Bench face vice jaws

[MarkDennehy]

So I was using a spokeshave the other day on my lovely new bench and then the thing I was spokeshaving (yeah, probably the wrong word, I'm rolling with it) shifted. "That's odd" thought I, "isn't the vice meant to stop that?".

Harumph.

Seems two little woodscrews are insufficient to the task on a softwood jaw vice. It's back in and holding for the moment, but I'm coming to the thought that an off-cut of 2x4 is probably not the best material to use for this (I did think I'd have to redo them, but not this soon).

So, anyone got any hints on (a) what kind of wood is best suited for being a jaw vice, and (b) how best to secure the jaw to the vice? Those little screws don't quite look beefy enough anymore...

 

[Phil Pascoe]

The holes in the vice are usually threaded so the cheek can be bolted with a counterbored bolt and washer from the inside. I've not long re done mine with a piece of spruce, on the theory that I'd rather that distort or bruise than whatever I am holding in it.

 

[Phil Pascoe]

 

[AndyT]

Like Phil said.
The holes on my old Record vice are tapped 5/16" Whitworth which should be easy enough to find.

 

[MarkDennehy]

Cheers guys, much appreciated!

 

[undergroundhunter]

I've got 18mm ply lined with leather in mine. Amazing holding power. Cheap and easy to replace, I also had some kicking around, almost anything would do.

Matt

 

[MrTeroo]

You could reattach that soft wood cheek but drill all the way through, then countersink the holes on the face side to accept a nut and washer.
Feed the bolt through the vice.

I have just made some from sycamore.

 

[WoodMangler]

So, anyone got any hints on (a) what kind of wood is best suited for being a jaw vice, and (b) how best to secure the jaw to the vice? Those little screws don't quite look beefy enough anymore...

I use 1" beech cut like your softwood jaw, with a corresponding beech fixed jaw let into the front of the workbench. The screws have held for at least 10 years, probably longer.

 

[AndyT]

Yet another option would be to put plastic wall plugs into the wood you already have. A spot of glue might be needed, depending on how much depth and what sort of plugs you have to hand.

 

[porker]

On my vice the holes are threaded and I think intended to have machine screws from the cheeks through into the threaded holes. I have a load of the correct threaded countersunk screws. PM me and I'll stick a couple in the post.

Sent from my SM-G920F using Tapatalk