facing a bench vice

[Lee J]

Just a quick question, I want to put some new faces on the insides of my bench vice. Is 1/2 inch ply good enough or should I go for a hardwood. I originally had soft wood in there but it's all deformed and mangled now.

 

[marcus]

I'd replace with more soft wood - it grips much better. Hardwood is slippy and more likely to mark the workpiece. They're supposed to be sacrificial.

 

[Lee J]

ahhh I see. right, softwood it is!

 

[WoodMangler]

I replaced mine with beech - much stronger than softwood, but doesn't bruise the workpieces.

 

[marcus]

I had beech but replaced them with softwood because of lack of grip.... worked much better.

 

[Steve Maskery]

I use 3/4" birch ply as choice. Grips well, doesn't warp. Good lifetime.
S

 

[custard]

Straightforward question gets three different answers.

However did we manage before the internet?

 

[marcus]

It was simpler but less interesting. :?

 

[=Adam=]

I was wondering the same thing!

I have got a small bench vise that needs to be "cladded" /faced and am not sure on what to use!

I quite like the idea of using ply or even soft wood!

I mainly use my vise to press my pen kits as opposed to work holding so I am sure both would work well!

 

[beech1948]

yeh but.......................................?

just think what you have learned, so your now looking for a non-slippy, dense (ish), strong softwood.....

my personal bench has iroko jaw lining covered with leather....works for me.

Al

Always willing to add to confusion.

 

[Lee J]

ha ha ha thanks people, clear as mud now!

I'll stick with a softwood option this time.

 

[rannndy]

anything you find laying about the wokshop, done the job for me the last 50 years.
john