Show us your bench vice(s)

[The_Yellow_Ardvark]

It was fitted with oak faces which are split & I've nothing suitable to replace them. There should be something suitable at the mens shed.

I have lined my Wood working Vice with oiled oak, from Men In Sheds.
So you should find something.



When you line the jaws make the jaws a about 5mm taller.
Why?

You will find that the members will all of a sudden find a skill of running saws into the jaws.

Then, like me, you will find yourself learning how to sharpen and set saws.

What will lead onto you setting up a station to do that, for that you will need a saw vice, what will lead to.............

 

[Turbo]

I've one of these in the shed, cost me £2 at a car boot. Re the jaw faces, I had always believed that soft wood was better? Is there a preferred type of wood or is it down to the individual and nature of the work?

Steve

I was just looking into what material to use & the general opinion seems to be that you can use a soft wood to avoid damaging your work but you'll be replacing them regularly or use a hardwood & line the jaws with suede.

I'll probably use an offcut of 19mm ply, soft & cheap to replace.

I was thinking of making some slip on jaws for some of the vices with a round cutout. We regularly make green wood chairs & stools and it is difficult to hold the round legs in a normal vice.

 

[Cuthy246]

Lovely vice I get to use at work, touch of the green eyed monster as my home workshop only currently has a record no 1 (my grandfathers old vice). Hoping santa is good to me this year .

 

[slim_boy_fat]

Lovely vice I get to use at work,

Not been abused either . Some seem to get hellish treatment.

 

[Cuthy246]

Not been abused either . Some seem to get hellish treatment.

Yeah it's in great condition considering it hasn't moved from that spot since being installed in the early 80's, no damage except a few nicks and file marks on the jaws. Not like the poor bugger over in the mechanics shed

 

[pondy]

Been offered this for £160, worth it?

 

[MattF]

That's a tough call. If you can afford it, those are quite thin on the ground. If you're patient however, you could probably eventually get one for less.

 

[Arc Tourist]

Been offered this for £160, worth it?

Interesting, what make is it Matt, l can't seem to enlarge the photo.

 

[pondy]

I've only seen a few for sale, this one seems mint and it's in the next town to me. I paid alot more for my swindens which looked like they have been under the sea for many years

 

[slim_boy_fat]

Been offered this for £160, worth it?

I've never seen jaws like that on a vice before.

 

[MattF]

Interesting, what make is it Matt, l can't seem to enlarge the photo.

Fortis. I believe Ajax may have made one too, though not 100% sure on that.

 

[Turbo]

Been offered this for £160, worth it?

That's quite a rare vice & would be a good investment. If you have the spare cash go & buy it, I know I would!

 

[pondy]

Now mine. Its clean and works. Not the original paint but not a bad job either

 

[pondy]

In action

 

[Viceman]

Fortis. I believe Ajax may have made one too, though not 100% sure on that.

Fortis and Ajax are both brand names for the Alfred Herbert company that had a factory in Coventry amongst other places, a long long time ago

Great vice, I may be a little jealous

 

[Turbo]

In action View attachment 158195

I'm very jealous!

 

[slim_boy_fat]

I'm very jealous!

And you're not alone!

 

[Arc Tourist]

Awesome ! Congratulations on a great find.
Haven't seen one like this before, but now I'm on the hunt.

 

[slim_boy_fat]

but now I'm on the hunt.

That's the problem when folk post stuff on here, loads of us think "Ooohhhhh, now if only....."

 

[Arc Tourist]

I have more vices /vises than I'll ever need, but hunting is half the pleasure of acquiring.