Stump-mounted vice - any special considerations?

[jipps]

Okay everybody, I'd like your help because I'm tackling something that I know nothing about....

I got a big Record 75 vice last week that I'm nearly finished restoring (here). Because I'm still in a temporary garage, with limited bench space, and also because the vice is cast steel and has an anvil, I thought it would make sense to mount it on a stump.

Here's what I've done so far:

1. Lifted a stump from the back garden and cleaned it up

2. Set the stump on a level flagstone, propped the stump vertical, and scribed the base for a good horizontal cut line

3. Cut two cross-channels about 1/2" deep in the base, creating 4 feet for balance

4. Sanded the top flat and level, offered the vice plate until it had a flush bed, marked and centre-punched the fixing points

I'm going to give the stump a coat of white spirit once it has dried out - it's been sitting out back for three years, and I don't want to risk bringing any woodlice in with it.

Other than that, I was just going to drill out the fixings and attach the vice with some coach bolts - any reasons why that won't work, or any special/better way to deal with a stump

 

[Mohawk Dave]

4 feet can wobble, 3 can not.

After you kill lice, apply boiled linseed oil several times so the dried out wood will soak it up and get real nice again. Puts life back into it.

Use lags and pre drill for the lags to mount the vise.

Keep your eyes peeled for smaller U-bolts that you can sharpen points on, and pre drill the stump, hammer in the U-bolts and then you can hang hammers in them.

 

[jipps]

This is all excellent advice Mohawk Dave, thanks!

4 feet can wobble, 3 can not.

I agree on the 4 feet versus three thing, but I am mindful that the vice swivels and I think I want to have two foot points under the plane of work whenever possible... I can always switch to three without loosing too much height if it does prove wobbly...

After you kill lice, apply boiled linseed oil several times so the dried out wood will soak it up and get real nice again. Puts life back into it.

I will definitely do this, it sounds like a great idea

Use lags and pre drill for the lags to mount the vise.

Yep, that's the plan (we call them coach bolts here, but they're the same thing)

Keep your eyes peeled for smaller U-bolts that you can sharpen points on, and pre drill the stump, hammer in the U-bolts and then you can hang hammers in them.

That's a great idea. I've also seen people use a leather strip for hammers, but I think I would need about 12', so the U-bolts are probably a better bet

Thanks again!

 

[gdocktor3]

I don't know because I've always had my vices mounted to my work bench, but don't you think its going to be a fight to keep it upright when your're really tightening and loosening the vice? I mean an anvil is one thing and a vice on a stump that's still in the ground is another, I just see this being a big balancing act. Especially on little feet. Also, what kind of wood is that? It looks a bit soft and dry from the side. Are you sure lag bolts will hold?

I'm obviously not there and never done this before, I'm just trying to bring up some things that you may not have thought of. Either way its a cool project and good luck. The top would look good stained and polyurethane clear coated. It would help protect the wood from getting dinged and marred too.

 

[jakemac]

One thing to remember, just because a vise has an anvil on it, that doesn't mean you can use that anvil for blacksmithing. A vise anvil can't take that kind of abuse.

 

[Farmall450]

I'm skeptical of the stability as well. Now for an anvil, they're pretty good.

 

[jipps]

... Tippy is not even the word to describe that stump mount vise....

Ouch.

But yeah, I have to agree with every word of what you said, ducksface!

My options are limited - I can leave the new vice on the shelf for a year until I get a more permanent garage built with the space & benches I need, or I can have a go with the stump. I don't have high expectations, and will tread especially cautiously given the sage comments here, but I reckon it costs nothing to have a go?

The one slight benefit is the jaw offset and vertical pipe-bender in the vice; hopefully it will give me a little more latitude

I do appreciate all the feedback - this is new territory for me!

 

[gdocktor3]

I honestly think you'd have better luck using two saw horses with a thick piece of wood. To make it easy, you can bolt two 4x4 posts together or something and stub up 4 bolts through them. Set the horses up, place the 4x4 base on to the horses and then slide the vice over the 4 bolts. You can use c clamps to hold the base to the horses or if they're home made you can have pre-drilled holes to bolt the base down. I say doing something like this because it can be broken down and stored inside or out of sight. Plus, most of us already have the materials laying around the garage. If not, its not terribly expensive to buy/build.

Here are some other ideas http://shar.bayedsolid.com/portable-workbench-with-wheels/homemade-portable-workbench/

Or at the very least, you should cut that stump in half. The lower it is, the more stable it will be as it won't tip over as easily. Have you seen the vices of GJ? There's one on a stump here, but its bigger and shorter. http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=44782&page=163

 

[ZRX61]

Yep, that's the plan (we call them coach bolts here, but they're the same thing)

Really? In the UK a coach bolt is totally different to a lag bolt.

 

[plinker]

This is what I have done, The first was a plastic barrel cut down and filled w/ concrete, steel drum would work the same. Second is a set of legs off an old tool of some sort I found at the junk yard and adapted.

The Ultimate would be the third pic. Need to make one yet.


The log method does work(and look great), Neighbors have one set up, but as said movement may be an issue.

 

[gdocktor3]

Plinker those things are so rudimentary I love it. The one in the middle reminds me of an old sewing machine.

I think this is absolutely genius. I have seen them mounted on industrial casters before, but never with the bottle jacks. That's really good thinking. http://shar.bayedsolid.com/portable-workbench-with-wheels/portable-workbench-on-wheels/

 

[plinker]

That would be a great table for a small(er) work area where you need portability.

 

[venturesomerite]

That seems top heavy/tippy to me but....


A) Use three feet. Put the vice split between two of them for best stability.

B) Predrill and lag bolt it in.

C) Be sure to seal or oil the wood after it dries and is treated for any possbile bugs if needed.

D) Consider adding some type of significant weight to the bottom. Really. It looks tall enough to be top heavy and want to fall over. Low buck ideas may include boring holes for old tire weights and epoxying them in, or disks/drums bolted to the bottom in-between the feet. Add a fews times the weight of your vice if possible. This should make a huge difference.

E) As mentioned, and I think it's a solid idea, if you keep the 4 feet, cut them to fit into 2x4 or 4x4 cross pieces that stick out a foot or two in every direction. This will definitely add stability, so long as they are reasonably connected. If not connected, the stump can still just fall over.

F) I am assuming you will actually use the vice, not just to use it to hold this thing while you solder a connection or something.

 

[Fretters]

Really? In the UK a coach bolt is totally different to a lag bolt.

He'll have meant coach screws.

 

[ndnchf]

This may not be what you have in mind, but its an alternative for limited bench space. I took an old vise and mounted it on an old front brake disc off a 1/2 ton pick up. Its heavy enough to be solid for holding a lot of things. If needed, it can be clamped to a work bench with C-clamps for more stability. I usually have it on my welding table for holding items I'm working on. But I can carry it with me if I need it outside or wherever I need it. I've got several mounted bench vises, but I find this one to very handy for many uses.

 

[Craptain]

This may not be what you have in mind, but its an alternative for limited bench space. I took an old vise and mounted it on an old front brake disc off a 1/2 ton pick up. Its heavy enough to be solid for holding a lot of things. If needed, it can be clamped to a work bench with C-clamps for more stability. I usually have it on my welding table for holding items I'm working on. But I can carry it with me if I need it outside or wherever I need it. I've got several mounted bench vises, but I find this one to very handy for many uses.

I actually have a rotor sitting on my bench now for exactly that purpose. Should get round to it in a week or three.

 

[G_P]

Sorry, but either that is going to tip over and possibly injure someone, or the lag bolts are going to rip out of the wood.
Anvils are mounted to stumps and logs since they are so heavy that they are not going anywhere. They are also mounted on the center of the stump.

 

[Ghost11]

Im agreeing with all the above. Anvils are stable bacause there heavy and your simply swinging a hammer straight down on them. Vises are off balance to start and then your swinging and torqueing on them. You could build a small bench out of 4x4s. My big vise is bolted to my work bench and then my bench is then lagged to the wall. It would look awesome mounted to a stump tbough. Sorry to discourage you.

 

[bczygan]

That's a great stump.....for an anvil.

Save it for that.

Or.....do exactly what ducksface said. It will work.

Bill

Another option is to create a spot where the stump can be anchored to the wall and or floor.

I hope this isn't going outside, or if it is, you have ways to cover it and keep it greased up.