keithb12
Member
Had this in my family for years. Dont know its intent. Thanks for any help.
View attachment 1
Keith LI NY
View attachment 1Keith LI NY
What is this vise used for
- Thread starter keithb12
- Start date
The Tool Tyrant
ALLIANCE MEMBER
The plate with the mounting holes is backwards. Flip it end for end and you'll be good to go.
drivesitfar
Well-known member
Keith: not sure i've ever seen that sort of metal piece on a wood vise before. some of the old woodworkers (and steel guys that didn't weld much) would make a fix with a piece of metal and a couple screws or bolts. is there a crack there somewhere?
it's a fairly common vise, but i'm also curious why those screws and that piece of metal is there.
it's a fairly common vise, but i'm also curious why those screws and that piece of metal is there.
redragoon
Well-known member
It almost looks like it was placed there as a shim for an uneven workbench bottom. But it is sitting in a recess in the casting and the other side looks like it was made with the holes for those screws.
The teeth on one end also leaves me puzzled. Maybe some sort of adjustment or grip for the workpiece?
The teeth on one end also leaves me puzzled. Maybe some sort of adjustment or grip for the workpiece?
Farmerjonathan
Well-known member
I am thinking it was correct in the first picture and was built strong and intended for it to be hung getting the mechanics farther from the edge of the table. If you look at the last picture, the holes are tapered but with it turned around the tapered holes are against the bottom of the bench thus not usable. With it like it is in the first picture, the heads of the screws screwing it to the workbench will be flush and I wonder if the teeth on the plate are for cleaning the screw when glue gets on it?????
drivesitfar
Well-known member
ALL: I'm not positive which way the vise should be, but it looks wrong in the first picture.
since the screws and plate have are part of the casting i bet that this is a tool you can remove to clean out the grooves of your main screw?
since the screws and plate have are part of the casting i bet that this is a tool you can remove to clean out the grooves of your main screw?
chstrumpetdude
Well-known member
It could be part of a benchdog or a shooting board
Boilerhouse
Well-known member
Well the good news is that the vise will work perfectly well whether you ever determine the purpose of that little bar or not. I believe the orientation is now correct but I think Farmer John is on to something with the bar cleaning the main screw.
PBCampbell
Well-known member
That's a bench stop, used to hold stock when hand planing. It does appear that vise was intended to be mortised into the top of the workbench which is unusual.
ddawg16
Well-known member
Want to get rid of it?
ddawg16
Well-known member
Yup....I'll take pics of it after I sort it out.....I bought it from the OP....should be here today according to UPS tracking.