Custom Vise

[Tom Bender]

Made this bench with end vise a few years ago. Have made a few tweaks and am very pleased with it.

It opens almost 4 feet and is very solid there

The jaws have inserts in French cleats with magnets

Plenty of space between the bars for dovetailing

Leather faces on the inserts

Can easily hold and plane stock 6 feet long

No handle on the end to catch me in the underwear so I can stand close and plane better

Lots of clamping force with fine control

No racking at all

Quick opening and closing

Quick adjustment for work that is slightly tapered left or right

[Bob Vallaster]

You're teasing us with the absence of details.
I see a hand wheel at the left edge of the picture, but it's oriented perpendicular to the clamping axis. Rack-and-pinion? Gearbox? Chain-and-sprocket?
How about a shot from underneath for the curious.

BobV

[Tom Bender]

Yes, all three of those, pic to follow

[Michael Todrin]

looks and sounds great Tom, I second the request for more details.

[Tom Bender]

A view from underneath and one showing the racks

The 5" diameter rack gears are inside the legs and the 60" racks go inside the aprons

Ratchet to keep it from unwinding is engaged only for heavy clamping. Most times the rope friction is enough.

[Mark Gibney]

That's an impressive looking vise, more so as I have no real idea of what I'm looking at.
Is that an electric motor, and is that how you operate the vise?

Is this all your own design?

[lowell holmes]

You're something of a showoff. :)

[James Pallas]

Nice piece of work Tom. I always ask, What was the problem(s) you were trying to solve with your solution? In any case it's a nice vise and I would guess a pleasure to use.
Jim

[Tom Bender]

That is a gear reducer.

Yes I am proud to show it off

I have a Veritas Twin Screw vise on my older bench. It is underwhelming to an engineer. This is way better and nicer to use

[David Silverson]

This is the second time in a week that I can’t open thumbnails. Is there a reason. Others have made the same comment.

[Jason Lester]

That's an awesome vise. I'd prefer it to most I've seen.

[Bob Vallaster]

That is a mechanical marvel. Thanks for showing it.

BobV

[William Fretwell]

Must be a software change as I also can’t open the thumbnails. Happens all the time lately.

[Stew Denton]

William,

I have the same problem, and can't open the thumbnails.'

Stew

[Tony Wilkins]

Must be a software change as I also can’t open the thumbnails. Happens all the time lately.

Same for me. I use an iPad.

[Tom Bender]

Scroll to the very bottom of the screen and click on "Full Site" (quoted from the tech support page)

[Tony Wilkins]

Scroll to the very bottom of the screen and click on "Full Site" (quoted from the tech support page)

Worked for me. Thanks!

[Stew Denton]

Thanks Tom,

Thumbnail access solved.

Stew

[William Fretwell]

Well that is so much better. Thanks!

[glenn bradley]

A marvelous invention. A great vise and an innovative application of elements. How fun!

[William Fretwell]

Now that I can see! A most unusual end vise. It must have been inspired by very large projects. The rest of us would put the drawer on the bench top between dogs, I added a few back dogs for support.
Ironically the larger the project the less it moves. No handle in your way is very nice. I managed that for most of my tail vise usage also.
Full marks for originality!