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I suggest you put 2 sheets of 3/4" MDF under the plywood - glue the MDF together on a flat concrete floor, to increase rigidity. MDF is cheap, and it will add significant weight and stability.

As for the vise - StewMac makes a nice one - similar to Japan Woodworker or Woodcraft I believe. you might also spring for a Parrot vise - made in china copies available from Grizzly I believe.

Filippo

Hi David, I had a post on this same question about 3 or 4 weeks ago. Take a look here

I ended up getting the patternmakers vise from Japan Woodwork and I've got it in the shop now. I'm wondering what took me so long to get it.

SkyHigh wrote:

If I understand you correct, my top will be 3 1/4" thick, right? two MDF at 3/4" each plus 3/4" ply. If so, wow that's thick.

I was suggesting just adding two 3/4" MDF to the bottom (with one 3/4" play that gets you to 2 1/4"). On my bench, I added another 3/4" plywood bottom, coming to a total of 3" thick. I glued the MDF core together, screwed the plywood top and bottom on. On the top, I countersunk the screws, then drove oversized maple plugs in. If you hack the top up enough, you can always pop the plugs, unscrew the top and slap another on. I bound the edge with 1"x4" maple available at the Borg. If you search through the stack, the curly maple comes for free and looks nice under Tung oil.

Filippo

I ended up getting the patternmakers vise from Japan Woodwork and I've got it in the shop now.

Thanks for the tip but what's "borg"?

SkyHigh wrote:

Thanks for the tip but what's "borg"?

Home Depot or Lowes types of stores. Big box stores.

Author:	SkyHigh [ Tue Mar 04, 2008 9:29 pm ]
Post subject:	Vise recommendation
Hi! I'm finishing up my first bench and would like to know what's the first vise or first two vise I should look into getting. I would appreciate an exact model. Also, the top for my bench will be single 3/4" plywood. Would you guys put another ply or other material making it bit thicker? or would 3/4" thick be good enough for most purpose. Thanks, David

Author:	Rod True [ Tue Mar 04, 2008 10:03 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Vise recommendation
Hi David, I had a post on this same question about 3 or 4 weeks ago. Take a look here I ended up getting the patternmakers vise from Japan Woodwork and I've got it in the shop now. I'm wondering what took me so long to get it.

Author:	SkyHigh [ Tue Mar 04, 2008 10:21 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Vise recommendation
fmorelli wrote: I suggest you put 2 sheets of 3/4" MDF under the plywood - glue the MDF together on a flat concrete floor, to increase rigidity. MDF is cheap, and it will add significant weight and stability. As for the vise - StewMac makes a nice one - similar to Japan Woodworker or Woodcraft I believe. you might also spring for a Parrot vise - made in china copies available from Grizzly I believe. Filippo Hi Filippo, If I understand you correct, my top will be 3 1/4" thick, right? two MDF at 3/4" each plus 3/4" ply. If so, wow that's thick. Thanks, David

Author:	SkyHigh [ Tue Mar 04, 2008 10:23 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Vise recommendation
Rod True wrote: Hi David, I had a post on this same question about 3 or 4 weeks ago. Take a look here I ended up getting the patternmakers vise from Japan Woodwork and I've got it in the shop now. I'm wondering what took me so long to get it. Thanks Rod, Why did you go for this one instead of Stewmac's? Did you modifiy anything on it? if so, was it difficult and costly?

Author:	Rod True [ Tue Mar 04, 2008 10:29 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Vise recommendation
Less $$$ for pretty much the same thing. I works great.

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Author:	SkyHigh [ Tue Mar 04, 2008 11:09 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Vise recommendation
fmorelli wrote: SkyHigh wrote: If I understand you correct, my top will be 3 1/4" thick, right? two MDF at 3/4" each plus 3/4" ply. If so, wow that's thick. I was suggesting just adding two 3/4" MDF to the bottom (with one 3/4" play that gets you to 2 1/4"). On my bench, I added another 3/4" plywood bottom, coming to a total of 3" thick. I glued the MDF core together, screwed the plywood top and bottom on. On the top, I countersunk the screws, then drove oversized maple plugs in. If you hack the top up enough, you can always pop the plugs, unscrew the top and slap another on. I bound the edge with 1"x4" maple available at the Borg. If you search through the stack, the curly maple comes for free and looks nice under Tung oil. Filippo Thanks for the tip but what's "borg"?

Author:	David Collins [ Tue Mar 04, 2008 11:29 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Vise recommendation
I work on completed instruments much more than parts, so my needs probably differ from most. I have one of the vises pictured above, but it's extremely rare that I use it. My main vises are more like a leg vise I suppose. A bench screw, pine 2"x4"s (soft and flexible, I would never use hardwood), a hinge at the bottom, and a leather strap for padding. I have four of them in my shop, and am so used to it I can't imagine not having one at the end of my bench. Attachment: vise.jpg My daughter has one at her bench as well. Attachment: Ava's_bench.jpg

Author:	ecklesweb [ Tue Mar 04, 2008 11:46 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Vise recommendation
If you'll be doing hand planing, front and tail vises are pretty handy. And, yes, you need a thicker top to keep it flat and to make it heavier/more stable. My front vise is a Shop Fox knockoff of a Record. My tail vise is an even cheaper no-name knockoff of a smaller Record. I love the front vise, not so much the tail vise. Here's a pic of the shop fox: Can't imagine life without it.

Author:	ecklesweb [ Wed Mar 05, 2008 12:11 am ]
Post subject:	Re: Vise recommendation
Rod True wrote: I ended up getting the patternmakers vise from Japan Woodwork and I've got it in the shop now. You know, this is what I've always thought of as a patternmakers vise: Does anyone use one of these? They rotate, tilt, have cam-closing action, and have double-dogs on both jaws for holding weird-shaped stuff. Looks useful but tempermental. The guy who taught me how to use a plane had one and swore by it.

Author:	Bruce Dickey [ Wed Mar 05, 2008 12:29 am ]
Post subject:	Re: Vise recommendation
It's a Mariomoment! Thanks Dave! David Collins, thanks for posting this. I'm building ONE OF THESE! Mario shares about the GLEANING that takes place by participating on forums usually about every three or four weeks. This is one of those. And it's all because of YOU David Collins. Now tell us David, where did you STEAL this idea?

Author:	Lillian F-W [ Wed Mar 05, 2008 7:27 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Vise recommendation
SkyHigh wrote: Thanks for the tip but what's "borg"? Home Depot or Lowes types of stores. Big box stores.

Author:	Billy T [ Thu Mar 06, 2008 2:35 am ]
Post subject:	Re: Vise recommendation
Aoibeann wrote: SkyHigh wrote: Thanks for the tip but what's "borg"? Home Depot or Lowes types of stores. Big box stores. B-ig O-range R-etail G-iant

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