Vise pedestal ideas

gatorgrabber · Jun 22, 2013

After much searching/head-scratching, I've come to the conclusion that the only way to properly mount my Yost 750-DI (65 lbs) will be to have a pedestal fabricated and bolted to the floor. I'm plowing through the 'vise threads' now but details about the pedestals are slim. Perhaps something with a tool tray of some sort?? This is a very resourceful bunch, so there must be some clever ideas out there. My brand new vise is currently sitting there on the garage floor, mocking me! :evil:

The Ratchet Man · Jun 22, 2013

gatorgrabber said:
After much searching/head-scratching, I've come to the conclusion that the only way to properly mount my Yost 750-DI (65 lbs) will be to have a pedestal fabricated and bolted to the floor. I'm plowing through the 'vise threads' now but details about the pedestals are slim. Perhaps something with a tool tray of some sort?? This is a very resourceful bunch, so there must be some clever ideas out there. My brand new vise is currently sitting there on the garage floor, mocking me!

I know the feeling. I already have all the parts for my pedastal. Just gotta get around to welding them together.

Outlawmws · Jun 22, 2013

Most pedestals seem to gravitate to a Semi truck drum, hub or wheel, so the vise can be tipped and rolled elsewhere.

If you want to bolt it down the an old plowing disk also make a good base.

For an upright, what access do you have to about 3' or heavy 4" or larger pipe?

A plate cut the size of you vise base some welding and Bob's your uncle.

If you want actual storage your getting into a more involved stand. Maybe hooks for commonly used tools at the vise? :dunno:

gatorgrabber · Jun 22, 2013

I'm not crazy about the vise being able to move, so it's going to be bolted down for sure. I was thinking about a flat plate on top to bolt the vise to, a 4-6" pipe for the riser and a larger plate for the floor base. I've seen tool trays also attached to the riser, I'm just not finding photos of what others have done. I'm forced to create a drawing and turning the job over to my welder for completion due to time constraints. Just trying to make it a one time visit.

toomanytoyzz · Jun 22, 2013

Here's the one I grabbed at a flea market a few months ago for $30. Sold the bench grinder for $20 so it was a $10 pedestal. It's a hefty little guy. I'm going to put a vintage craftsman block grinder on it, but it would be fine with a vise as well. The base is 1" solid steel, and the top is just a small 3/8" plate. I'm going to weld a larger plate on top whenever I get around to it.

It would be pricey for you to buy this and stitch it together. I would go with the drum and post idea.

gatorgrabber · Jun 22, 2013

Yep, something like that. I'm thinking since my vise will be free-standing, I should have some sort of tray to hold misc. bits and pieces. Since my vise is a rotator, this my be problematic unless the tray can also move. Perhaps ditching the tray idea might be best.

RV77 · Jun 22, 2013

I cut a plastic 55 gal. drum at the lower third section and filled it bricks,stones and then put a 5" pipe in it then filled with concrete.Let it sit for a week and I attached my vise to it.I think It works and looks great.Im thinking it weighs #150 at least.

But not too heavy to move around if needed.

ilovevocs · Jun 22, 2013

I have been using a HF grinder pedestal to get me buy until I have time to fabricate one. For $30.00 it has done its job. My intention is to integrate file storage into the one I build via some pegs welded to the column.

redwrench60 · Jun 22, 2013

RV77 said:
I cut a plastic 55 gal. drum at the lower third section and filled it bricks,stones and then put a 5" pipe in it then filled with concrete.Let it sit for a week and I attached my vise to it.I think It works and looks great.Im thinking it weighs #150 at least.

But not too heavy to move around if needed.

That's a good idea! Uhhh.....excuse me your brain is showing. :thumbup:

justanengineer · Jun 22, 2013

I wouldnt bolt it down, especially considering its a swivel. Put it on a good heavy base and if it starts to move when youre hammering, youre getting close to vise breakage time.

Realistically, you dont want the vise hanging out in space a ton, offset it so the static vise jaw is roughly centered over the pedestal to give you the best "balance" so youre hammering into the pedestal vs into air. Again realistically, if you keep it heavy but manageably mobile, its much more versatile as a spare hand fabricating/welding big parts that are supported between the bench, vise, a tool cart, the mower hood, and wherever else. When I was still in the job shop we had a ~400 lb Yost on a fat but short pedestal filled with concrete. It was like working with an anvil when placed, but also easily moved with the forklift which was occasionally necessary.

tjsr19 · Jun 22, 2013

I filled my post with sand made sure it all settled before I welded the cap on top. This made it much more quite when beating on it.

gatorgrabber · Jun 22, 2013

In my case there will be no beatin' and poundin' on the vice; it's for holding parts while I prototype specialized pieces of equipment. It being able to move around is not a positive asset for my situation. I like the idea of offsetting the vice so the C/G sits over the vertical pipe; filling it with sand is another plus for me because of the increased mass.

lilredex · Jun 22, 2013

This is what I use for my 6" Record. The picture shows it in my previous work space, the present one is similar and close to the door with the back of the fixed jaw lining up with the door opening. That is a 3" pipe and is fairly ridgid.

screenshot app

gatorgrabber · Jun 22, 2013

The wall support is a clever idea. I could make that brace out of square material and use it as the attachment point for my tool tray. Thanks! :thumbup:

CAOS · Jun 22, 2013

18" diameter discer blade with a half inch plate welded to the bottom. A hole was cut into the blade and the three inch pipe was welded to it. The base and pipe are full of steel shot all the wall up to the vise.

DaleK · Jun 22, 2013

If you're mostly going to be using it for holding and not hammering, I'd be tempted to make the height adjustable, maybe get a heavy duty implement jack or drop leg ******** a highway trailer and put the vise on top of it.

The Ratchet Man · Jun 22, 2013

Pictures of my yet to be assembled vise pedestal. The bottom is a cap for a 16" water line that measures 21" in diameter and is 1.5" thick. The post is 5"x5" and is slightly over waist high. I like the sand idea someone stated earlier so I'm going to add that to the plans to help deaden the sound.

I haven't figured out what I want to do with the top yet. I will most likely make it out of some 3/4" plate of the same diameter to match the bottom. This will give me the room to mount the vise and the soon to be rail anvil on the same stand. Everything will be welded then gusseted on all 4 sides with 3"x3"x1/4" angle. It will then be bolted to the floor with a 1/2" thick piece of conveyor between the floor and base plate to help keep the vibration transfer to a minimum.

I've decided to mount my larger vise on this stand to be used as my heavy hitter. The Craftsman Pro will be mounted on the corner of my box and will have the easy life of clamping and holding duties only.

To the right is a Craftsman pedestal that finally decided to show up a little late for Fathers Day. It will suffice for my dads needs since he's more into woodworking. Its a well made stand and weighs around 55 lb. according to the site.

metaldad · Jun 22, 2013

12x12x1/4 plate.
(2) 2x2x1/4 square stock
(1) 10'' 150# blind flange.
That wasn't heavy enough, drilled and tapped 1/2 unc to a 16'' 300# blind, and then bolted to anchjors set in the concrete.

rick carpenter · Jun 22, 2013

gatorgrabber said:
My brand new vise is currently sitting there on the garage floor, mocking me!

Whatever you do, don't let it get away with that! Vices can be very cruel. You've got to be the alpha male here. Go right up to that vice, stand over it while looking straight in its jaw, dominate it, show it who is boss! Do this once or twice more for the slightest infraction and you'll never have any problems from it again.

Outlawmws · Jun 22, 2013

Metaldad, I like the hammer rack you made with your vise stand!

Bret888 · Jun 22, 2013

Someone posted some old vise ads that had commercial stands in there too. They had a tray on top, and some had a shelf in the middle, and a cast plate bottom, with 3 or 4 pipe legs. That is what I want to do next time. That middle shelf would be nice for grinders, strikers, chipping hammer, whatever. I have also thought about using something like an old water tank for the post, and cut a door in it to store stuff, and keep it cleaner, like welding hood, goggles etc.

ilovevocs · Jun 22, 2013

Outlawmws said:
Metaldad, I like the hammer rack you made with your vise stand!

X2... Me too. I have to ask though, I'm not trying to derail this conversation, but it seems like some guys have "hammer centric" vise setups. I rarely use my vise for hammering, mostly filing. If something needs to be moved I do it in the press. What is it you guys are hammering on?

toomanytoyzz · Jun 22, 2013

ilovevocs said:
What is it you guys are hammering on?

I hammer on sheet metal all the time. A vise will usually be useless for this task on larger pieces, but my 1 1/2" thick welding table acts like a huge anvil to get those pieces back into shape.

Outlawmws · Jun 22, 2013

ilovevocs said:
X2... Me too. I have to ask though, I'm not trying to derail this conversation, but it seems like some guys have "hammer centric" vise setups. I rarely use my vise for hammering, mostly filing. If something needs to be moved I do it in the press. What is it you guys are hammering on?

Either minor straightening, or cold forming band iron in the <1/8" thick class, or hot bending if thicker.

Thar is one reason I'd like to get my Leg vise setup, it's designed for such abuse, but a 4" Parker (my primary vise) comes close...

Most of it's work is for cutting though, and sometimes filing.

KMScott · Jun 22, 2013

There is so many ways to hold a vise, I like having mine moveable for welding and just getting comfortable working on a project. Here are a few Stands I made and the one with the spoke caterpillar base is very heavy and very hard to move. Seeing different options will help you in designing your custom vise stand, most of the time your finish product is built with the materials you have on hand. Be sure to post pic's of yours when you finish it.

My opinion is not to use a hammer bigger then a 16oz on any vise smaller then a 150 lb vise. I have two broken Wilton's from employes hammering on them.

Outlawmws · Jun 22, 2013

Bret888 said:
Someone posted some old vise ads that had commercial stands in there too. They had a tray on top, and some had a shelf in the middle, and a cast plate bottom, with 3 or 4 pipe legs. That is what I want to do next time. That middle shelf would be nice for grinders, strikers, chipping hammer, whatever. I have also thought about using something like an old water tank for the post, and cut a door in it to store stuff, and keep it cleaner, like welding hood, goggles etc.

I like the tank idea, but I'd use a larger area like that for maybe three vises for different purposes. Maybe a std machinist vise, plus a swivel head (If I could ever get my hands on a good US or European made version), and maybe a wood workers vise taylored for metal work, or possibly a pipe vise... Hmmmm

Outlawmws · Jun 22, 2013

KMScott, that Cat base is cool! question though; is it cast or forged?

KMScott · Jun 23, 2013

Outlawmws said:
KMScott, that Cat base is cool! question though; is it cast or forged?

Cast. Outlawmws Picked it up at a farm auction and have my 1" belt/disk sander mounted on it. It stays put.

gatorgrabber · Jun 23, 2013

Wow, I step away from the computer for a little 24hrs of Le Mans viewing and come back to all sorts of good ideas! How stable is that 'tripod stand'?

Mohawk Dave · Jun 23, 2013

Here's a clean one.

gatorgrabber · Jun 23, 2013

That's not a stand, that's art!

Bret888 · Jun 23, 2013

Outlawmws said:
I like the tank idea, but I'd use a larger area like that for maybe three vises for different purposes. Maybe a std machinist vise, plus a swivel head (If I could ever get my hands on a good US or European made version), and maybe a wood workers vise taylored for metal work, or possibly a pipe vise... Hmmmm

That is a good idea! Maybe a wheel bearing/spindle, making a turntable on top with holes to pin it in place.

Bret888 · Jun 23, 2013

That is pretty!

metaldad · Jun 23, 2013

Outlawmws said:
Metaldad, I like the hammer rack you made with your vise stand!

ilovevocs said:
X2... Me too. I have to ask though, I'm not trying to derail this conversation, but it seems like some guys have "hammer centric" vise setups. I rarely use my vise for hammering, mostly filing. If something needs to be moved I do it in the press. What is it you guys are hammering on?

Thank you sirs!
I started with 2, got carried away.

metaldad · Jun 23, 2013

gatorgrabber said:
That's not a stand, that's art!

Bret888 said:
That is pretty!

Yes, that is. very nice

mcmlvif100 · Jun 23, 2013

KMScott said:
Here are a few Stands I made and the one with the spoke caterpillar base is very heavy and very hard to move.

Love the rear drive sprocket. Spent lots of time operating a Caterpillar D7E dozer / push cat, and Dad had a D4 that we used on the farm. Those sprockets are probably not as easy to find as a truck brake drum but definitely tops in the "cool factor" from my perspective.

EOC_Jason · Jun 23, 2013

Some more ideas for ya...

Davefr · Jun 23, 2013

If you can come across a cast iron base from a large industrial pedestal fan they make excellent vise bases. They're wide (24"), heavy but only have a small lip.

gatorgrabber · Jun 23, 2013

Great idea! Does it move around much with that large vise?

ez-duzit · Sep 4, 2013

justanengineer said:
...you dont want the vise hanging out in space a ton, offset it so the static vise jaw is roughly centered over the pedestal to give you the best "balance"...

Sorry but it is preferable that the static jaw be located to just clear the benchtop or column in order to facilitate tall work pieces.

Vise pedestal ideas

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