Oak for Vise Jaws?

[Stew Denton]

Hi All,

I have a couple of nice pieces of oak that at one time I had considered for making vise jaws. This would be for a conventional front vise and a Moxon vise. I have one piece of red oak and one piece of white oak, these were salvage, but are both fairly nice sized and clear.

However, the subject of oak being corrosive for steel made me strongly reconsider. Further, now, George's comments on the unsuitability of oak for work benches has given me even more reason to doubt that the oak is suitable for this purpose.

How much of a concern is my fear of the oak corroding the acme all thread that I have for the Moxon project, or for steel rod and the all thread, etc., for a front vise, or even the swivel rod for a set of hand screw clamps?

Finally, after reading George's post, I would never build a bench top out of oak, although I might use it for legs, but are there other down sides besides corrosion for using it for vise jaws.

George, would you use oak for vise jaws, or are my concerns such as those you mentioned concerning using oak for a bench top overblown on this?

Thanks and regards,

Stew

[Noah Magnuson]

I will defer to George if there is dissent, but I think for vise jaws, you are overstressing as far as rust in this case. The only drawback to harder woods on a vise is denting the workpiece. I have a white oak chop on my end vise, but all of my vises have leather faces, so it is moot.

[Ted Reischl]

I would be more concerned about using all thread for the screws. An acme thread is way smoother in operation and stronger. Not that you will rip the threads on the all thread, just sayin'.

ALL wood can be corrosive. Period. Run a damp, humid shop and the wood will gladly help anything rust, no matter what species. That is a fact and can easily be found by doing about 30 seconds of research.

I just took a look at my brothers bench, he likes oak, he loves oak. So he built his bench out of oak, red oak. It is now 25 years old. Darned if I can find any "corrosion" around any of the iron fittings. He leaves his dogs in the top. Nope, no corrosion.

Since all wood CAN corrode metals, you should build your bench out of transparent aluminum (Scotty has the formula).

After a lot of years on the internet I can tell you that no matter what you write about, someone will tell you how it is going to be a problem. Or, as our parents used to say "Some people's glasses are half full, others are half empty". The half empty types love telling everyone how what they are going to do will not work.

You could take a road trip out to Iowa and stop in at WoodSmith. They built several benches out of oak years ago for their magazine. Ask them to see if the bolts and such have corroded away yet.

[Kees Heiden]

My endvise is a Record quickrelease with an oak chop. The vise hasn't fallen apart yet.

[Stew Denton]

Hi Ted,

Thanks for the comments on oak corrosive effects. The all thread I have is Acme thread, as I mentioned in my note above. I do agree, however, ordinary all thread might not last too long.

Thanks and regards,

Stew

[David Eisenhauer]

I used white oak for a Moxon vise I built in my shop two-three years ago and the Acme threads show no corrosion. I used oak because the two pieces I had were the only thing large enough to do what I wanted. No issues so far.

[glenn bradley]

I ran red Oak faces on A painted vice for 10 years. When I took them off the vice was fine, that's all I know.

[Art Mann]

I have had white oak faces on my wood vise for about 10 years also and I haven't encountered a problem yet. They have remained flat and there is no corrosion that I can see.

[Kees Heiden]

But when you use oak outside, yes then you are well adviced to use stainless fasteners. But that's a good idea anyway, outside.

[Art Mann]

When you use pine outside, you are also well advised to use stainless fasteners. I am not sure I agree with oak being extraordinarily corrosive after it has air dried for a while. There are just too many 100+ year old houses and barns with doors made from oak and square cut nails for that to be true.

[Al Launier]

Whatever you decide upon for vise jaws you might consider facing each with leather. You'll still get a very secure hold, plus will limit denting your work.

[Frank Drew]

I don't think it makes much difference what wood you use as long as it's not too terribly soft-- I'm with Noah and Al and lined my vise faces with leather.

[William Fretwell]

In England there are thousands of oak doors exposed to the elements that have cast iron, wrought iron hardware. They have been there hundreds of years.

Hardwood jaws can mark soft woods. If the wood liners are larger than the jaws the edge forces will be less as the wood flexes.