for pilot holes.

Here is another trick I did. I couldn't see a way to add the wood face to the piece of the vice that is attached to the bench and still be able to screw the face screws into the bench. So it put the back side in the vice with a scrap and screwed it down tight then I drilled out the holes that was to hold the wood face to the vice. When I attached it to the table I screwed the 4 screws in place then got a couple longer screws and they went thru the face place and vice into the bench. Giving two more attachment points for the vice...it ain't going anywhere. You will want to recess the inside holes for those screws so you what you're clamping won't get scratched.
Sorry I don't have pics.

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