Which is more verstaile? Bench mount a vice or build a seperate stand?

stephen4785 · May 4, 2011

I just built a wood shop table and I have a new vice ready to be installed. Im contemplating building a stand for the vice instead of mounting it to the table. that way Id have more room for larger projects on the table and a metal stand made out of 4" square tube and bolted to the concrete should be more stable.
Ideas? Suggestions?

Ray-CA · May 4, 2011

Get one of these (http://www.harborfreight.com/5000-lb-capacity-step-bumper-receiver-67158.html) and mount it under the bench. Then, mount your vice, grinder(s) etc. to one of these (http://www.harborfreight.com/hitch-mount-vise-plate-66260.html) or something similar. Then, you'll have the stability of a bench mounted system and the convenience of a clear workbench when you need it.

Ray

thrifty bill · May 4, 2011

+1 Check the 12 gauge garage thread. He has both a grinder and a vise mounted this way. Slick!

ptschram · May 4, 2011

Both! I have one bolted to the corner of my welding table and another bolted to a Harbor-Freight grinder stand that's welded to a "donut" spare wheel.

http://www.harborfreight.com/bench-grinder-stand-42986.html

Every once in awhile, it's really handy to have two vises that can be used together.

Antique Engine · May 4, 2011

I built a stand for my vise out of an old truck wheel. It's very heavy so it's sturdy, but also portable enough to take where I want it. That's nice is I need to get something hot with the torch or whatever so my bench doesn't get subjected to it.

Motown 454 · May 4, 2011

I was going to mount one of the receivers in the floor facing up when I had it poured and just build a tall enough stand with a flat top to mount it when I needed it. Then pull it out when its not needed. That way I would have plenty of room around the vice or buffer for large pieces. Only problem it lost in the details and never got done.

justanengineer · May 5, 2011

I prefer stand mounted as I find them more versatile. I find myself needing to hammer on the vise, or something in the vise quite often and that definitely would not go over well with most benches.

OJ Bartley · May 29, 2012

Does anyone else make a hitch mount vise plate besides Harbor Freight? I'm in Toronto, and was hoping to find one locally without having to fab anything. I can find receiver tubes, but no mounting plates. Just wondering if there's anything else on the market.

machine_punk · May 29, 2012

For me, there is no question that it is more convenient to have your vice on a stand...this is the way I am heading for work holding during fabrication in my studio.

Just make sure you make the stand stable enough.

M_P

Zeke · May 29, 2012

Another vote for the stand — heavy. Better yet is more than one vise. Somehow after my latest acquisition, I have 6.

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showpost.php?p=2342382&postcount=4313

BD1 · May 29, 2012

All of the above. Receive tube for bench goodies, vise, grinder, polisher sander, etc. Free standing vice to move anywhere.
I picked up a clamp on vise. Great for the little things when needed.

ddawg16 · May 29, 2012

I did both....with the same vice....

That table top weights almost 200lbs....with vice and legs....over 250lbs....

So far, I have not had any issues beating on it...as soon as I finish my 2-story addition...I'll get the wheels bolted to it so I can roll it under my drill press.

admranger · May 29, 2012

Ray-CA said:
Get one of these (http://www.harborfreight.com/5000-lb-capacity-step-bumper-receiver-67158.html) and mount it under the bench. Then, mount your vice, grinder(s) etc. to one of these (http://www.harborfreight.com/hitch-mount-vise-plate-66260.html) or something similar. Then, you'll have the stability of a bench mounted system and the convenience of a clear workbench when you need it.

Ray

I might have to do this! Excellent!

GOLF for LIFE · May 29, 2012

ddawg now that looks like a great idea. I'd have one of each, bench and one on a well built stand.

ra42mario · May 29, 2012

Depends on your use. For me a benchtop in the corner works fine... if you are clamping longer sheets/bars of steel, a vice on a portable stand would be it!

JimVonBaden · May 29, 2012

OJ Bartley said:
Does anyone else make a hitch mount vise plate besides Harbor Freight? I'm in Toronto, and was hoping to find one locally without having to fab anything. I can find receiver tubes, but no mounting plates. Just wondering if there's anything else on the market.

In CA, Princess Auto or Northern Tool sell similar items.

Jim

n2ocamaro · May 29, 2012

Ray-CA said:
Get one of these (http://www.harborfreight.com/5000-lb-capacity-step-bumper-receiver-67158.html) and mount it under the bench. Then, mount your vice, grinder(s) etc. to one of these (http://www.harborfreight.com/hitch-mount-vise-plate-66260.html) or something similar. Then, you'll have the stability of a bench mounted system and the convenience of a clear workbench when you need it.

Ray

I am going this route. The "work benches from scratch" thread has several examples of this. I have a welding table and work bench and want to be able to move my vice and grinder to either place I need them.

onelochevy · May 29, 2012

I have mine on a stand because I have a small bench and didnt want it taking up space. I also wanted to me able to move it out of the garage when grinding metal to keep the dust out. Guy I work with got me an old 18-wheeler rim for the base.

NUTTSGT · May 29, 2012

I have my vise mounted on the bench but I'm beginning to think that maybe I should maybe get a second vise and make a stand for it.

BD1 · May 29, 2012

NUTTSGT said:
I have my vise mounted on the bench but I'm beginning to think that maybe I should maybe get a second vise and make a stand for it.

You can never have enough VICES !!!!! :bounce:

NUTTSGT · May 29, 2012

BD1 said:
You can never have enough VICES !!!!!

LMAO, I was thinking something along those lines when I typed that. :bounce:

OJ Bartley · Jun 4, 2012

JimVonBaden said:
In CA, Princess Auto or Northern Tool sell similar items.

Jim

Thanks Jim, I had hoped Princess would have something like that, but I checked their website and only found the receivers, and when I stopped in on the weekend they didn't seem to have a mounting plate in the store either. Are there any Northern Tool locations in Canada?

alpinewhite · Feb 10, 2015

OP, what did you end up doing? I'll be crossing this bridge soon.

kbs2244 · Feb 11, 2015

Check out the wood working sites.
Their dream benches seem to have 2 vices in the right, front corner.
The logic seems to be because you are often working with long boards.
With slide under the bench supports along the front edge you can clamp a long board and have the long end supported.
The one "around the corner" is used for clamping stuff laying on the bench top and the far end against a "bench stop."

Metal and auto guys, on the other hand, put them on stands since they seem to be working on smaller stuff and like to be able to walk around the vise to get to all four sides.

As I am typing this I am thinking it may be a fabrication vs. repair use thing.
Woodworking is almost always fabrication.

Vegaman_Dan · Feb 12, 2015

I began collecting vices and kept upgrading to the bigger and tougher ones as I went. I currently have one on a stand that I do like a lot, though I need to add a set of wheels to one side so I can tip it back and move it around. More projects to do.

Bench mounted is nice, but it's pretty much always in the way, so a stand is the way for me.

sberry · Feb 12, 2015

I have 2 tables and don't care for a stand, The table its mounted to doesn't have to be big but there needs to be a place to set a drill or other tools/parts.

Ign · Feb 12, 2015

Wow! Old thread revival. Never understood a stand, but then again I don't build anything out of wood. Steel workbench + bolt to the floor + vise on each corner. I've used a 15' cheater before, nothing moves, nothing flexes.

sberry · Feb 13, 2015

I don't like a stand either. I have a smaller bench bolted to the floor. There is no place to set tools or a drill on a stand, on a table is better.

over40pirate · Feb 16, 2015

One of my big vises is mounted to a old cast iron table saw top.

vonhef · Feb 16, 2015

I like my bench grinder mounted on a separate stand to free up the work bench... but actually prefer my vise to be mounted on the work bench for stability. If you ever cut, thread & put together 2" pipe... you will know what I mean.

Which is more verstaile? Bench mount a vice or build a seperate stand?

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