Best way to mount this vise

[giantsean]

Hey All,

So in 2014 we built a garage, 2017 I bought a vise, and 2020 I built a workbench to mount it on. I definitely want to buck the three-year trend for actually installing it

So this is a big boy... the Yost 750-DI in all it's swiveling, 63 lb glory. My original idea was to have my woodworking vise (cheapo Irwin) do double duty as a mounting point for things like vises, grinders, etc. I have been going through the motions of building a mount for the 750, and built a too-small test unit out of scrap which was actually solid enough as long as I don't put too much leverage on it, but I have my doubts that I won't. The other thing is a 63lb vise isn't really designed to move around lol.

I could mount it in the corner of the bench, but with 2x6 rails, it's a lot to get a bolt through so may be stuck lagging most holes, and the exact placement is a pain w/ a vise like this which wants to live right on the edge. Not to mention the Irwin is right in the way now.

Here are some backup ideas:

- I have some good sized pieces of scrap LVL... mount vise to LVL and LVL to the corner of the bench which gives me a little more flexibility where I make holes. Possibly I could still make it removeable, unbolt it and slide it around.
- Get a 2" receiver/hitch mounting combo - many options with different price points, but more **** to bolt to bench, and now I have a 70lb vise to move around. I also wonder how much lateral force they can take in real life.
- Stick with the woodworking vise plan but make my mount longer in back so I can anchor that end directly through the table (can put T-nuts into a 2x flat on the bottom to bolt into). Will end up with two holes in my bench but if I drill dog holes someday it will have holes no matter what

I am still kicking myself for buying such a big friggin vise. The good news is that I have a shop press already, so I doubt I will need to get too aggressive with the 750. Still, it's mine now... so I must mount. Appreciate any votes for above, or maybe some ideas I haven't yet thought of!

Thanks!

 

[Machinitect]

Nice Yost vise! I like your LVL idea the best. The receiver hitch option will rattle around and drive you crazy. You probably already know this, but make sure the Yost is mounted with the back jaw forward of the front face of the bench so you can clamp stuff in the vertical position. You won’t regret having a solid vise.

 

[csi123]

I think you're way overthinking it.....

If i were you i would just drill 4 holes on the work bench and be done in 5 minutes. If i use it often i will leave it on there. If i rarely use it i will unscrew it and put it in a box until i need it again.

The fact that it took you 3 years to mount it is a sign that you probably not going to use it often.

 

[Davefr]

No offense but that raised molding around the perimeter of your workbench would drive me nuts.

If that were mine, I'd do the following:

Pick a corner of your workbench for the vise so it can swivel a full 90 degrees holding a vertical piece.

I'd remove the raised molding where the vise sits.

Get a piece of plate steel (3/8" or 1/2") and mount the steel securely to the bench. Size the steel plate to where you can mount it to the bench securely and where ever you can get solid attachments points. Use flathead bolts.

Now drill and tap the steel plate for the vise base dimensions. (ie steel mounted to workbench and vise mounted to steel plate.)

 

[lilredex]

To make that WW vise more useful, run your router down between those wooden jaws to create a step. Makes it easier to hold boards for planing, etc.

 

[giantsean]

Nice Yost vise! I like your LVL idea the best. The receiver hitch option will rattle around and drive you crazy. You probably already know this, but make sure the Yost is mounted with the back jaw forward of the front face of the bench so you can clamp stuff in the vertical position. You won’t regret having a solid vise.

Thanks! Yes that's the very reason why I'm finding this a pain.. want to get it close enough to the edge but also make sure holes are in meaty spots. It's a delicate dance

 

[giantsean]

No offense but that raised molding around the perimeter of your workbench would drive me nuts.

If that were mine, I'd do the following:

Pick a corner of your workbench for the vise so it can swivel a full 90 degrees holding a vertical piece.

I'd remove the raised molding where the vise sits.

Get a piece of plate steel (3/8" or 1/2") and mount the steel securely to the bench. Size the steel plate to where you can mount it to the bench securely and where ever you can get solid attachments points. Use flathead bolts.

Now drill and tap the steel plate for the vise base dimensions. (ie steel mounted to workbench and vise mounted to steel plate.)

Thanks I was thinking of steel plate as well (and may do) but may have the same placement issues... still an option but I'd want it to stick out a bit off the corner, so maybe a thicker piece of plate.

BTW I was confused at the raised molding bit, then realized the pics present an illusion. The table is my grandparents dining room table repurposed, and is totally flat - the line you see is just a transition in the veneer. But at that angle w/ the front edging (which is flush) and the rear (which is raised like a backsplash) it looks dished. Kind of neat

 

[nadogail]

Have you considered attaching a large diameter steel pipe to a truck wheel or brake drum and bolting the vice to a plate welded to the end of the pipe?

I had such a rig until I downsized after my accident that really messed up my legs and back.

 

[Shiftless]

There are certainly some limitations when using a dining room table top as a workbench.

Here are a few ideas:

Do you have room to build another workbench where you can have a thick wooden top or maybe even steel where you can solidly mount that Yost.

You say you don’t have holes for bench dogs. What do you do with your woodworking vise? Maybe you could omit your woodworking vise and put the Yost there on the left corner. If the Yost had some removable soft jaws would that do it for you?

I don’t weld so my main workbench has a wooden top 3 1/2 inches thick. How thick is that dining room table top?

Maybe you could take a few hours and rebuild that workbench with 2 layers of 3/4 inch plywood and then put that good looking table top back on top of that.

Hint: if you allow the top to overhang and inch or two, you can then clamp anything to the bench top at the edge.

If you want to mount a vise in such as way that you can take it on and off of the bench only when it’s needed, I would relocate or sell that vise and buy one not so heavy. There are many VERY capable vises that weigh 40 pounds or less.
Look for an old USA made vise and spiff it up if you want it to look like new. Paint it to match if you want.

Update your profile with your location. Maybe there is a GJ guy with an extra they would give you a good deal on. Or post a wanted ad here on the forum.

 

[budget76]

check out my approach, which I shamelessly stole from another post on here

Dad's vise got the same treatment, but no 'studs' into the bench. He does a little more light duty so he just clamps the flat board down onto the bench

https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?p=8478152#post8478152

 

[Shiftless]

check out my approach, which I shamelessly stole from another post on here

Dad's vise got the same treatment, but no 'studs' into the bench. He does a little more light duty so he just clamps the flat board down onto the bench

https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?p=8478152#post8478152

That’s a fine approach.
And there is nothing wrong with using a couple of big C clamps to hold its down, as long as the clamps don’t get in your way too much. Clamping seems more solid than pins sitting in holes.
Clamping to the edge of your bench is something I mentioned in my last post. Good reason to have an overhanging edge.

 

[FTG-05]

Hey All,
[snip]

I am still kicking myself for buying such a big friggin vise. The good news is that I have a shop press already, so I doubt I will need to get too aggressive with the 750. Still, it's mine now... so I must mount. Appreciate any votes for above, or maybe some ideas I haven't yet thought of!

Thanks!

Not to hijack, but: Can someone please translate the bolded part into English please? I'm having trouble understanding what he's trying to say.

Thanks!

 

[Shiftless]

Not to hijack, but: Can someone please translate the bolded part into English please? I'm having trouble understanding what he's trying to say.

Thanks!

Ha ha
I was kind of waiting for somebody to bring this up. In the world of vises here on GJ, a 63 pound vise is not generally considered too big.

My daily driver is a Wilton C1. That one weighs about 75 pounds.
I know a couple of guys who have Reed 4C’s bolted to their benches. They weigh about 185#.

 

[giantsean]

There are certainly some limitations when using a dining room table top as a workbench.

Here are a few ideas:

Do you have room to build another workbench where you can have a thick wooden top or maybe even steel where you can solidly mount that Yost.

You say you don’t have holes for bench dogs. What do you do with your woodworking vise? Maybe you could omit your woodworking vise and put the Yost there on the left corner. If the Yost had some removable soft jaws would that do it for you?

I don’t weld so my main workbench has a wooden top 3 1/2 inches thick. How thick is that dining room table top?

Maybe you could take a few hours and rebuild that workbench with 2 layers of 3/4 inch plywood and then put that good looking table top back on top of that.

Hint: if you allow the top to overhang and inch or two, you can then clamp anything to the bench top at the edge.

If you want to mount a vise in such as way that you can take it on and off of the bench only when it’s needed, I would relocate or sell that vise and buy one not so heavy. There are many VERY capable vises that weigh 40 pounds or less.
Look for an old USA made vise and spiff it up if you want it to look like new. Paint it to match if you want.

Update your profile with your location. Maybe there is a GJ guy with an extra they would give you a good deal on. Or post a wanted ad here on the forum.

I called out the dining room table top to explain the design, but the frame underneath is designed as a workbench. The top itself is 3/4" solid wood and has an additional layer of plywood to bring it to 1 1/2, edged with oak and anchored into the concrete... it ain't movin

Definitely correct about the vise though... the same summer I had already bought another Yost 5" non-swivel (DI and only 40lbs) which is far easier to handle. The 750 went on sale right after and it was too good to pass up, so now I have two vises lol. Yes, stupid... but here we are.

I'm in the New Haven CT area... will update

 

[giantsean]

Not to hijack, but: Can someone please translate the bolded part into English please? I'm having trouble understanding what he's trying to say.

Thanks!

LOL... if you saw my last reply, hopefully having TWO "too big" vises scores me back some points from that faux pas

 

[giantsean]

check out my approach, which I shamelessly stole from another post on here

Dad's vise got the same treatment, but no 'studs' into the bench. He does a little more light duty so he just clamps the flat board down onto the bench

https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?p=8478152#post8478152

Wow that's a beaut! Gave me a new idea in fact...thank you!

 

[Shiftless]

You said...
“ so now I have two vises lol. Yes, stupid... but here we are.”

2 isn’t stupid.

There was a poll taken last year about how many vises do you own.
Here are the results:

9 people have over 100 vises.


.

 

[Mainiac Mat]

Big vises inevitably get used for large, heavy items and get beat on.

I personally would want that vise bolted down to the bench top (which is how I've done mine). If I was concerned about it interfering with woodworking projects, I'd build a second bench (which I did).

I'd hate to be in a situation where I was huffin' and puffin' on a job and the entire vise slipped out of the wood working vise and landed on my foot.

 

[giantsean]

You said...
“ so now I have two vises lol. Yes, stupid... but here we are.”

2 isn’t stupid.

There was a poll taken last year about how many vises do you own.
Here are the results:

9 people have over 100 vises.


.

Happy to see I'm in the majority with four... but I could probably stretch it if I counted every single vise of any sort in my possession lol. The 2 folks with 200+ need their own Youtube channel NOW

 

[budget76]

That’s a fine approach.
And there is nothing wrong with using a couple of big C clamps to hold its down, as long as the clamps don’t get in your way too much. Clamping seems more solid than pins sitting in holes.
Clamping to the edge of your bench is something I mentioned in my last post. Good reason to have an overhanging edge.

should have specified. for anything other than very light duty I DO clamp it down with some quick clamps. photo shows it in the woodshop bench and not the garage bench. Pins really just help anti-rotation of the base. I'm also not doing heavy work in reality, just homeowner **** and some auto maintenance at this time.


that all said, mines only a 3.5" jaws and probably only 1/2 to 2/3 the weight of OP's vise. And it hasn't moved in months. My Wilton just got lagged to the other end of the bench itself instead of the movable mount.

 

[giantsean]

should have specified. for anything other than very light duty I DO clamp it down with some quick clamps. photo shows it in the woodshop bench and not the garage bench. Pins really just help anti-rotation of the base. I'm also not doing heavy work in reality, just homeowner **** and some auto maintenance at this time.


that all said, mines only a 3.5" jaws and probably only 1/2 to 2/3 the weight of OP's vise. And it hasn't moved in months. My Wilton just got lagged to the other end of the bench itself instead of the movable mount.

On that note, what's you guys' thoughts on lags vs bolts? In my case may be not as good as bolts if I can't get a straight hole through, but better than clamping?

 

[sick467]

Down and dirty...fasten the vise to a 2x6, 2x8, or what ever fits it dimensionally..even a steel plate. Then C clamp it to the bench when you need it. It would be too big for me to handle very often...I would want a stand build specifically for it.

Here's an idea or at least something to spring board off of in case you have room for a stand.

Note the wheels in the back of the vise horse (forefront of picture). These wheels are mounted ever so slightly off the ground, but when the black bar is slid into the horse and lifted from the front...the wheels make contact and allow the horse to be moved around like a 2-wheeled wheel barrow.

The old 289 block allows for decent weight and I use 4 bolts in the corner most oil pan holes to level it out when moved to uneven floor.

 

[giantsean]

Wish there was a like button because some really great ideas here!