Vice Choice

[HowardM]

Hi,
In the process of designing my new workbench.
Is anyone using one of these Emmert pattern vices, are they worth it.?
How about these York quick release vices at Axminster.
I haven't enjoyed my current Veritas twin screw one. I think a full metal front is what I need.

thanks

 

[DaveL]

Oh so it's not drugs, *** and rock & roll. :wink:

I have only used the Record vices so am no help what so ever. :roll:

 

[HowardM]

Design progress, so far.
No tool tray.
What is the ideal height for a bench.?
I was once told elbow height but that seems a bit high

Howard

 

[DaveL]

What is the ideal height for a bench.?
I was once told elbow height but that seems a bit high

Ah now I can comment on that, I built a bench, based loosely on David Charlesworths design, his guide is 4" below elbow height but yesterday at the bash there were lots of comments about how high my bench was. I find it great to stand and work at, I use a mix of power and hand tools, I can plane boards on the top of it with out problem, in fact it feels better on my back then the older lower bench I used to have.

 

[Good Surname or what ?]

Howard,

I have an Axminster Emmert clone. See this thread for earlier discussions.

Personally I wouldn't recommend it unless you really need the flexibility to hold irregularly shaped pieces at odd angles. A good record vice is much simpler to use if you want parallel jaws.

Where are you in the country? If you are close you'd be welcome to come and play on mine.

Edit: Doh! Just spotted you are in Scotland! Not too close to Reading then.

 

[TheTiddles]

I have a York QR vice and a pair of screws from Axminster built in the configuration below

They are great value for money but you need to follow the instructions when installing them and put the angle on the face as they suggest, otherwise when you tighten the vice it cants down and the load is uneven. I think the front vice would benefit greatly from a stabilizing screw to hold the jaw parallel when only one side of it is being used, this is an upgrade I am planning, along with everything else...

Aidan

 

[Jake]

For a face vice, I heartily recommend my twin-screw record adaptation , if you can be bothered.

 

[OPJ]

I bought an old Record 52 1/2 E off eBay recently, in great condition, for only £26!! 8) :wink:

 

[HowardM]

Record sounds good to me as an ex Rotherham lad I lived a couple of miles from the factory.

130 squids.! for a 52-1/2E
I thought Record had gone t"ts up.

 

[marcus]

I have an Emmert clone and mostly like it. There is an issue with the jaws tending to drift out of parallel, which means often having to adjust them a bit when tightening them up. This is annoying, but not very. If I had time I would work out some kind of locking pin to keep them parallel except when I wanted to skew them.

Most of the time I use it in the "normal position", but for me it is worth having for the other times - when it really comes into its own. I particularly like the small set of jaws underneath, which I use for woodworking - not metal working as they were designed for. They are perfect for hand shaping small pieces.

If money was no object I would get the Veritas Tucker http://www.classichandtools.com/acatalog/Vices.html which is vice perfection and has a quick release which is lacking on the Axminster Emmert. Alas £550+ is a bit too steep....

It depends on the type of woodworking you do and the techniques you tend to use. I would say that if you regularly find yourself scratching your head wondering how to hold something securely at the angle you need then get a pattern makers. If you don't then go for a Record or similar!

Cheers,

Marcus

 

[woodbloke]

In Alan Peter's book 'Cabinet Making - the Professional Approach' he recommends that the ideal woodwork bench height is the users inside leg measurement plus about 50 or 75mm
Elbow height is where the top of a metalwork bench vice (one that sits on the bench top) should be to ensure efficient work with files, thus the actual bench surface will be much lower - Rob

 

[Ironballs]

I'm another fan of the Record 52e, got one for 25 quid from the tutor at evening class. His lad's school was having a clear out. Sad for the school, good for me. I should have taken the lot and stuck em on fleabay

 

[HowardM]

Wish I hadn't seen the Veritas Tucker.!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[marcus]

Hi Howard,

Don't know if you've made your choice yet, but I was using my pattern makers vise today to work on a chair mock up, and took a few pictures to show some of the ways I find it so useful.

Also a couple of days ago I made a locking pin (one of those jobs which I put off for ages, but once I got round to it only took about five minutes!), and this has completely stopped any problem with the jaws going out of parallel....


Cheers,

Marcus

 

[Good Surname or what ?]

Marcus,

A locking pin. Now why didn't I think about that Another tuit for the list.
thanks
Phil

 

[Rich]

I bought an old Record 52 1/2 E off eBay recently, in great condition, for only £26!! 8) :wink:

I got my 53E from Corby for £25.00, well pleased.

Rich.

 

[marcus]

A locking pin. Now why didn't I think about that - Another tuit for the list.

It's a little thing but has changed my life I didn't realise how irritating it was to adjust the jaws all the time until I didn't have to do it anymore....

 

[HowardM]

Excellent website Marcus, I'll just have to wait and see if one turns up on ebay.!

Howard

 

[neilyweely]

I have a couple of records, a 50 and a 55. The 55, which is larger (I think its the 55 is bigger) only has screws on one of the vice faces to mount a wooden face. Why is this, does anyone know?

And if I put a wooden face on one of the faces, will this be ok ie enough to allow pressure on workpiece without damaging the surface? Or should I route out a piece of wood to hang OVER the inside face of the vice?

Sorry to ask on this thread, but you guys seem to be familiar with records, if not the 55.

Thanks guys.

Neil

 

[HowardM]

The Raw Materials, from a Maple tree on the Castle Fyvie Estate Aberdeenshire.