Vice Mounting on 1-inch Particle Board workbench

[netbrad]

For my workbench I used a 1-inch thick laminated particle board top that came off of a lab station. It is one of those black countertops used in school chemistry labs everywhere.

I wanted to mount a vice to it but didn't know if I should shore it up with a block of wood between the vice and the bench top such as a square piece of 1x6 or 1x8. It will be for light duty use so I won't be holding engine parts with it but I wasn't sure if the particle board would be strong enough.

 

[ishiboo]

For my workbench I used a 1-inch thick laminated particle board top that came off of a lab station. It is one of those black countertops used in school chemistry labs everywhere.

I wanted to mount a vice to it but didn't know if I should shore it up with a block of wood between the vice and the bench top such as a square piece of 1x6 or 1x8. It will be for light duty use so I won't be holding engine parts with it but I wasn't sure if the particle board would be strong enough.

1" is pretty strong as long as the holes are not real close to the edge. I would mount it to the surface on top, but use something stout down below to distribute the load. For jacking my house with hydraulic jacks, I used 1/4" steel... could pick up a small piece about 4x12" from the hardware store for $8-9.

 

[Outlawmws]

1" is pretty strong as long as the holes are not real close to the edge. I would mount it to the surface on top, but use something stout down below to distribute the load. For jacking my house with hydraulic jacks, I used 1/4" steel... could pick up a small piece about 4x12" from the hardware store for $8-9.

Pretty much this. you don't want he bolts to rip through the particle board. A steel plate, 3/8's or thicker plywood, something to spread the load...

My vise has been on top of an ordinary Formica counter top for almost 25 years, but has 2X4's on edge under it so the top is really just a spacer.

 

[Davefr]

Pretty much this. you don't want he bolts to rip through the particle board. A steel plate, 3/8's or thicker plywood, something to spread the load...

^^^what he said.

Example:

 

[GirlnAgarage]

I sat a 4" vise directly on top of the table and used a 2x4 under a table to spread the load when I tightened down the nuts and bolts. Use good washers as well.

 

[netbrad]

Here is a picture, sorry for the quality but the lighting is not the best. The 1x8 is there to test height I don't intend on using it. The bench itself is a Gorilla Rack workbench and there is a 1/2 inch steel lip the benchtop rests on.

I like the idea of steel plate but I don't have any equipment to drill holes in steel easily.

 

[so2315]

I would put the plywood on the bottom of the counter. Having it on the top just gives the vise more leverage to break. On the bottom it will pinch the particleboard if that makes sense.