Vise Idea Attaching a Hinge...I've been thinkin...again.

[Always_Thinkin]

So I have an idea for building something like a pattern maker's vise. I really like the idea of the emmert pattern makers vise. However, I cant afford to drop $350 + on a knockoff one. I have been snooping around and I'm considering making one. However it will only pivot 90 degrees to the workbench front, which is the feature I really like on the emmert.

My plan is to buy a Yost 9" wood working vise, and a heavy duty weldable hinge on Amazon. Then an piece of steel plate. I have the scrap items to make the under the bench bracket, slotted bar and clamping lever (the hardware that allows the vise to tilt and lock into place).

Has anyone done this or have any beneficial suggestions for what I am going to do. One thing I haven't found yet is a very heavy duty hinge to bolt the vise to so it will tilt like the emmert. My plan is to inset and attach the hinge to the top of the workbench then then the welded plate would sit 90 degrees to the bottom of the hinge so the plate tucks under the front of the bench. This L-shape would follow the contour of the two vise mounting faces and I would attach the vise to the plate/hinge setup with four large bolts.

Thoughts? Attached is a sketch of what i am thinking.

 

[Joemctag]

If you have what it takes to do steel fabrication, then forget that wimpy hinge and make as big a bracket-with-locking-mechanism that will work that you can bolt to the blue casting and the workbench. Make the “hinge” as long as possible. Bolts through drilled holes in steel plate. Nice big plate bolted to bench so it doesn’t tear out. You need rigidity more than strength. Otherwise a pain to do anything with it. Good luck.