Vise mounted on tool box?

[BajaBound]

I would like some help and guidance mounting a vise on the work surface of my tool box. The box is a 56" Harbor Freight box. My plan is to put a 1/2 or 3/4 inch mdf top on it for durability and structural rigidity. I am think that fender washers would make for good mount points on the under side.

What do you guys think?

 

[buckwheat_la]

Why would you use mdf? Use proper plywood at least

 

[rsanter]

I would like some help and guidance mounting a vise on the work surface of my tool box. The box is a 56" Harbor Freight box. My plan is to put a 1/2 or 3/4 inch mdf top on it for durability and structural rigidity. I am think that fender washers would make for good mount points on the under side.

What do you guys think?

What size of vise
How much torque do you think you will be putting on it?
Center washers could work fine, or you could use a steel plate drilled to the same bolt pattern and get a ton more rigidity
Even 1/2" plywood under the toolbox top and then the fender washers would spread the stress out more on that top metal of that box

Bob

 

[Cope]

I would put a piece of plywood underneath the top also. Wouldn't need to b much larger than the size of the vise base.

 

[jdlong]

What size of vise
Center washers could work fine, or you could use a steel plate drilled to the same bolt pattern and get a ton more rigidity
Bob

What he said. Go with the steel plate. 1/4"

 

[BajaBound]

I thought mdf to keep it cheap but it is not really any cheaper than ply wood, thank you for that. I am looking at a buying a new Wilton 1745 or 55. I thought about the bottom plate as well but have not pulled the upper drawers to see what the under structure looks like.

 

[Derek420]

I've seen it dine but it's always done with s piece of scrap steel plate no way would I use MDF it's weak stuff saw dust and glue and cracks and breaks very easy special if you drill holes in it. Use a piece of thick plastic cutting board at least you can buy one for same price and is strong as hell.

 

[Derek420]

You can go to a machine shop or welding shop and see if they have a scrap piece of steel plate or go to Walmart get the white thick plastic/nylon cutting board for $20 or so and it's super strong.

 

[buckwheat_la]

Build it like a counter top. 1/2 plywood bolted to the box and counter sinked, then throw a layer of glue and another layer of plywood on top. Screw from the bottom (so all fasteners are hidden. That is the way I would do it....

 

[Hammer1963]

Build it like a counter top. 1/2 plywood bolted to the box and counter sinked, then throw a layer of glue and another layer of plywood on top. Screw from the bottom (so all fasteners are hidden. That is the way I would do it....

This! Use 3/4" cabinet grade as it generally has more plies than standard plywood which equals added strength plus looks great. Think splinters ........

 

[BajaBound]

Thanks for all of the input. I appreciate you guys taking the time.

 

[Druder]

I don't want to start a new thread over this, I have the HF 44 box and a Wilton 3.5" vise I want to mount to it. I snagged a wood top and some 3/8" grade 5 hardware, I just haven't decided what to use for the bottom mount. This will not be super heavy duty, more like a 3rd hand. Would a 1/2" cutting board be more than enough for some light abuse?

 

[seber]

I've done it with 1/2" plywood. As long as it was light duty it worked fine. Right up to when a coworker tried to use it to bend a piece of steel. Caved the top like a horse on a toothpick.

 

[2oolhound]

I have 1/4" steel on top of my 2 - 42" boxes and it works awesome. It just sits on the top and I've only had it move a couple times for the heavy stuff. Easy to clean, easy to move stuff on top off and great for welding and banging on things.

 

[PhysicsDude]

I put a 3/4 plywood with a mounted vice on my 46" toolbox when I got it, and its served me very well.

I bolted the vice from the underside with fender washers and bolts, and attached the plywood to the toolbox with sheet metal screws. Its worked really well for me, fully laden the tool box provides quite a bit of stability to allow proper 200lb gorilla vice-wrangling.

I would definitely use proper plywood and not MDF.

 

[INSP380]

I have a SO KRL with a piece of 11 ga. 304 stainless on top and a Wilton 656 bolted on top. No issues, just used a couple of flat and lock washers on the inside.

Steve

 

[Druder]

Thanks for the responses guys, I feel pretty confident that the hardwood top and cutting board bottom will be sufficient now.

 

[Michael_in_DE]

I'm not a fan of that. Sometimes you find yourself beating on something in a vice... I don't want that kind vibration and possible collateral damage to impact my box.

 

[Druder]

I'm not a fan of that. Sometimes you find yourself beating on something in a vice... I don't want that kind vibration and possible collateral damage to impact my box.

I have a much beefier beating vise mounted with my drill press and belt sander. I was thinking something small close to my tools for quick fixes for an extra hand.

 

[Lelandwelds]

I like the Baltic birch or MDO sign plywood. If you use a nearly full size piece underneath with extra fasteners far from the vise, it becomes a lot stronger for uplift and twist.

You should clad the top with carbon fiber, inlay a contrasting material, or add classic gold leaf so the SO fan boys can admire it too.

 

[Rickster]

I used 3/4 plywood for a top. I extended the top to overhang on the right to mount the vice. I built an H support with a top beam out of 4x4. Then used two lag bolts into the 4x4 base followed by regular bolts with a huge fender washers under the plywood and into the box top for the other two vise mounts. My box/work-bench is stationary. I've used that set-up for a while now and it's working out really well.

 

[geartow]

i have a small vise on a craftsman side box . i also used the 3/4 plywood and fender washers . i had to add a bolt to the bottom bolting to the main box as it would pop off the lip mount .

 

[pi_guy]

I have a 6 inch SO vise mounted on a Taco box I used 1/2 bolts & washers on bottom and the original top sheet on the box. This was setup in the 70's it has been abused and suffered no damage to the mounting.
I did another 6 inch SO vise on a 2 bank KRA but used 1/4 aluminum plate in place of original rubber top I wanted protection for gears and gearbox parts.

 

[Fretters]

Why would you use mdf? Use proper plywood at least

Unless he's planning on beasting it, MDF is fine. It has plenty of strength, and will resist fluids if coated/painted. I can't see as he'll be thrashing the vice if it's mounted on a toolbox.

 

[flushcut]

IMO a vise doesn't belong on a box. All the abuse I have put my vises thru would have easily destroyed the box.