Tool Unobtrusive Tail Vise

[TorontoBuilder]

So I have resigned myself to the fact that I wont get to maintain a clear workbench. I have been able to maintain an open space on the first 10" depth or so, and figured that I can use that to my advantage.

I occasionally need to clamp items especially boards to my workbench so I designed a tail vise that is totally unobtrusive when not in use. The access hole and the dog holes will all have plugs inserted when not in use as well.

Two rows of dog holes and a vise with a sliding block under the MDF top that has two dog holes makes it pretty versatile and secure.

The parts are a 1" acme screw and corresponding hex nut, two 1" - 3/4" bushings 1 1/2" long, a 3/4" shaft collar, a nut retention plate, and a knob with a 3/4" bore. The acme screw will get turned down to 3/4" dia x 1 1/2" at the far end, and 3/4" diameter x 1 1/2" and 5/8" by 1/2" hex on the other end.

The tightening the vise will be accomplished via an access hole in the work surface and either a small hand wheel or a 5/8" ratcheting box wrench. I'm debating making the access even smaller to only accommodate the box wrench. The total vise movement is 5 1/2" which is well over the 3.78" dog holecenter to center distance.

Turning the screw moves the vise block, and the inserted dogs.

 

[p3bhambama]

Very cool design. Here in the states we refer to those as a "wagon vise" and they are all the rage on Roubo type workbenches. Benchcrafted makes some (expensive) hardware for them.

 

[TorontoBuilder]

This got modified from the original storage drawers I intended to build into the wall as an immobile work surface/base cabinets.

I lost a bit of drawer space making the base narrower and raising the bottom of the rolling table, but the gain in mobility and being able to use the rear of the bench to easily lay up 90 degree build ups makes up for it.

I'm making two more to go into my brother's basement to set up our wood working shop. One exactly like this, and one with router and table saw inserts. I'd wanted to use triton tools inserts made for their modular work table system but trying to order them in canada is massive PITA. I'm using my existing Bosch saw and a jessem RT lift

Frame and structure of the top is built up pine like I always use, but resawn from 2 x 8 lumber to get 4 sides planed square. Dark opaque stain.

The top and side MDF panels and drawer fronts will be covered in matte black laminate from Arborite or Formica from plants in PQ.

Maple trim, baltic birch plywood dividers.

 

[TorontoBuilder]

Very cool design. Here in the states we refer to those as a "wagon vise" and they are all the rage on Roubo type workbenches. Benchcrafted makes some (expensive) hardware for them.

Yeah, I don't get why they're also called wagon vises. I saw bench crafted version $$$. This version can be made with 1" threaded rod and a nut for under $50. I've got a short acme screw sitting going to waste so it will only cost me my time and a few scrap pieces.

 

[p3bhambama]

Yeah, I don't get why they're also called wagon vises. I saw bench crafted version $$$. This version can be made with 1" threaded rod and a nut for under $50. I've got a short acme screw sitting going to waste so it will only cost me my time and a few scrap pieces.

Yeah not sure about the wagon vise name either. Benchcrafted likes to act like everything is special but there are those of us who crossover from woodworking to machining who understand there's not a ton special about them. But in the woodworking only guy world you literally cannot replicate what Benchcrafted does - even though they're actually selling something not overly expensive for top dollar.

Just a quick thumb through McMaster shows I can purchase the nut and lead screw for way less than half of what they want for the vise - the rest is a simple handle and easy parts. A better made one is done by (Canadian!) Rob Cosman - who uses a 1 1/2 double start acme rod instead of a 1 1/4 one - though recently he switched from a bronze nut to a brass one.

A 1 1/2" - 4 double start from McMaster is 76 bucks and a bronze nut to match that could be used for either a shoulder or wagon vise is 135. So setting aside the ability to make these (I'd probably make the nut to ensure fit). A quick look finds a suitable length class 2G acme rod is around 100 so there goes the "so special rolled thread" part of it. Either way anybody with the necessary desire could make something much higher quality for much less money.

 

[TorontoBuilder]

Yeah not sure about the wagon vise name either. Benchcrafted likes to act like everything is special but there are those of us who crossover from woodworking to machining who understand there's not a ton special about them. But in the woodworking only guy world you literally cannot replicate what Benchcrafted does - even though they're actually selling something not overly expensive for top dollar.

Just a quick thumb through McMaster shows I can purchase the nut and lead screw for way less than half of what they want for the vise - the rest is a simple handle and easy parts. A better made one is done by (Canadian!) Rob Cosman - who uses a 1 1/2 double start acme rod instead of a 1 1/4 one - though recently he switched from a bronze nut to a brass one.

A 1 1/2" - 4 double start from McMaster is 76 bucks and a bronze nut to match that could be used for either a shoulder or wagon vise is 135. So setting aside the ability to make these (I'd probably make the nut to ensure fit). A quick look finds a suitable length class 2G acme rod is around 100 so there goes the "so special rolled thread" part of it. Either way anybody with the necessary desire could make something much higher quality for much less money.

Rob's are overkill and out of stock. I think they're low volume product for him. I wasn't keen on the weld bead of the cross handles either. But they look pretty good.

HNT Gordon also makes a very slick but super expensive tail vise kit, and it could be inset fully within the envelope of the top work surface.

But as you say, they parts are super cheap, and they can be made without any machining experience at all using 1"-8 threaded rod and a nut. We have a much easier to access supplier in Canada. For comparison tryhard industrial 1-8 threaded rod and nut, plus lock collar and two bushings would only cost $24. With another $2 hex nut, a drill, grub screw and some epoxy you can make a handwheel...

 

[p3bhambama]

Yes Rob's are overkill but he was unsatisfied with the smaller screw diameter which he felt was sagging in his wagon vise (I suspect there were other issues) and causing him to not be able to clamp as securely as he wanted thus the 1 1/2". I'm not sure he's sold many of them. A small story about him:

I joined his online workshop and became interested in his dovetail saw. So I bought one along with several other of his tools. One day I'm in the shop and my phone rings with a Canada caller ID. It's Rob. I was absolutely blown away that he called just to thank me for purchasing his tools. We spent a good 45 minutes on the phone talking about my projects and his, and have stayed in touch. He's exactly the person you see on videos. Truly amazing.