I'm not a woodworker, but I am a mechanical engineer. I absolutely love this series because it is very easy for people to get carried away and lose sight of their goals in any project. Keep up the great work. I feel like this idea of keeping sight of the end goal with simple tools is a lesson that isn't taught in school, these days.
Hang on just a doggone minute. I've been watching tons of woodworking videos on YT for a couple years now and this dude has never popped into my feed. Why, TH-cam? WHY??
And on the flip side, I just stopped watching game plays and started looking up carpentry stuff and spotted this guy almost right away (first video of his that I found was the one about the joiner's bench). Loving what I've seen so far and definitely going to come back as I start getting my carpentry area set up.
Nice. I built one of these and it works perfectly. The idea of using the prop screw was the thing that I liked most; I had been looking around for a good threaded piece but hadn't found anything with a sufficiently robust thread. Then I got lucky in a junkyard when I stumbled over an old broken prop. After that, the rest was easy. Thanks for the ideas.
I've watched enough of your videos to know you can do really precise work. I feel like you were perfectly imperfect (like the corner cuts on the jack screw plate) on the non-critical aspects to show it doesn't take machine shop precision to work, and work well. Kudos for showing these Woodwork for Humans projects in a way that doesn't make it seem that mystical skill levels are needed to successfully complete them.
Hey, I know you might not see this, but I want to say I really appreciate that you are openly discussing the value of the support you recieve through different avenues. Some people will tell you it's in bad taste, but theyre wrong. The reason we support people through patreon is because we have told about how valuable it is for the creator. Keep making such awesome videos and also I love the little post script at the end of your vids
I thank you for what you've given to ambitious beginners. For the last 40 years I've been a full time woodworker and now have a 3000 square foot shop with over a hundred thousand dollars of tools and materials on hand but I began a step or two below the level of equipment you assume for this project. I began with a $25 jig saw and a hand drill, sitting in the open doorway of a travel trailer, working across my knee. I tell that in the spirit of this video, as encouragement to the creativity of the ill equipped.
Thank you Rex! I watched your video and remembered, that under the house in my ”never throw anything out” heap I had two old, rusty, adjustable scaffolding jacks! Here comes a work vice! Thanks again!
This bench project motivates me so much! I just got into woodworking and have no space for a lot of tools and have to use hand tools as much as possible or the neighbors will complain about the noise, this bench is perfect for my small projects, can't wait to get mine done!
Nice one - enjoy the journey. Check out The English Woodworker and also Paul Sellers if you're serious about hand tools. They both teach a no nonsense approach
I wish your channel would have existed when I first started. I've spent so much time (and money) with trial and error just teaching myself budget alternatives. Keep up the good work man!
Dear FSM, this is such a great video. Not only do you describe the construction of a simple improvised vise, but the tuning suggestions turn a bodge into an incredibly useful and effective tool. Thank you!!!
You're doing a great job at outlining these jobs. I'm a super novice but following this series has not only been helpful but also fun. I'm short on a lot of things and still working to get a better tool chest, understanding and skill set but this really has hit the spot on a where to start. I'm becoming a bigger fan with each upload.
I bought this for my friend for his birthday as we just moved into a new house and he finally has room for a workshop. The bench was very easy to set up th-cam.com/users/postUgkxyFZUPFEey-PuqsPMxqaykBhgA1LWxFHh They center support is a little difficult to snap in and out of place at first but at least then we know the bench is secure. It was a pleasant surprise when we saw it came with clamps. I apparently missed that in the description. My friend loves the versatility of the bench. Great starter bench for his workshop and easily transportable all over our property. I wish the bench was a little taller but the other features of the bench more than make up for that.
I really REALLY appreciate all of your videos! I found your page because I loathed my Stanley 404 plane and I was thankful to see that someone shared the same frustration and went so far as to offer plenty of alternatives. And then it was straight down the rabbet hole (lol). You're a great teacher, very thorough and very resourceful. I'm sort of an intermediate woodworker and your videos really inspire me and get me thinking intuitively about the task at hand. Keep it coming, Rex!
Dude, you and your channel are a gift! I want to get into woodworking but I’m limited by lack of power tools (except for an electric drill and a dremmel tool), and I’m so happy that you share how to make your own basic tools from scratch. I’m going to slowly make my own, thanks for showing us how to make it!!!
1. Try lube on wood alignment rod (WoodGlide or a good wax) to smooth the movement. 2. For more solid clamping, keep a supply of shims to clamp in the opposite side if the Jack screw, maybe glue a small stop on each shim (need 1 shim for each work thickness) for easier setup so shim stays put by gravity while you clamp down the work. Great video as always, outstanding explanation & great concept for a cheap vise
EngineerMike F, Dude... is the brand name really "WoodGlide"? i need something for a shop stool build with a seat that raises & lowers on a threaded dowel. BUT, if i type that brand name into Google will i need to clear my history before my husband get's home?
Neat. It's basically a horizontal leg vise. I made my leg vise from the same kind of scaffolding jack and it works great. I did have to re-make my hub when the first one split. I made it too small. Yours is WAY better than mine was.
Hey, Rex. I have watched a good number of videos on work benches and vices. Most claim to be aiming at beginner wood workers, such as myself. (Well, actually to be honest, I am the first guy in five generations of men in my family who is not a professional cabinet maker or carpenter, so I have been around wood working all my life. But I myself am no more than a hobbyist wood worker.) All but a few of these videos use expensive professional tools...and are really no more than wood working entertainment, as far as I am concerned. There is no way I could (or would) copy their production methods. I inherited a lot of hand tools from my dad and my grandfather, both cabinet makers. Those are the tools I will use, and for that I need a work bench and some sort of vice in addition to the old fashioned English hold-fasts that I use. Thank you for catering to those of us who are starting out and intend to stay largely old fashioned. Your videos are great!
@10:00 I was thinking ahead, how to deal with the inherent intricacies of your vice. You answered all my questions over the next couple of minutes and completely sold me on that vice. By @14:33 where you basically told "that guy" to go pack sand if he didn't like it, I was nearly chortling. Thank you for the awesome videos!
One of the things that I love about your videos is that even though I am a power tool shop so much of your projects are useful for us power tool users also
Pro tip from a machinist... Off camber vises are super useful, such as shown in this video. If you add additional clamp screws or swivots to the moving jaw they can be even more aggressively "reefed" on without movement of the workpiece. just tighten the work to jive with the kilter of your jaws, then drive your swivots in to catch any areas that dont contact your jaws
if you are holding strangely shaped objects (like castings or OFF off cuts) you can make temporary jaws that extend above your work surface, then add screws or swivots to both your solid and moving jaws to create a rock solid hold on even the most arbitrary shapes. Just tighten the vise, then tighten the additional screws for almost unlimited hold
Nice having the vice at the end as you can still use it as a bench without knocking yourself on the vice handle. I was waiting eagerly for this video and I wasn't disappointed. Thank you.
I firmly believe in to each their own. If it works for you, go for it. I bought a Dremel vise on a whim, thinking, oh, another Dremel attachment that will simulate the real thing, only to a degree, but it's what I can afford. I'm finding this little vise works for my small projects. If I need something heavy duty, I think your idea is a good one. So, whatever each woodworker needs, that's what they should use. No method is "better" than the other, as long as whatever you are using works safely and effectively for you. That is what matters. Nice project and nice video.
I love that you don’t have insane levels of accuracy on things that don’t require it. I’m making one of these vices for my bench. I already picked up the screw and bolt assembly. I noticed the curve on the top edge of the tool tote over your shoulder is not perfectly centered, but that isn’t important for a tool tote. My respect from an native Ohioan. I’m originally from Elyria, just down the road. Thank you for your videos. I’m in Okinawa, Japan these days and do not have access to many diy tools or devices, so thank you for your videos. Amazon is getting better, though. Haha
I love watching you create things like this. Especially seeing you solve minor deficiencies with small adjustments, like the screw to hold the handle at center.
Rex! Thank you! You produce top notch videos. I've only watched the one on the workbench, then this one. Especially appreciated the encouragement to use my own creativity to modify the bench for anything I can imagine. These videos are like getting a cool drink of water in a hot, arid land. Hand tools are cool, not fast, but really cool. Fantastic job sir!
I'm late to the show, algorithm and what not. Of all the woodworking videos I've binged over the last few weeks...I have to say, for my comprehension you are the best. Keep on keeping on brother.
I've got a really janky face vice I made from two pipe clamps, and while I'll probably reuse the hardware, the techniques you used for your vice will go a long way towards fixing the problems I'm having with mine. Thanks for the great video!
Woooow, what a coincidence!! I'm working in a scaffolding company during my holidays to earn money to buy some woodworking equipment! This vice is now very familiar to me as I have to carry them all the time.
I wish I had seen this before I started building a traditional saw bench. However - you mentioned Moxon vise and I instantly thought, "This is too low," which made me realize - if you build an appropriately sized (plywood?) box to clamp to the "non-vise" end, you can have a work surface raised enough for detail work. I like your bench, Rex. Great work.
You keep coming up with ways to do things for cheap! Never came close to thinking about using a scaffolding screw jack before, now I want to do it because...well, it's cool!
I already made a vise that suits my needs but your adjustment process at the end is going to be invaluable. Abuse mine is a little sloppy. Now I can tighten it up . Thank you
Absolutely killer video Rex. Every time I see a new video of yours a part of me thinks "well there's no way he could make that very well" and every time you prove me wrong. Keep up the good work, I look forward to seeing more from you
told you I would watch it tonight.Nice simple vise anyone can make not everyone is an engineer.I cant believe almost 1k of views and 23 people dislike that they must just like to knock everyone who enjoys what they do.Anyway thanks for that Rex really enjoyed it
One of the aspects of “traditional” woodworking that I enjoy is the opportunity to experiment with tools, concepts and inventions that could not only improve my work but also the work of those I come into contact with. You do this and I applaud your efforts.
Great video, and explanation on Vice Mechanics, Rex!!! Nobody needs whine about alternative vices, either... IF there was a want for a moxon (for example) then replace that alignment rod with another screw-jack and handle (prob'ly best a wheel over there for space)... and elongate that hole to expand the range for racking... because that's all a moxon really does is rack with purpose... Okay, I might suggest some "tuning" procedure to mention the imminently useful nature of paste-wax around the moving wooden pieces... Whether you buy a tub, or mix 3:1 bees' or paraffin to linseed oil and heat and stir really well on your own, and adjust for personal (taste? bleck...) desired consistency... It's not complicated, and relatively inexpensive. AND you can substitute other waxes and oils to a fairly liberal degree for the stuff. The POINT is that a bit of lubrication/ protectant can help the general motions of the vice as much as carving and sanding off more material. Made it this far??? Congrat's... Okay, that 3:1 mix is the "hard" paste-wax formula... 3 parts wax to 1 part oil (linseed or what have you)... Medium, I usually do 2:1 AND soft is 1:1 (for me)... Understand that bees' wax is SOFTER than paraffin. Carnauba is back to an "unknown" for me. I haven't messed around with it (or much else) in so many years, I've forgotten most of those... BUT I will say, that you can usually tell the nature of your "product" from some basic comparisons with the "ingredients"... SO mush and squeeze and fiddle with the wax and drizzle a little oil at room temperature to watch how they behave... thicker and harder ingredients make thicker and tougher paste... softer and thinner ingredients render a softer, thinner paste... For a vice, I recommend HARD... You're working with a tough tool, and should consider the wax finishing needs be durable. It's never indestructible, so you'll replace it soon enough anyways... BUT nothing (NOTHING) is etched in blood or stone. If you experiment... HAVE FUN with this. ...and for the record, I'm just as likely to put in boiled linseed oil, as I am to use raw. There can be "weird chemical additives" in the boiled stuff, though... but otherwise, you get a little more "darkening" and "color" with the raw. AND it's worth note that linseed oil is from Flax Seeds. It may have a smell, but at least the raw stuff won't hurt you... or much of anything else. ;o)
@@akbychoice ALWAYS welcome! ...and just in case you're interested, I happened into some old engineering notes the other day. In the interest of preventing things like "racking" and to avoid friction and side-load (weirdness from sideways motions and torque)... Engineers usually try to fashion their threaded systems to have at least 3 times the diameter in length of the threads... Okay, for a simple quick little machine like this, that's a bit exorbitant maybe... BUT if one was particularly intent on reducing the awkwardness and smoothing out actions, that is one way to try... and it would only require adding one or two more of those "nuts" in line to the underside of the table. In any case, I just try to help out with what I can. No sense keeping all the dirty little secrets to myself. Right? ;o)
I have a shave horse I use with a draw knife. It's a sort version of your $30 bench. I like the additions you have made and I will incorporate them into my bench/shave horse.
I'm going to make what might sound like a backhanded compliment, but I honestly mean it as just a compliment. I really appreciate that you didn't worry about making this a beautiful vice. In fact it's pretty crude. But honestly, I know a lot of weekend woodworkers, especially starting out, that are going to be discouraged because their final product doesn't look beautiful like the one they saw made on TH-cam. This is super approachable and the end product made by people following along is likely to look really similar. Anyone with a table saw or other power tools that is lacking a vice can make one that even looks better. I think the #nailedit effect is something people ignore in builds when they use all their skills to make amazing looking shop tools.
I can totally take the compliment! I didn't even try to make it look pretty. I just wanted it to work. The things I make WITH this vise will be pretty.
@@RexKrueger speaking of both pretty things and Forged from Wood, I had a ton of fun with wooden knives this spring. There are a few in my album here flic.kr/s/aHskSr3PNd . I mostly used the bandsaw and 4x36 belt sander, with a little chisel work to fit up the tangs. It's a fun and quick project and you can make a ton of different versions.
@@RexKrueger Thanks! They really are super fun and it almost can feel like an episode of "Forged in Fire" while you make one. Also, I used the belt sander I have, but a 1x30 would probably actually work better because it's easier to get into tight spaces with it. Even if you don't make a video of it, I highly recommend you try it out, it's just too fun not to do.
I've been looking at those scaffolding screws with the idea to turn one into a vice for a while. Now i don't have to figure the details out myself! Thanks a bunch
Dude; awesome. I hope to retire in a few years and I'm going to have a wee wood shop. The best time of my life was spent in 8th grade woodshop with Mr. Johnson and my Dad working on a sewing box for my Mom. Good times.
My grandfather's wood vice ~ 14" wide, 24" high and 1.7" thick with a threaded metal bar and handle about 6" /150mm down and the 4 by 1 vertical guide bar. This worked well. I still have the metal components and intend to recreate this vice as a prelude to starting to build my THOW.
Honestly the fact that you told us about using cordless drill makes me smile. I have no idea where I can buy one of those hand drills you got, and I'm fairly certain I can find a normal electric drill from a flea market for 5$.
I’ve been anxiously awaiting the vise build video! I’ve been putting off completing my low Roman bench accordingly. Now I’m looking forward to having a more functional, low cost bench!
I'm on board, it's a great design, You master the bench. Going to share with a buddy who has just had his Dream Shop built and planing to build a wood working shop Thanks
to fix the racking problem and uneven pressure distribution you could move the screw to the centre and use to guides, but this would half your clamp area
Just chiming in here Rex, Your idea of making a lock screw for the handle is a great idea, I will be modifying my old Record vices to have this feature GR8 stuff 👍 Drill, Tap, & a threaded thumbscrew, job done ! All these years I have put up with the bar dropping precisely when I don't want it to ! ha ha I'm new to your channel and already I've picked up a cool idea THX
Well, know what my weekend chore is going to be. I have been needing a vise for the exact reasons you talk about in the video and cant afford one from a box store. Thanks!
I found this channel a few months ago looking for this exact tutorial. Had a screw from a broken metal vise and thought of adding a extra carpenter vise to my bench. This is a very useful video. For lubricating wood surfaces try Graphite. It won't get absorbed by the wood and it's one of the best (basic)lubricants. I just find the softest pencil around (softness is proportional to graphite content) and paint the surfaces with it.
Another source for the parts is a cheap mechanical car jack. You can get these for something like 20 bucks. It will have an acme / trapezoid threaded rod (considerably thinner than the one used here, but if it can lift a car, it will hold wood), a crank, the "keeper" and whatever other parts you may need. I built mine from one of those and it works quite well. For the guide rod, I used a metallic furniture leg (which can be attached using screws) and for guiding the guide rod I used a piece of plastic kitchen cutting board into which I bored a hole, and screwed to a block of wood with a similar hole. It glides nicer than wood only. I think the only parts apart from the cutting board and the car jack I used was a couple of steel spacers that I cut in half and drilled holes into for attaching to the jaw part to keep each part on the side of the jaw they belong to.
Cool video! I decided to just tear apart a scissor jack from an old car and made myself a vise a few weeks ago lol it's amusing because i ran into every issue you brought up.. if only i had seen this sooner
Awesome work Rex! Found you a few months back..... Glad I did. Very inspiring brutha. Keep up the great content. As for all the should haves, could haves and why didn't you's..... As you said, you made this vice for YOUR needs and YOUR bench!! Stay up. Stay strong. Keep the builds coming!!! - Salinas, Ca.
Salinas is near the Monterey Bay..... Central California. About 15-20 min East of Monterey. 2 hours S. of SF. Pretty well known for John Steinbeck and agriculture.
Small world Rex! Nice. I'm sure you did if you were coming from Merced to Monterey. I'd rather be here than Merced tho.... Lol. The heat out there can be brutal during the summer months 🔥! Typical summer here is mid-upper 70's. Merced is probably 95-105 during the same time frame, lol. Thanks again for all of your content. I'm sure it takes alot to do what you do, just like anything else that requires quality and information. I'm just getting started with wood working. Learning as I go. Watching videos. Piece by piece with a home garage shop, picking up tools here and there. It's a fun hobby. I have many others so it's hard to put 1 hobby in front of another. Lol. But it helps to know and see that someone doesn't need a million dollars worth of equipment to get going, get started or even continue on. You work with what you have as you go..... adding on as and when needed, if able to. So again, your content reaffirms that.... Thank You!
Nice work chap. And you're a thoroughly decent fellow and I love the honest and upfront approach to your videos, so I hope your subs and patrons grow and grow as they most definitely should 👍
Great job! Beyond the clever design is the ingenious thought process..that makes obstacles or challenges a joy to overcome instead of a reason to give up. So that with minimum tools a person can enjoy the pleasure of woodworking. "Teach a man to fish..."
Great info. I'm making a moxon vise for my bench. That's going to be the main one until I can afford to purchase a nice one. I'm loving this series of videos.
I love that $30 bench. It's even better with the end vise. I wonder what wood happen if the vise was mounted at the end opposite to the hook (crochet). That crochet is a great feature, I love it.
Worth pointing out that buying hardwood dowels of any usable thickness & length can get expensive, however a broom handle will be much the same & far cheaper; just buy a broom & chop off the fuzzy end. Garden brooms often have wooden handles of the right kind of size. Also, rubbing the guide rod all over with superglue & gently sanding it silky smooth (a fine, thin sanding sponge works really well for this) will do away with that bit of jamming & judder as you close the vise. Superglue is far more hardwearing than wax and continued wear will polish it up rather than removing it, meaning it'll continue to run smoothly. It really came out well; a clever & simple design with plenty of scope for adjustment.
And it's very much appreciated :) I've always admired your videos for the home friendly aims and traditional basis. I wish I could support you but alas, atm I can't afford anything more. I really admire and appreciate your channel and efforts :) thanks dude
This vise you're making is pretty awesome but when it comes to budget woodworking vises something cobbled together out of pipe clamps is tough to beat as far as economy and ease of construction goes. A web search of the term, pipe clamp bench vise turns up a few design examples. So maybe you can put up a part two exploring that? Another popular low budget ad hoc woodworking vise is made out of a car scissors jack. Which you can often find free in junked cars. It can lift a car so you know it has tons of force.
Thanks Rex. I really like your approach to making woodworking accessible. It really does help, I think, for people to see what can be done with so little and some determination.
The cost of one of those scaffolding jacks at a big box store is about $32. Woodcraft sells a Chinese vise for $130. It's gone on sale in the past, but who knows if you can get it cheaper.
Loving this series!!..... allthough I've fallen a bit behind. I haven't made the bench as I already have one. But all of these new cheap work holding option are amazing
I love how almost nothing looks even or precise, but it all comes together to make solid machine. It reminds me of when ENIAC was created. Vacuum tubes never matched spec and were unpredictable, so they designed a computer architecture that can synthesise a reliable system from unreliable parts.
For tommy bars, that's what the vise handle is, I wire wrap them. I wrote an article on the instructables website about how to wire a vise tommy bar. Search for, Fast Easy Speed Vise Mod over there. I wire all of my vise handles. It gives them that luxurious precision feel. It's what plants crave!
For your cast-iron vice a couple thicknessess of leather will help a lot to hold minorly tapered pieces. If there is a welding school nearby you might be able to get one of their worn out jackets.
God's bones, you are hilarious! I've been working without a vise since I built my own workbench. And ya, there are a million options that work, but they all have one failing: they take time and effort to use. Getting a vise has become a priority for me, BUT! OMG, there must be 1/2 million different vises and vise systems out there. Oh the choice! I despair. Thanks for these videos, they are great. To that end, I've added you to my Patreon list. Keep up the fun and useful videos! Cheers
Good stuff. I do have one concern, though. I have a 2x4 bench myself and got one of those Irwin vises for the end. It's held on by several screws, and I found that under high tension the vise would pull the screws out of the end grain. I eventually solved the problem by drilling vertical holes that intersect the screws, inserting dowels in (3/4 oak in this case) and screwing the vise back on. This gives the threads some cross grain to bite into, and it hasn't been a problem since.
At 1:35 you show a "commercially made vise screw". I have one practically identical to that. It has sentimental meaning to me, since it was my grandfather's, but I haven't figured out exactly how to use it to build a vise. I have a question, that might make it easier for me to be able to use it. Why is the end of the garter rounded? Whenever I have thought about making a vise out of it, I haven't been able to figure out what to do with the rounded part.
I'm not a woodworker, but I am a mechanical engineer. I absolutely love this series because it is very easy for people to get carried away and lose sight of their goals in any project. Keep up the great work. I feel like this idea of keeping sight of the end goal with simple tools is a lesson that isn't taught in school, these days.
I'm delighted that an engineer likes my work! I wish I had that technical education.
Rex 2 years ago, and now me responded. Thanks! I concur
Same. I have a nasty habit of over complicating things to beyond my skill level
Hang on just a doggone minute. I've been watching tons of woodworking videos on YT for a couple years now and this dude has never popped into my feed. Why, TH-cam? WHY??
Agree.
Ditto
Binge time.
And on the flip side, I just stopped watching game plays and started looking up carpentry stuff and spotted this guy almost right away (first video of his that I found was the one about the joiner's bench). Loving what I've seen so far and definitely going to come back as I start getting my carpentry area set up.
Same
Nice.
I built one of these and it works perfectly.
The idea of using the prop screw was the thing that I liked most; I had been looking around for a good threaded piece but hadn't found anything with a sufficiently robust thread.
Then I got lucky in a junkyard when I stumbled over an old broken prop.
After that, the rest was easy.
Thanks for the ideas.
"Son of a Bit of inconvience!" Laughing my butt off!
Super video! Looks like this is on my list of projects!
I'm glad you liked it. Those jokes are hard to edit.
That joke reminds me of Wood By Wright.
Well, I'll take that as a compliment.
@@RexKrueger That joke got my sub
@@RexKrueger I'll bet they are, but you did a great job. Love your videos!
I've watched enough of your videos to know you can do really precise work. I feel like you were perfectly imperfect (like the corner cuts on the jack screw plate) on the non-critical aspects to show it doesn't take machine shop precision to work, and work well. Kudos for showing these Woodwork for Humans projects in a way that doesn't make it seem that mystical skill levels are needed to successfully complete them.
My dad used to say, “No such thing as perfect; good enough is the best we can do. Just make sure it’s actually good enough”.
k
Good
Amen.
There is a good saying however:
_If it's worth doing, it's worth doing well_
Hey, I know you might not see this, but I want to say I really appreciate that you are openly discussing the value of the support you recieve through different avenues. Some people will tell you it's in bad taste, but theyre wrong. The reason we support people through patreon is because we have told about how valuable it is for the creator. Keep making such awesome videos and also I love the little post script at the end of your vids
I thank you for what you've given to ambitious beginners. For the last 40 years I've been a full time woodworker and now have a 3000 square foot shop with over a hundred thousand dollars of tools and materials on hand but I began a step or two below the level of equipment you assume for this project. I began with a $25 jig saw and a hand drill, sitting in the open doorway of a travel trailer, working across my knee. I tell that in the spirit of this video, as encouragement to the creativity of the ill equipped.
Thank you Rex! I watched your video and remembered, that under the house in my ”never throw anything out” heap I had two old, rusty, adjustable scaffolding jacks!
Here comes a work vice!
Thanks again!
This bench project motivates me so much! I just got into woodworking and have no space for a lot of tools and have to use hand tools as much as possible or the neighbors will complain about the noise, this bench is perfect for my small projects, can't wait to get mine done!
You can make it much shorter if you need to. I think 5 feet would still let you do a lot.
Nice one - enjoy the journey. Check out The English Woodworker and also Paul Sellers if you're serious about hand tools. They both teach a no nonsense approach
I wish your channel would have existed when I first started. I've spent so much time (and money) with trial and error just teaching myself budget alternatives. Keep up the good work man!
Me too! That's why I stared doing these super-basic videos. Maybe you need to share what you've learned.
Chris Ptasienski budgeting is important to? 😁
Yet another project added to my list. As a Patron, I have been paid back many times over with the help and advice. Great work Resx.
I'm so glad you think so!
Love the “ don’t like it, do your own thing “ attitude!
It's the only attitude that lets me tolerate the commentators who arent' as polite as you!
Dear FSM, this is such a great video. Not only do you describe the construction of a simple improvised vise, but the tuning suggestions turn a bodge into an incredibly useful and effective tool. Thank you!!!
This is really smart Rex, your use of readily available materials and common hand tools puts a lot of other experts to shame. Good for you.
You're doing a great job at outlining these jobs. I'm a super novice but following this series has not only been helpful but also fun. I'm short on a lot of things and still working to get a better tool chest, understanding and skill set but this really has hit the spot on a where to start.
I'm becoming a bigger fan with each upload.
I bought this for my friend for his birthday as we just moved into a new house and he finally has room for a workshop. The bench was very easy to set up th-cam.com/users/postUgkxyFZUPFEey-PuqsPMxqaykBhgA1LWxFHh They center support is a little difficult to snap in and out of place at first but at least then we know the bench is secure. It was a pleasant surprise when we saw it came with clamps. I apparently missed that in the description. My friend loves the versatility of the bench. Great starter bench for his workshop and easily transportable all over our property. I wish the bench was a little taller but the other features of the bench more than make up for that.
I really REALLY appreciate all of your videos! I found your page because I loathed my Stanley 404 plane and I was thankful to see that someone shared the same frustration and went so far as to offer plenty of alternatives. And then it was straight down the rabbet hole (lol). You're a great teacher, very thorough and very resourceful. I'm sort of an intermediate woodworker and your videos really inspire me and get me thinking intuitively about the task at hand. Keep it coming, Rex!
Dude, you and your channel are a gift! I want to get into woodworking but I’m limited by lack of power tools (except for an electric drill and a dremmel tool), and I’m so happy that you share how to make your own basic tools from scratch. I’m going to slowly make my own, thanks for showing us how to make it!!!
1. Try lube on wood alignment rod (WoodGlide or a good wax) to smooth the movement. 2. For more solid clamping, keep a supply of shims to clamp in the opposite side if the Jack screw, maybe glue a small stop on each shim (need 1 shim for each work thickness) for easier setup so shim stays put by gravity while you clamp down the work. Great video as always, outstanding explanation & great concept for a cheap vise
EngineerMike F, Dude... is the brand name really "WoodGlide"? i need something for a shop stool build with a seat that raises & lowers on a threaded dowel. BUT, if i type that brand name into Google will i need to clear my history before my husband get's home?
Neat. It's basically a horizontal leg vise. I made my leg vise from the same kind of scaffolding jack and it works great. I did have to re-make my hub when the first one split. I made it too small. Yours is WAY better than mine was.
From my research, it looks like the face vise started as a leg vise turned on it's side. No joke!
You right. It's your vise. Your bench. Your work. And you are proud. Thanks for sharing. Greetings from California.
Ah California, my former home!
Hey, Rex. I have watched a good number of videos on work benches and vices. Most claim to be aiming at beginner wood workers, such as myself. (Well, actually to be honest, I am the first guy in five generations of men in my family who is not a professional cabinet maker or carpenter, so I have been around wood working all my life. But I myself am no more than a hobbyist wood worker.) All but a few of these videos use expensive professional tools...and are really no more than wood working entertainment, as far as I am concerned. There is no way I could (or would) copy their production methods. I inherited a lot of hand tools from my dad and my grandfather, both cabinet makers. Those are the tools I will use, and for that I need a work bench and some sort of vice in addition to the old fashioned English hold-fasts that I use. Thank you for catering to those of us who are starting out and intend to stay largely old fashioned. Your videos are great!
@10:00 I was thinking ahead, how to deal with the inherent intricacies of your vice. You answered all my questions over the next couple of minutes and completely sold me on that vice. By @14:33 where you basically told "that guy" to go pack sand if he didn't like it, I was nearly chortling. Thank you for the awesome videos!
One of the things that I love about your videos is that even though I am a power tool shop so much of your projects are useful for us power tool users also
Pro tip from a machinist... Off camber vises are super useful, such as shown in this video. If you add additional clamp screws or swivots to the moving jaw they can be even more aggressively "reefed" on without movement of the workpiece. just tighten the work to jive with the kilter of your jaws, then drive your swivots in to catch any areas that dont contact your jaws
if you are holding strangely shaped objects (like castings or OFF off cuts) you can make temporary jaws that extend above your work surface, then add screws or swivots to both your solid and moving jaws to create a rock solid hold on even the most arbitrary shapes. Just tighten the vise, then tighten the additional screws for almost unlimited hold
Nice having the vice at the end as you can still use it as a bench without knocking yourself on the vice handle. I was waiting eagerly for this video and I wasn't disappointed. Thank you.
I firmly believe in to each their own. If it works for you, go for it. I bought a Dremel vise on a whim, thinking, oh, another Dremel attachment that will simulate the real thing, only to a degree, but it's what I can afford. I'm finding this little vise works for my small projects. If I need something heavy duty, I think your idea is a good one. So, whatever each woodworker needs, that's what they should use. No method is "better" than the other, as long as whatever you are using works safely and effectively for you. That is what matters. Nice project and nice video.
I love that you don’t have insane levels of accuracy on things that don’t require it. I’m making one of these vices for my bench. I already picked up the screw and bolt assembly. I noticed the curve on the top edge of the tool tote over your shoulder is not perfectly centered, but that isn’t important for a tool tote. My respect from an native Ohioan. I’m originally from Elyria, just down the road. Thank you for your videos. I’m in Okinawa, Japan these days and do not have access to many diy tools or devices, so thank you for your videos. Amazon is getting better, though. Haha
I love watching you create things like this. Especially seeing you solve minor deficiencies with small adjustments, like the screw to hold the handle at center.
That's how people used to do things before the internet lol
Rex! Thank you! You produce top notch videos. I've only watched the one on the workbench, then this one. Especially appreciated the encouragement to use my own creativity to modify the bench for anything I can imagine. These videos are like getting a cool drink of water in a hot, arid land. Hand tools are cool, not fast, but really cool. Fantastic job sir!
Best thing about this guy? He explains all the terminology associated with project at hand. Ty! Rex Rock's !
I'm late to the show, algorithm and what not.
Of all the woodworking videos I've binged over the last few weeks...I have to say, for my comprehension you are the best.
Keep on keeping on brother.
Did anyone say you should have built a Miami Vice?? Cool build man I really enjoy your channel and your videos, keep it up!!!
That's funny. 🤣
I've got a really janky face vice I made from two pipe clamps, and while I'll probably reuse the hardware, the techniques you used for your vice will go a long way towards fixing the problems I'm having with mine.
Thanks for the great video!
Good luck!
Woooow, what a coincidence!! I'm working in a scaffolding company during my holidays to earn money to buy some woodworking equipment! This vice is now very familiar to me as I have to carry them all the time.
I think you should "carry" one straight to your car.
I wish I had seen this before I started building a traditional saw bench. However - you mentioned Moxon vise and I instantly thought, "This is too low," which made me realize - if you build an appropriately sized (plywood?) box to clamp to the "non-vise" end, you can have a work surface raised enough for detail work. I like your bench, Rex. Great work.
You're totally right. I also sit on a stool next to the bench all the time. Works great.
I've thought of doing this myself for many years, opting instead to suffer like a fool. This was cool to stumble upon! Thanks!
You keep coming up with ways to do things for cheap! Never came close to thinking about using a scaffolding screw jack before, now I want to do it because...well, it's cool!
I cannot take credit for the idea, but thankyou anyway!
WOW Thanks!
I have 4 of those Scaffold Leveling screws! My scaffold buck got stolen, and now You gave me another purpose for them.
And I'll have another vise design in 2 weeks. Stay tuned!
Nice Vice Design Rex. I like the fact that you left plenty of room for individual mods as needed by each builder.
You have to make the tools suit your own work. It's important.
I already made a vise that suits my needs but your adjustment process at the end is going to be invaluable. Abuse mine is a little sloppy. Now I can tighten it up . Thank you
Absolutely killer video Rex. Every time I see a new video of yours a part of me thinks "well there's no way he could make that very well" and every time you prove me wrong. Keep up the good work, I look forward to seeing more from you
“...if you want a different vise, build it.”
Right on, brother!
Thanks
told you I would watch it tonight.Nice simple vise anyone can make not everyone is an engineer.I cant believe almost 1k of views and 23 people dislike that they must just like to knock everyone who enjoys what they do.Anyway thanks for that Rex really enjoyed it
One of the aspects of “traditional” woodworking that I enjoy is the opportunity to experiment with tools, concepts and inventions that could not only improve my work but also the work of those I come into contact with. You do this and I applaud your efforts.
Great video, and explanation on Vice Mechanics, Rex!!!
Nobody needs whine about alternative vices, either... IF there was a want for a moxon (for example) then replace that alignment rod with another screw-jack and handle (prob'ly best a wheel over there for space)... and elongate that hole to expand the range for racking... because that's all a moxon really does is rack with purpose...
Okay, I might suggest some "tuning" procedure to mention the imminently useful nature of paste-wax around the moving wooden pieces... Whether you buy a tub, or mix 3:1 bees' or paraffin to linseed oil and heat and stir really well on your own, and adjust for personal (taste? bleck...) desired consistency... It's not complicated, and relatively inexpensive.
AND you can substitute other waxes and oils to a fairly liberal degree for the stuff. The POINT is that a bit of lubrication/ protectant can help the general motions of the vice as much as carving and sanding off more material.
Made it this far??? Congrat's...
Okay, that 3:1 mix is the "hard" paste-wax formula... 3 parts wax to 1 part oil (linseed or what have you)...
Medium, I usually do 2:1 AND soft is 1:1 (for me)...
Understand that bees' wax is SOFTER than paraffin. Carnauba is back to an "unknown" for me. I haven't messed around with it (or much else) in so many years, I've forgotten most of those... BUT I will say, that you can usually tell the nature of your "product" from some basic comparisons with the "ingredients"... SO mush and squeeze and fiddle with the wax and drizzle a little oil at room temperature to watch how they behave... thicker and harder ingredients make thicker and tougher paste... softer and thinner ingredients render a softer, thinner paste...
For a vice, I recommend HARD... You're working with a tough tool, and should consider the wax finishing needs be durable. It's never indestructible, so you'll replace it soon enough anyways... BUT nothing (NOTHING) is etched in blood or stone. If you experiment... HAVE FUN with this.
...and for the record, I'm just as likely to put in boiled linseed oil, as I am to use raw. There can be "weird chemical additives" in the boiled stuff, though... but otherwise, you get a little more "darkening" and "color" with the raw. AND it's worth note that linseed oil is from Flax Seeds. It may have a smell, but at least the raw stuff won't hurt you... or much of anything else. ;o)
gnarth d'arkanen thanks for the interesting information.
@@akbychoice ALWAYS welcome!
...and just in case you're interested, I happened into some old engineering notes the other day.
In the interest of preventing things like "racking" and to avoid friction and side-load (weirdness from sideways motions and torque)... Engineers usually try to fashion their threaded systems to have at least 3 times the diameter in length of the threads... Okay, for a simple quick little machine like this, that's a bit exorbitant maybe... BUT if one was particularly intent on reducing the awkwardness and smoothing out actions, that is one way to try... and it would only require adding one or two more of those "nuts" in line to the underside of the table.
In any case, I just try to help out with what I can. No sense keeping all the dirty little secrets to myself. Right? ;o)
I have a shave horse I use with a draw knife. It's a sort version of your $30 bench. I like the additions you have made and I will incorporate them into my bench/shave horse.
I'm going to make what might sound like a backhanded compliment, but I honestly mean it as just a compliment. I really appreciate that you didn't worry about making this a beautiful vice. In fact it's pretty crude. But honestly, I know a lot of weekend woodworkers, especially starting out, that are going to be discouraged because their final product doesn't look beautiful like the one they saw made on TH-cam. This is super approachable and the end product made by people following along is likely to look really similar. Anyone with a table saw or other power tools that is lacking a vice can make one that even looks better. I think the #nailedit effect is something people ignore in builds when they use all their skills to make amazing looking shop tools.
I can totally take the compliment! I didn't even try to make it look pretty. I just wanted it to work. The things I make WITH this vise will be pretty.
@@RexKrueger speaking of both pretty things and Forged from Wood, I had a ton of fun with wooden knives this spring. There are a few in my album here flic.kr/s/aHskSr3PNd . I mostly used the bandsaw and 4x36 belt sander, with a little chisel work to fit up the tangs. It's a fun and quick project and you can make a ton of different versions.
Oh! Those are very lovely! Well done!
@@RexKrueger Thanks! They really are super fun and it almost can feel like an episode of "Forged in Fire" while you make one. Also, I used the belt sander I have, but a 1x30 would probably actually work better because it's easier to get into tight spaces with it. Even if you don't make a video of it, I highly recommend you try it out, it's just too fun not to do.
Nice discussion of how a vise works! Cool with the jack screw as a vise. Very clever design for the vise!
I've been looking at those scaffolding screws with the idea to turn one into a vice for a while. Now i don't have to figure the details out myself! Thanks a bunch
That was the idea! I did it so you don't have to!
I built a similar vise with a scaffold screw recently, but used two 1/2" steel rods for alignment -- works great!
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Dude; awesome. I hope to retire in a few years and I'm going to have a wee wood shop. The best time of my life was spent in 8th grade woodshop with Mr. Johnson and my Dad working on a sewing box for my Mom. Good times.
I'm a lazy power tool kinda guy. But I've become addicted to your input over the last month.
Thanks!
My grandfather's wood vice ~ 14" wide, 24" high and 1.7" thick with a threaded metal bar and handle about 6" /150mm down and the 4 by 1 vertical guide bar. This worked well. I still have the metal components and intend to recreate this vice as a prelude to starting to build my THOW.
No doubt it's the cheapest vise you can build or add to a bench.
Thanks for the video.
Honestly the fact that you told us about using cordless drill makes me smile. I have no idea where I can buy one of those hand drills you got, and I'm fairly certain I can find a normal electric drill from a flea market for 5$.
Great idea repurposing scaffolding - a strong and long-lasting foundation for sure.
I’ve been anxiously awaiting the vise build video! I’ve been putting off completing my low Roman bench accordingly. Now I’m looking forward to having a more functional, low cost bench!
You really can do it all with just the Roman bench, but this seems easier and quicker.
Excellent job. If you like it then that's all that matters. It's yours not theirs. Keep up the good work. Learned a lot. Thanks.
thanks for the video. The stick that one slides through the handle hole, is called a 'Tommy Bar', (just for info, or later videos)
I'm on board, it's a great design, You master the bench.
Going to share with a buddy who has just had his Dream Shop built and planing to build a wood working shop
Thanks
I learned all kinds of vice vocabulary from your video. Great build Rex.
You've taught me a lot. Just returning the favor!
to fix the racking problem and uneven pressure distribution you could move the screw to the centre and use to guides, but this would half your clamp area
What a wonderful series, has given me the confidence as a novice to build my own workbench, thank you kind sir!
Just chiming in here Rex, Your idea of making a lock screw for the handle is a great idea, I will be modifying my old Record vices to have this feature GR8 stuff 👍
Drill, Tap, & a threaded thumbscrew, job done !
All these years I have put up with the bar dropping precisely when I don't want it to ! ha ha
I'm new to your channel and already I've picked up a cool idea THX
Your clever approach to things is always appreciated. Well done!
Well, know what my weekend chore is going to be. I have been needing a vise for the exact reasons you talk about in the video and cant afford one from a box store. Thanks!
Glad to help!
I'm gonna give this bench a vise. Benches love vises.
I found this channel a few months ago looking for this exact tutorial. Had a screw from a broken metal vise and thought of adding a extra carpenter vise to my bench. This is a very useful video.
For lubricating wood surfaces try Graphite. It won't get absorbed by the wood and it's one of the best (basic)lubricants. I just find the softest pencil around (softness is proportional to graphite content) and paint the surfaces with it.
That's a great tip!
Another source for the parts is a cheap mechanical car jack. You can get these for something like 20 bucks. It will have an acme / trapezoid threaded rod (considerably thinner than the one used here, but if it can lift a car, it will hold wood), a crank, the "keeper" and whatever other parts you may need.
I built mine from one of those and it works quite well. For the guide rod, I used a metallic furniture leg (which can be attached using screws) and for guiding the guide rod I used a piece of plastic kitchen cutting board into which I bored a hole, and screwed to a block of wood with a similar hole. It glides nicer than wood only. I think the only parts apart from the cutting board and the car jack I used was a couple of steel spacers that I cut in half and drilled holes into for attaching to the jaw part to keep each part on the side of the jaw they belong to.
Cool video! I decided to just tear apart a scissor jack from an old car and made myself a vise a few weeks ago lol it's amusing because i ran into every issue you brought up.. if only i had seen this sooner
Awesome work Rex! Found you a few months back..... Glad I did. Very inspiring brutha. Keep up the great content. As for all the should haves, could haves and why didn't you's..... As you said, you made this vice for YOUR needs and YOUR bench!! Stay up. Stay strong. Keep the builds coming!!! - Salinas, Ca.
I feel like I've been to Salinas. What's it near? (Oh, and thanks for all the kind words.)
Salinas is near the Monterey Bay..... Central California. About 15-20 min East of Monterey. 2 hours S. of SF. Pretty well known for John Steinbeck and agriculture.
@@To-Lo77 Crazy. My family lived in Merced for 4 years. Used to go to Monterey now and then. Pretty sure we drove through Salinas.
Small world Rex! Nice. I'm sure you did if you were coming from Merced to Monterey. I'd rather be here than Merced tho.... Lol. The heat out there can be brutal during the summer months 🔥! Typical summer here is mid-upper 70's. Merced is probably 95-105 during the same time frame, lol.
Thanks again for all of your content. I'm sure it takes alot to do what you do, just like anything else that requires quality and information. I'm just getting started with wood working. Learning as I go. Watching videos. Piece by piece with a home garage shop, picking up tools here and there. It's a fun hobby. I have many others so it's hard to put 1 hobby in front of another. Lol. But it helps to know and see that someone doesn't need a million dollars worth of equipment to get going, get started or even continue on. You work with what you have as you go..... adding on as and when needed, if able to. So again, your content reaffirms that.... Thank You!
Nice work chap. And you're a thoroughly decent fellow and I love the honest and upfront approach to your videos, so I hope your subs and patrons grow and grow as they most definitely should 👍
What a kind thing to say!
8:00 "I'll sketch a hexagon around that hole .... "
Interesting to see that hexagons in the US have 8 sides! 😂
Good catch!
We.don't got none'a 'em com-yoo-nist metric hexagons round yeah, no suh.
Hey. Why not.
imperial hexagon is 9/12 of metric hexagon.
It’s all greek to me...
God damn this man gives out plans for shit? The more I learn the more I love this guy
Great job! Beyond the clever design is the ingenious thought process..that makes obstacles or challenges a joy to overcome instead of a reason to give up. So that with minimum tools a person can enjoy the pleasure of woodworking. "Teach a man to fish..."
Cool! I think I like the look of the turned hub a little more but I understand why you went with the octagon for the filmed build.
I like the turned hub much more, but try doing that without a lathe!
Great info. I'm making a moxon vise for my bench. That's going to be the main one until I can afford to purchase a nice one. I'm loving this series of videos.
Cut this screw in half for your Moxon.
I have to say it again. I am impressed with your skill.
I like your minimalistic approach. For my needs I appreciate really functional low budget solutions I can work with. Thank's, I subscribed.
I love that $30 bench. It's even better with the end vise. I wonder what wood happen if the vise was mounted at the end opposite to the hook (crochet). That crochet is a great feature, I love it.
I keep them on opposite ends just to minimize the chance that they'll interfer with each other.
Worth pointing out that buying hardwood dowels of any usable thickness & length can get expensive, however a broom handle will be much the same & far cheaper; just buy a broom & chop off the fuzzy end. Garden brooms often have wooden handles of the right kind of size.
Also, rubbing the guide rod all over with superglue & gently sanding it silky smooth (a fine, thin sanding sponge works really well for this) will do away with that bit of jamming & judder as you close the vise. Superglue is far more hardwearing than wax and continued wear will polish it up rather than removing it, meaning it'll continue to run smoothly.
It really came out well; a clever & simple design with plenty of scope for adjustment.
Good tips!
And it's very much appreciated :) I've always admired your videos for the home friendly aims and traditional basis. I wish I could support you but alas, atm I can't afford anything more. I really admire and appreciate your channel and efforts :) thanks dude
Found this and your video in the Joiners Bench -- I need to make a work bench and now I know how.
Very clever - the fine tuning is ingenious and very practical.
This vise you're making is pretty awesome but when it comes to budget woodworking vises something cobbled together out of pipe clamps is tough to beat as far as economy and ease of construction goes. A web search of the term, pipe clamp bench vise turns up a few design examples. So maybe you can put up a part two exploring that? Another popular low budget ad hoc woodworking vise is made out of a car scissors jack. Which you can often find free in junked cars. It can lift a car so you know it has tons of force.
Thanks Rex. I really like your approach to making woodworking accessible. It really does help, I think, for people to see what can be done with so little and some determination.
The cost of one of those scaffolding jacks at a big box store is about $32. Woodcraft sells a Chinese vise for $130. It's gone on sale in the past, but who knows if you can get it cheaper.
Amazon: $26.
thanks Rex...this bench will soon be built for my needs out here in Saipan.
Loving this series!!..... allthough I've fallen a bit behind. I haven't made the bench as I already have one. But all of these new cheap work holding option are amazing
Glad you like it. I may do a new bench this year. We'll see.
You quickly became one of my favorite channels. Thanks for the great content
I love how almost nothing looks even or precise, but it all comes together to make solid machine. It reminds me of when ENIAC was created. Vacuum tubes never matched spec and were unpredictable, so they designed a computer architecture that can synthesise a reliable system from unreliable parts.
That's a fascinating analogy!
For tommy bars, that's what the vise handle is, I wire wrap them. I wrote an article on the instructables website about how to wire a vise tommy bar. Search for, Fast Easy Speed Vise Mod over there. I wire all of my vise handles. It gives them that luxurious precision feel. It's what plants crave!
For your cast-iron vice a couple thicknessess of leather will help a lot to hold minorly tapered pieces. If there is a welding school nearby you might be able to get one of their worn out jackets.
God's bones, you are hilarious! I've been working without a vise since I built my own workbench. And ya, there are a million options that work, but they all have one failing: they take time and effort to use. Getting a vise has become a priority for me, BUT! OMG, there must be 1/2 million different vises and vise systems out there. Oh the choice! I despair. Thanks for these videos, they are great. To that end, I've added you to my Patreon list. Keep up the fun and useful videos! Cheers
Thanks VERY much!
Good stuff. I do have one concern, though. I have a 2x4 bench myself and got one of those Irwin vises for the end. It's held on by several screws, and I found that under high tension the vise would pull the screws out of the end grain. I eventually solved the problem by drilling vertical holes that intersect the screws, inserting dowels in (3/4 oak in this case) and screwing the vise back on. This gives the threads some cross grain to bite into, and it hasn't been a problem since.
If I have that problem, I'll try your solution!
This is just perfect, really impressed. I gonna start this build very soon. Thanks for the videos.
I really like how your straight forward with the build the vice you want for yourself this was one was yours
At 1:35 you show a "commercially made vise screw". I have one practically identical to that. It has sentimental meaning to me, since it was my grandfather's, but I haven't figured out exactly how to use it to build a vise. I have a question, that might make it easier for me to be able to use it.
Why is the end of the garter rounded? Whenever I have thought about making a vise out of it, I haven't been able to figure out what to do with the rounded part.
Mr Krueger, I’m really enjoying this series and I really like your presentation