Best vise tip ever

[HanShotFirst]

I was looking over the vise thread (which is A W E S O M E ! ! !) and I noticed almost all vised were mounted to the bench top with nothing to raise the vise in height...that's exactly how I USED to mount my vises. Then an old gunsmith taught me how it's SUPPOSED to be done, and my back has been thinking him every day since. I'm a gunsmith and I spend most of my work day at the vise, so this was one of the greatest things I have ever learned, and it's so simple and trivial.

I'm sure someone smarter than me has probably covered this, but I couldn't find it if it was covered. At the very least, this could serve as a friendly reminder

I'm 6'1" so most benches are a bit short for me. I have two vises at home and both have 3" of elevation on the vises. I cut and stacked some 2x10 lumber to raise my vise up to the proper level. And what's the proper level?

Put your hand under your chin, and rest your elbow on the top of the vise; you should be standing straight up or only have the SLIGHTEST bend.

I know a few people who know this, but just don't do it. I can't for the life of me figure out why people don't do this. It is SUCH a back saver and one of the absolute best garage/work tips ever given to me. If your vise isn't at the proper height, treat yourself today.

When I encounter a vise at the improper height I ***** and moan like a little baby now...I've been ruined.

I hope you find this helpful

 

[jakemac]

That vise in the picture looks like a British design. Is it a Record or Paramo ?

 

[drivesitfar]

Jake: no i think it's an old Athol, but you might be right because it does have the English spelling of vice.

Han: great tip and while we are discussing the vise's manufacturer you might check out this thread. once you have a hitch on your bench almost any vises you use in it are close to the right height or change the hitch height instead of drilling new holes.

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=252799

cheers and great thread.

 

[HanShotFirst]

That vise in the picture looks like a British design. Is it a Record or Paramo ?

Yes being a tool geek really is a sickness

 

[Brad54]

I found that years ago, when I read on a black-smith site that the proper height for an anvil's work surface is to stand straight up next to it, hold a hammer in your hand, and rest the head on the anvil's work surface: your elbow should be at a 90-degree angle.

Now I try to put all my work surfaces at that height.

-Brad

 

[bczygan]

I was looking over the vise thread (which is A W E S O M E ! ! !) and I noticed almost all vised were mounted to the bench top with nothing to raise the vise in height...that's exactly how I USED to mount my vises. Then an old gunsmith taught me how it's SUPPOSED to be done, and my back has been thinking him every day since. I'm a gunsmith and I spend most of my work day at the vise, so this was one of the greatest things I have ever learned, and it's so simple and trivial.

I'm sure someone smarter than me has probably covered this, but I couldn't find it if it was covered. At the very least, this could serve as a friendly reminder

I'm 6'1" so most benches are a bit short for me. I have two vises at home and both have 3" of elevation on the vises. I cut and stacked some 2x10 lumber to raise my vise up to the proper level. And what's the proper level?

Put your hand under your chin, and rest your elbow on the top of the vise; you should be standing straight up or only have the SLIGHTEST bend.

I know a few people who know this, but just don't do it. I can't for the life of me figure out why people don't do this. It is SUCH a back saver and one of the absolute best garage/work tips ever given to me. If your vise isn't at the proper height, treat yourself today.

When I encounter a vise at the improper height I ***** and moan like a little baby now...I've been ruined.

I hope you find this helpful

The vise in the drawing is not correctly mounted!

The face of the non movable jaw should be slightly outboard from the edge of the benchtop.

Otherwise, thanks for the tip and also the anvil tip. Good stuff!

Bill

 

[Packard V8]

I'm 6'1" so most benches are a bit short for me. I have two vises at home and both have 3" of elevation on the vises. I cut and stacked some 2x10 lumber to raise my vise up to the proper level.

Why not just raise the workbench to the proper level for your height and then all operations on it are at a comfortable height?

I used to be 6'3" on a good day and all my workbenches seem way high to shorter guys.

jack vines

 

[drivesitfar]

Jack: i agree since i'm also 6'3" and when i put in bathroom and kitchen counters my wife said ok to put them higher than standard since she is 5'9". i'm buying a raised or higher sitting toilet the next time i need to replace one because kids are almost gone now.

cheers

 

[HanShotFirst]

Why not just raise the workbench to the proper level for your height and then all operations on it are at a comfortable height?

I used to be 6'3" on a good day and all my workbenches seem way high to shorter guys.

jack vines

Of course that's always an option. Some may not have that option though. Some have a vise mounted to a large rolling tool box, or have store bought benches, etc.

 

[scw1991]

my grandmother can no longer get our of her recliner because she's frail and it sits low. I just added some strips of wood to the feet to elevate the recliner. She's happy now

 

[383 240z]

Here is another good ergonomic lesson
http://kk.org/cooltools/archives/9330

 

[drivesitfar]

SCW: happy to hear Grandma is happy now with your fix. they actually make chairs that will practically throw you out of them that have motors on them. when I go to get some warranty work done on my daughter's wheelchair i always see several models. if Grandma has good insurance or extra cash and a need for a new chair down the road you might look into it.

383: nice drawing and one thing to note to use a bench like that you have to have it clear which for me isn't always easy to do.

 

[zkling]

One of those years past topics. There are a number of good workplace ergonomics books out, most written in the beginning of the 20th century.

 

[freudianfloyd]

I am 6'4" and always make sure to build my benches high enough that I don't have to bend over at all. I used to do assembly at my job before I moved to welding, and the benches and vices were always a couple inches too low. Just a little low is worse than way too low. My back always killed me. My benches and vises at home are several inches higher than most would use.

 

[MoparTrucks]

I have just the opposite situation as far as bench height. I am a tic under 5'8" but have fused vertebrae in my neck and chronic back problems so I purposely built my main work bench higher so I dont have to bend over.

I have a couple of shorter benches too but my main one hits me right about mid stomach and its much more comfortable for me.

 

[Farmall 1066]

I'm 6'7", and my workbench is totally unusable for anyone else. Same with welding table, grinder stand, and pretty much anything else I've built!
Totally agree that a slightly too low workbench is 10x worse than anything!

 

[dumper]

its a good idea, except in my case, at 5ft 6" I had to lower the vise mounting when I got my latest vise. Wish I had your problem!

 

[HanShotFirst]

its a good idea, except in my case, at 5ft 6" I had to lower the vise mounting when I got my latest vise. Wish I had your problem!

Just as long as you address the situation and save wear & tear on your back.

 

[CwazyWabbit]

Cheers for the tip Han, I like that handy measuring system top man

 

[bobcatdan]

My big vise is probably mounted to high per that test. Mounted on my bench which is 36" high, the jaws of my Parker is around mid chest height. I was originally going to make bench 40" tall, but playing with a tape measure showed the vise would be way to high.

 

[daddy2coull]

The vise in the drawing is not correctly mounted!

The face of the non movable jaw should be slightly outboard from the edge of the benchtop.

Otherwise, thanks for the tip and also the anvil tip. Good stuff!

Bill

it makes me laugh that so many people mount their vises without taking this or the working height into consideration. this is one of the first things we learnt when using a vise for the first time at college

 

[exmaxima1]

Here is another good ergonomic lesson
http://kk.org/cooltools/archives/9330

I was taught that the workbench height should be level with your a$$hole, and now I'm shocked to see that clearly illustrated here

Great thread !

 

[Fretters]

it makes me laugh that so many people mount their vises without taking this or the working height into consideration. this is one of the first things we learnt when using a vise for the first time at college

There's no one rule which fits all.

Fitting the rear jaw slightly proud of the bench's front edge is merely to allow long stock to be held. Not always necessary or even desirable to have a vice mounted like that, and the European style precision vices actively prevent that scenario being possible. An inboard vice stops swarf, filings etc. going all over the floor.

Height, that varies on intended use. For general use, elbow height was merely for comfort and correct position when doing general tasks like filing, sawing etc. For things like filing teeth in a gear wheel, however, having a vice that low, (unless you're sat down in front of it), would be next to useless.

Vice position and height, the same as bench height, are both personal preference and use dependant. Crotch to belt buckle height for a bench is merely a good general gauge.

 

[CwazyWabbit]

I do like those handy ready reckoners though even if they aren't 100% perfect they are a great starting point for people and easy to remember.

Vise, elbow height.
Bench, ********.
Anvil surface, elbow 90 degrees with hammer rested on working surface (iirc)
Bicycle seat, rest armpit on seat and finger tips should just touch the crank spindle.

Anyone know any others?