Advise: Vise Mount - Left or Right?

[D Force]

I've been reading this forum of a little while and checking out the pictures. I've notice some workbenches have vises mounted on the left and some on the right. I have two vises on two benches, both mounted on the right. I've always thought that was the best side. I am right handed. I pretty much only use the vises for cutting and pounding. Which side of the workbench is the most useful/common side for mounting a vise, do you think, and why? Thanks for any input.

 

[NUTTSGT]

I put mine on a corner, I can loosen it up and turn it 90* if I need to.

 

[rowbow41]

I put mine on a corner, I can loosen it up and turn it 90* if I need to.
__________________
ERIC

Left corner or right corner??

 

[W.I.P.]

I'm right handed but mine's going on the left front corner because that's where I'll have more open space to clamp down large objects. I'd probably put it on the right if the beer fridge wasn't tight against the right side of the bench.

 

[tonydanzah]

I also have a swivel, but mine is mounted on the right corner

 

[nate379]

Right corner. When I built the bench several years ago the left side was against a wall.

 

[Nuts]

Use receiver hitch tubing and mount it on both.

Nuts

 

[Jack Olsen]

Whichever side is farthest from the wall.

 

[logical]

If the bench is not against a wall on either side, I'd go right corner for a right handed person. It's better that way if you are sawing something clamped horizontally, the saw doesn't have the bench in it's way. Another position issue I've screwed up is not having the fixed jaw surface far enough beyond the edge of the bench. If you are clamping something long vertically, you want it to clear the front of the bench.

 

[Mufrat62]

I have mine on the left side which is furtherest from the wall

 

[Shadowdog500]

I've had it both ways in several shops, my dad even has one in the center because his bench runs from one wall to the other. Never really noticed a difference on either end, but the center of the bench is not as good. I put it near a leg so it is well supported underneath and I also put a 2 by 10 under by bench to tie it into the wall so the bench don't flex when I push pull or twist on the vise

Chris

 

[Krokodil]

On whatever side will give you the most free space to clamp long things.

 

[Scout Driver]

Lots of good words of wisdom here. Put it out in the open as much as possible. If you are not going to put it in a corner of the bench.....logic tells me that if you are right handed, place the vice slightly to the left of you. That way your right hand can grab tools, parts etc. from the bench with greater ease.

Scott

 

[Steve from Socal]

I am right handed and both my vises are mounted at the left facing the bench corner. The reason I have had a vise in that location on work benches forever and they are in the most accessible spots for use. Building and other physical constraints will dictate the best place in some situations but, I would not put a vise somewhere inconvenient just because it offered a little more room. You can always remount the vise at some other location of you have a project that requires a specific use.

Steve

 

[NUTTSGT]

I put mine on a corner, I can loosen it up and turn it 90* if I need to.
__________________
ERIC

Left corner or right corner??

here's a pic that I had, it's on the left side of the pic.

 

[gumbudah]

One thing I've been thinking of lately... is the fact that all of my grinders turn clockwise when looking at the back of the head (Like I'd be using it on a flat piece of steel), I put a bunch of stuff on the right hand side of my vise, but it always gets dirty cuz of all of the grind material and sparks. I'd try to set it up so that to the right of your vice is a section of non-flamable, non combustible, stuff that is ok to get dirty... My $.02

 

[southpier]

if you're right handed, it should go on the left corner of the bench.


after you crack your elbow on it a few times, you'll know why

 

[nehog]

I have three vices. Three benches. One right. One left. One on my drill press table so that doesn't count.

I find both right and left mountings (both corner mounted) work equally well, the main issue IMHO is just having adequate space on each side for long things like drive-shafts.

 

[DCarr]

I dont think it matters as long as its on a corner. BTW ... I'm right handed and my vise is on the left. Only reason is because thats where it fit best.

 

[Shadowdog500]

I'm left handed and my vice is current mounted on the left hand side of my bench for the last 12 years with no problems. I haven't bashed my elbow.

Southpier, What are you doing when you bash your elbow? I want to make sure I don't do that.

Chris

 

[Mustanger]

Right handed and vice has been on right side of the bench for last 6 years with no issues.

 

[Andy Griffith]

Right handed. Three work benches with vices, all on the right hand corners.

 

[mjozefow]

Whichever side is farthest from the wall.

Bingo. That is my rule of thumb too. The more room you have the longer the stuff you can clamp.

 

[Bib Overalls]

Make sure your vice if positioned so that a long work piece clamped vertically will clear the edge of the bench.

 

[e-tek]

One mistake that I made once (when I was a pup!) - and I see guys make on here as well - is mounting the vise too far back from the edge of the bench. It should be mounted far enough forward so you can clamp something long and it'll hang down in front of your bench....

 

[e-tek]

Make sure your vice if positioned so that a long work piece clamped vertically will clear the edge of the bench.

Great minds!!!! Sorry I didn't see this....