Mounting Bench Vise

[jjenri]

Hey guys!

So I have searched and cannot seem to find the answer. I bought this vise from an awesome vise restorer in Akron, OH and I was wondering if the "ears" or 2 holes off the swivel base go in the front or rear? I bought a new work bench ($$$$) and I want to make sure before I drill the holes.

Thanks guys- here is a pic of the vise- 1944 Craftsman (Rock Island) 5163

EDIT- there are apparently 3 holes.... 2 holes up front and the last in the rear??

 

[GeoBruin]

Are you sure there are only two holes? I would expect there to be one on the far side, opposite the one in the foreground. If the only two feet are the two we can see in the picture, I would guess one of them was broken off and the restorer ground it down and painted over it.

In any case, there's a lot to say about the forces that will be applied to the vice (pulling vs pushing, etc.) But in my mind one of the primary considerations is whether a long object clamped in the Jaws will be able to hang down past the workbench. To that end, the placement of the feet will determine whether you can have such overhang. I would put them at the back to allow the front of the swivel base to be as close as possible to the edge of the workbench.

My vise has four feet so I had to be very particular about the placement in order to allow the overhang. That said, because I have four feet, I don't have to worry about uplift on any side regardless of how the forces applied to the workpiece. Here's a to help describe the overhang I'm talking about.

 

[jjenri]

Are you sure there are only two holes? I would expect there to be one on the far side, opposite the one in the foreground. If the only two feet are the two we can see in the picture, I would guess one of them was broken off and the restorer ground it down and painted over it.

In any case, there's a lot to say about the forces that will be applied to the vice (pulling vs pushing, etc.) But in my mind one of the primary considerations is whether a long object clamped in the Jaws will be able to hang down past the workbench. To that end, the placement of the feet will determine whether you can have such overhang. I would put them at the back to allow the front of the swivel base to be as close as possible to the edge of the workbench.

My vise has four feet so I had to be very particular about the placement in order to allow the overhang. That said, because I have four feet, I don't have to worry about uplift on any side regardless of how the forces applied to the workpiece. Here's a to help describe the overhang I'm talking about.

Got it... thanks sir! Looks like the feet are on the side so this will make things easy now. I appreciate the help!

 

[Shiftless]

Nice vise you have there.

I recently purchased a 5182 no doubt made during the same time period. May I ask where you found the date stamp on yours? I looked all over and can’t find a date on mine.
Here is a pic of half of it with a baby bullet for scale.
I am looking on the slide for a date but like many old vises, the top of the slide is banged up.

 

[jjenri]

Nice vise you have there.

I recently purchased a 5182 no doubt made during the same time period. May I ask where you found the date stamp on yours? I looked all over and can’t find a date on mine.
Here is a pic of half of it with a baby bullet for scale.
I am looking on the slide for a date but like many old vises, the top of the slide is banged up.

Why thank you sir! I wanted to mount a “forever” vise on the new top.

I have not picked this one up yet, but I believe it is indeed on top of the slide. I’ll take detailed pics when I receive it for you! She weighs in right at 72 lbs

 

[Shiftless]

I’m sure you will be happy with that vise. It was made by Reed as I’m sure you already know. Reed vises are top shelf pieces of equipment. The split nut adjuster in the front on some of their models like the ones we have is a brilliant piece of engineering.

 

[jjenri]

I’m sure you will be happy with that vise. It was made by Reed as I’m sure you already know. Reed vises are top shelf pieces of equipment. The split nut adjuster in the front on some of their models like the ones we have is a brilliant piece of engineering.

Yes sir! I believe this one is actually a Rock Island!

 

[Corvette Mark]

Interesting, my Reed 2C has four mounting holes in the swivel base, but they are not equally spaced. Two are wider/ further apart than the others. Is it correct to assume the wider holes go towards the front as to not interfere with the vise jaws so they can overhang the bench? Or am I not thinking about it correctly.

 

[MattGarage]

I have a nice 1970s Craftsman 5 inch vise which is a gem - I'm sure I mounted it "wrong" but when I realized that - I decided it was best as is.

I currently have it mounted such that it will go about 45 degrees in either direction from 0 (right at me) - but it will turn CW about 75 (edit - closer to about 140 degrees) degrees to be out of the way. I have it mounted on a wood platform which attaches to my wood vise - so I can swing it out of the way - remove it, etc. And when I need to use the wood vise - I can move the vise without clamping it down and it is 100% stable somewhere else on the bench.

Otherwise, the "right" way would be so it has equal turn direction either way.

 

[Zeus36]

Interesting, my Reed 2C has four mounting holes in the swivel base, but they are not equally spaced. Two are wider/ further apart than the others. Is it correct to assume the wider holes go towards the front as to not interfere with the vise jaws so they can overhang the bench? Or am I not thinking about it correctly.

Yes!