Portable Wood Vise and Homemade Worktable

[DRider]

This is a new tool addition. Got at Sjoberg Smart Workstation Pro that I can clamp on to my potable workbench for woodworking. After clamping it the whole thing is as solid as a rock. The portable bench setup is two Toughbuilt G700 metal sawhourses. These have some open slots and clamps that accept the 2 x 4 supports under the 3/4" plywood top. I put some 90 degree brackets to further support the 2 x 4 supports. These sawhorses are really sturdy and heavy. This makes for a super solid portable worktable for a garage with limited space.

 

[RTM]

Can you plane on it?

 

[DRider]

Yes, that is one use for it. But you can't do big boards on this - it's for smaller projects. I am looking at getting a Sjoberg Elite 2000 workbench which would handle planning on boards. I also have a Workmate 425 and I think you secure a board on it with the bench dogs and plane. This would hold a bigger board than the Workstation Pro.

 

[RTM]

Most of the portable setups friends have wobble too much for planing, big or small boards.

Here are a couple of things other friends have done to stop the wobble on a workmate. Not my ideas, but they use a nearby wall as a stop.

 

[DRider]

The portable workbench I made that uses the sawhorses has zero wobble. It is as solid as a rock. I agree on the Workmate, which is why I would want a heavy woodworking bench for the larger projects. The one I am looking at weighs close to 300 lbs. You want a thick top and big vices. But the problem is it takes up a lot of space. The reason the sawhorse setup is so solid is they are metal and heavy and there are 8 legs versus 4 with the Workmate.