Quick-release method for bolting various tools to wood workbench top?

[CZ Eddie]

I'm looking for ideas on how to quickly bolt various tools to my wood workbench top. Something that lets them install and be removed very easily and quickly.

Tools like my bench grinder, bench vice, etc.

Here's my bench if you're interested.
The top is 1.5" thick.
https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?p=8404343#post8404343

 

[jonshonda]

Build a french cleat system into the workbench and have a drop in pin to hold it in place when inserted into the work bench.

 

[Lucid Moments]

I have seen people used a 2" receiver hitch and have their tools mounted on some 2" tubing. Not on top of the workbench but underneath.

 

[sparky 1971]

The only tool I install and take off the bench is my scroll saw. It's permanently mounted to a piece of plywood. I drilled holes in the plywood and on through the benchtop. I just drop carriage bolts through and use wing nuts. The four holes in the top are hardly noticeable. I use the same method for the drill press vice.

 

[southalabama]

Mount the tool on a piece of plywood with a lip. Hook lip on bench too and then permanently install some threaded inserts on the bench. Use “t” handles to screw the plywood down.

 

[Stuart in MN]

Woodworkers use a thing called a holdfast to quickly clamp down a piece of wood when they're working on it. Perhaps you could use the same idea. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07N1W616C/?tag=atomicindus08-20 You just give them a few whacks on top to clamp down, then whack them on the side to release their grip.

 

[HenryAZ]

Mount device to a piece of plywood, as others have mentioned. Make the plywood oversized so it sticks out beyond the tool/device on both sides. Instead of using threaded inserts or some other type of quick connector, I simply use a C-clamp to mount the tool to the bench. I also have M12 threaded holes scattered around my bench top, so I can put a clamp away from the edge if I need to.

 

[seber]

For most things any of those methods will work fine. But for a bench vise, even a receiver hitch is not going to make most people happy. It needs to be bolted down.

 

[RTM]

Many holdfasts won't work in a 1-1/2" top

I have a few tools on a platform, and a 2x2 underneath that clamps into my front vise. I don't want metal working on my main bench, so I have that stuff set up for my workmate.

My manual miter saw is on a platform, and I just push it against two bench dogs, since all the work is pushing

On my metal bench, my arbor press mounts through the bench into 2 tee nuts. When not installed, I have flat head screws in the holes to keep them clean.

 

[tarbellb]

Some sort of universal platform like plywood or diamond plate with a camlock type handle.

Say 12"x12" diamond plate bolted to each tool, that plate slides into a 3 sided wall with lip to capture plate (or french cleat + plywood).

Then use some sort of locking method, I prefer camlocks for speed and adjustability.

Or even a 12"x12" pocket into existing table top, drop plate+tool into pocket, use some sliding lock to keep from popping up.

or!$

Maglock door mechanism located in table..... steel plate on tools. Rated for 1200lbs!

 

[LeeG]

I mount items on to a piece of 3/4" plywood, then hold that plywood between the tail vise and a bench dog.

 

[HenryAZ]

Please delete, duplicate post.

 

[HenryAZ]

I use these Pony hold down clamps for a wood workbench top. The pop-up bolt drops down below the top when not in use, into a counter-bored hole. Push the bolt up from underneath the top to engage the clamp, and you can have hold downs anywhere on your bench top. I've been using them for decades. The Amazon link (click the picture) shows unavailable, but they are available elsewhere.

 

[RTM]

^^^ Since I cant get under my bench easily to push them up, will a super magnet pull them up?

 

[Jack Olsen]

I'll be the contrarian. I used to use 2" receivers, and in practice I didn't like it at all. Better to have the tools mounted full-time, even if they're close together.

 

[matt_i]

I had this little 2 drawer nightstand-y thing, and I mounted my mitersaw to a piece of 3/4" plywood. Then screwed & glued a set of 1x blocks to the bottom of the plywood so its a close fit that drops over the top of the little stand.

It can be picked off and placed on something else quickly.

An alteration, if you could stand a piece of raised 3/8 plywood or steel plate on top your workbench, it would be fast to rout a mating pocket into a piece of 3/4" plywood, to which you'd bolt the tool. It would have a tipover footprint as wide as you selected, and be anti-slip across the bench, and install by dropping onto the "puck", anti-rotate by virtue of square or rectangular pocket.

Various flathead cap screws would be needed for this idea.

 

[HenryAZ]

^^^ Since I cant get under my bench easily to push them up, will a super magnet pull them up?

I don't have to get *under* my bench to push them up, just reach under there for something sticking down. A couple of mine are over drawers, and I just open the drawer and push it up (there is an apron on the workbench base so the bolt doesn't actually invade the drawer space). But yes, a magnet will pull them up easily. I have one of those extendable stick magnets for fetching things that works fine.

 

[RTM]

Thanks, I have a cabinet under my bench top, and didn’t give good thought to my holdfasts when I built it, I can get an arm in there, but not easily, and not all the way to the back. So pushing up would be difficult

Had to buy short holdfasts for the center holes.

 

[Doug Arthurs]

I use 2" receiver tubing for vise and all kinds of metal working stuff. Make sure you weld a nut to the tube in the bench so you can take the play out by tightening a bolt.

 

[m6z]

I'm going to eventually mount my vises to individual pieces of wood and use clamps to secure them to the workbench top. A nice clean workbench top is the priority. My needs are pretty light duty though.

 

[67CarGuy]

I use 2" receiver tubing for vise and all kinds of metal working stuff. Make sure you weld a nut to the tube in the bench so you can take the play out by tightening a bolt.

Aha! So that's how it's done. I just mounted a receiver to the underside of my bench, and with the grinder wound up the entire bench vibrates like a 1950s electric football game. I was trying to figure out how to best insert a shim to firm things up.

Instead, I have a reason to go buy a welder!

 

[jonshonda]

Aha! So that's how it's done. I just mounted a receiver to the underside of my bench, and with the grinder wound up the entire bench vibrates like a 1950s electric football game. I was trying to figure out how to best insert a shim to firm things up

I use these on my hitch mounted cargo basket for my vehicle. Takes all the slop out.

https://www.amazon.com/Curt-Manufacturing-22321-CURT-Anti-Rattle/dp/B001EOWR3Y

 

[anndel]

If I have to mount tools to the workbench, I usually mount them to a piece of plywood then clamp it to the bench.

 

[lilredex]

Aha! So that's how it's done. I just mounted a receiver to the underside of my bench, and with the grinder wound up the entire bench vibrates like a 1950s electric football game. I was trying to figure out how to best insert a shim to firm things up.

Try dialing in your wheels, 1/4 turn at a time, that's what I did with mine.

It started out like yours, but with a little time and effort it now runs as smooth as silk.

 

[seber]

If I have to mount tools to the workbench, I usually mount them to a piece of plywood then clamp it to the bench.

You need to true your wheels. Diamond dressers have gotten very cheap. I'm sure you can find a youtube movie if you've never done it. Grinders should never vibrate more than slightly.