Holding pipe vises in a bench vise

[tool_scrounge]

A friend calls up and needs several pieces of 1.5" conduit threaded. While I have pipe vises, I never have them bolted to the work bench since I use them infrequently.

So with some scrap 5" channel, I made some bases for the two pipe vises so they could be clamped in a 5" bench vise when needed. I added the two strips of grey painted steel to self-align the pipe vise to the top jaws of the bench vise. Without them it is awkward to clamp the pipe vise without it being at an angle.

I decided to clamp on the C channel cross section and not the side flats. I was worried that if I clamped on the C channel side flats, the C channel would bent and thus put stress on the pipe vise castings. Clamping on the cross section should prevent this from occurring.

Picture of the chain vise and adapter plate shown below

 

[tool_scrounge]

And here are the pictures of the Yoke vise version

 

[danski0224]

What if you used a bench vise to hold a pipe vise to hold a bench vise?

 

[bobcatdan]

I made this base to hold my pipe vise in a bench. Nothing fancy, just 1/4" plate welded to 2" round stock. I did it this way so the pipe vise can be rotated anyway I want since none of my bench vises swivel.

 

[matt_i]

Nice job and I think you made a good choice clamping it as you did, I would say another possible alternative is to weld a heavy flat bar in the center of the flat plate to make a "T" cross-section, then you could clamp the single leg and not worry about the bending of the flanges in the C-channel.

 

[PugetDude]

Nice job and I think you made a good choice clamping it as you did, I would say another possible alternative is to weld a heavy flat bar in the center of the flat plate to make a "T" cross-section, then you could clamp the single leg and not worry about the bending of the flanges in the C-channel.

^^^this^^^

Most vise-mounted tools (rollers, benders, beaders, etc ) are set up this way; you don't have to extend the vise jaws out so far, minimizes movable jaw deflection and you can clamp it more securely.

 

[lis2323]

Nice job and I think you made a good choice clamping it as you did, I would say another possible alternative is to weld a heavy flat bar in the center of the flat plate to make a "T" cross-section, then you could clamp the single leg and not worry about the bending of the flanges in the C-channel.

[emoji106][emoji106]

PLUS I’m pretty certain you would be putting less stress on the bench vise itself.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[lis2323]

My pipe vise is vertical receiver mounted so it’s is easy to slip into a bench vise.












Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[Packard V8]

Why not just use the pipe jaws which come with the bench vise?

jack vines

 

[bobcatdan]

Why not just use the pipe jaws which come with the bench vise?

jack vines

I find it depends on what I'm doing. The only bench vise I own with pipe jaws is a Parker 289 1/2 combo vise. For shorter lengths of pipe, the Parker is good. However for long stuff, since my vise doesn't swivel, I'm limited to how long of pipe I can hold. With my pipe vise, I can postion it what ever way I want to find the best way to postion the pipe I'm working with.

 

[lis2323]

Why not just use the pipe jaws which come with the bench vise?

jack vines

This is GJ. What’s the fun in that?????[emoji16]


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[foghorn1966]

lis2323 , I like your bench set-ups, really cool.

 

[lis2323]

lis2323 , I like your bench set-ups, really cool.

Thank you, foghorn. [emoji2]


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Eric827]

Just finished a rehab for a clamp-on style pipe vise for the bench. Armstrong No. 142

 

[dr_clyde]

Why not just use the pipe jaws which come with the bench vise?

jack vines

Because a chain vise is much, much more useful for pipe work. Also, much less likely to scar the work. I can hold some pretty large pipes in a chain vise, as well as wrap smaller stainless tubes in a rag or towel allowing me to spin the work while I weld. A chain vise has a much better grip on a pipe, as well as the ability to grab non-round objects with ease.

I don't see the point for the non-chain style, you may as well use the pipe jaws in a regular vise at that point.

 

[isb cornbinder]

My pipe vise is vertical receiver mounted so it’s is easy to slip into a bench vise.












Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Someone got a deal on a case of green paint. Nice work

 

[toolmiser]

This is also on my to do list. Chain vises (and most others) just don't do a lot of good without being attached to a solid surface.

 

[Tools4Me]

Looks good OP!

I made both mine like a T, because that was the steel scrap I had available when making my bases. If I had C-channel available, I might have done something similar to what you did. The T base on my small Ridgid chain vise isn't super strong (1/4" thick or so), but it doesn't need to be. I only use it for small jobs, so I focused on keeping everything lightweight.