Where to mount a vise?

[Turfman]

I just finished a 32 inch by 72 inch work bench in my shop and need to mount two vises to it. I really don't want to mount them to the work surface and wonder if anyone has suggestions for inovative ways to mount a vise to a bench. One is a chain type pipe vise and the other is a 3.5 inch very heavy standard vise that will rotate 270 degrees.

Any suggestions would be appreciated. I have thought this out a bunch and can't come up with a method that will maximize my work area and keep the vises handy for use.

 

[Docsknotinn]

Mount them to a vise Grip /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[Spencer]

wroughtn_harv mounts all of his vises on 2" square tubing so that he can mount them in various places. He has 2" receivers (like a Reese hitch on a truck) mounted all over the place. He can then mount a variety of things in them. Hopefully Harv will jump in here with a better description and maybe even some pictures.

 

[JerryG]

I have two receivers on my loader bucket, I am going to mount a vise on a 2" square tube to use on the loader. It should be handy on the farm.
I don't see why the same wouldn't work on a work bench. That way, If you needed it you could use it and if you didn't you could just remove it.

 

[wroughtn_harv]

Thanks Spencer, I'm glad you were listening, at least someone was. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Turfman a couple of points, one don't plan on going down and buying a six foot piece of two and a half inch heavy wall square tubing and having all the receivers your little heart desires. It isn't that easy. There's that darn seam on the inside that has to be removed first for it to graduate from heavy wall tubing to a receiver.

If you can chisel it out some way more power to you. I've found it better to just bite the bullet and buy the little stubbies places like Northern or Tractor Supply carry. This is one instance where going cheap costs you. A bouncing vise is not a fun one to play with.

I've got the vises I carry on the truck bolted to plates that are welded to two inch heavy wall tubing. They are placed on the plates so that they work well with the existing flat spot on the bed of the truck at the back between the end boards and the back edge of the bed. I have both a machinest vise and a pipe vise set up this way.

I'd suggest you work with your bench surface and the surface of the vises so that you can have your bench not only support your vises but your bench be the helping hand for your vises.

Like Spencer said, I have the receivers everywhere. Occasionally I'll even use a receiver to hold a trailer hitch. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[leaddog]

another great idea I got here. I'll have to start putting recievers all over the place here. Here's an idea on how to get recievers. I go to yardsales and auctions alot and you can pick up used recievers off of pickups very cheap, like $5 or less. It don't matter what it comes off cause you just cut the tube off. /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

 

[wroughtn_harv]

Shhhhhhhhhhhh that's my secret, /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[Gary_in_Indiana]

Ever since I read of WHarv's receiver hitch idea I've been using it for more and more things. Mounting a couple receiver tubes on either end of your bench and somewhere in the middle would give you all sorts of flexibility as to where you would use your vice. It would also allow you to have your vice out of the way when you don't need it.

I have a buddy I helped build a bench like this and we even drilled two holes at right angles in the inserts welded to the vice base so the vice can be set to hold a large piece upright next to the bench. He loves his set up. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

As to using the regular square tubing with the seam inside, I've been lucky in that a fellow who works for me part time works in a machine shop as his "real" job. I don't know what he uses but he's taken pieces in for me and brought them back so smooth inside I can't even tell on which side the seam had been.

 

[wroughtn_harv]

You are a lucky man Gary! Lawd alone knows how many of those darn things I'd have out and about if I had such a source.

 

[Chuck52]

How far in do you need to smooth the seam? I've got access to a milling machine, and I know there are bits that would let me go in at least two inches without too much work.

Chuck