Wooden vice

The idea behind this project was to create a simple and useful woodworking vice (yes, that's how you spell it over here in the UK) that could be clamped to my makeshift workbench (my desk).

As I don't have any metal working equipment, and only a few hand tools, a wood based vice made sense. Also, the wooden clamps I made a few weeks ago have performed so well that they seemed to be a good base for the project.

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Step 1: Tools

To build this project I used the following tools:

A bench hook (home-made)
Two wooden clamps (home-made too)
Panel saw
Hack saw
A plane
Marking guage
A square
A drill
screwdriver
And a sharp pencil

llib111 says: Nov 23, 2012. 11:37 AM

WHen pressured is applied to the wing nuts, the jaws form a "V" instead of straight alignment. How do I fix? Jaws too wide? Nuts too low??

steliart says: May 8, 2010. 7:20 AM

I have used this technique exactly some time ago but mostly to do hold down wooden clamps and handsrew clamps.

For a vise I think it works ok if you have the patients to go through all those fine threads.

Otherwise a good instructable, thanks for sharing it.

matt byrne (author) in reply to steliartMay 13, 2010. 7:35 AM

Yeah, the fine threads are a pain, but it does make a good spare. (BTW I love the concept of the Smallest Workshop in the World)

Matt

steliart in reply to matt byrneMay 13, 2010. 9:09 AM

Thanks

red-king says: May 6, 2010. 3:58 PM

I would have used larger rods, and i would have used 3 of them, and only put a nut on the middle one. That's just me though, what you have done should work fine too.

stephenniall says: Apr 13, 2010. 3:40 PM

Im going to build one of these for my Desk (For my electrical and woodworking projects in my bedroom). Thanks for the idea

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Phil B says: Sep 1, 2009. 9:30 PM

You made a wooden vise. Wood vice would be illegal things done by wood. Otherwise, you have a nice Instructable. Thank you for it.

matt byrne (author) in reply to Phil BSep 2, 2009. 2:27 AM

Glad you liked it Phil. However, according to my Oxford English dictionary 'Vice' is indeed the correct spelling - we brits are funny like that.

kerns in reply to matt byrneSep 2, 2009. 12:02 PM

A wood vice is something that can be used to hold wood. A wooden vice is something MADE OF wood, that could hold something.. like more wood.

Yes? So it's not the spelling of the word <vice> being addressed.

The words "wood vice" describe an immorality on the part of, or perhaps implemented using, wood. Ahem. Erm. Hehehhhh...

The description of a vice as "wooden" signifies that the vice is *made of* wood. Or stiff in it's delivery of a punchline. Ba-dumph tsssh.

kitsuken in reply to kernsSep 29, 2009. 6:45 AM

You made a wooden vise. Wood vice would be illegal things done by wood.

Phil was making *both* points, the spelling and the wooden ones.

also, technically a wooden vice would make an ideal wood vice as it wouldn't damage the wood like a metal vice would. So it's accurate either way

graeme.t.cooper in reply to kernsSep 5, 2009. 12:00 PM

can someone get the hook please. For our next act........

matt byrne (author) in reply to kernsSep 2, 2009. 2:55 PM

Err, well, thanks for clearing that up Kerns ;)

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Phil B in reply to matt byrneSep 2, 2009. 6:29 AM

I apologize. I did not realize you are from the UK. I know there are such differences between UK and US usage, but was not aware of that one. I had run into "C clamps" (US) and "G cramps" (UK). Thanks for tolerating my lack of knowledge.

blackcat_rj says: Sep 15, 2009. 5:47 PM

Matt, Do you have a instructable to wooden clamps? great instructable! ;)

matt byrne (author) in reply to blackcat_rjSep 16, 2009. 2:03 PM

Haven't made one yet, but will do so at the weekend - I need a couple more clamps for a project I'm working on at the mo' so I'll take some pictures :)

morfmir says: Sep 2, 2009. 11:45 AM

great instructable, very useful vice from simple and cheap materials. /Thomas

matt byrne (author) in reply to morfmirSep 2, 2009. 2:34 PM

Thanks Thomas, that's a great compliment coming from you.

SinAmos says: Sep 1, 2009. 3:41 PM

I think this is helpful for a lot of people without beautiful vice, but I have an ancient metal vice that is too good to be usurped by woodage.

matt byrne (author) in reply to SinAmosSep 2, 2009. 2:45 AM

Well if that's you in your profile picture I'm not about to start an argument !

SinAmos in reply to matt byrneSep 2, 2009. 11:28 AM

Of course that is me. Start it.

stephenniall says: Sep 1, 2009. 4:00 PM

what a great idea . must be cos ur a brit ! ! We are the best

matt byrne (author) in reply to stephenniallSep 2, 2009. 2:37 AM

Thanks a lot for you comment, and I'm sure Great Britain thanks you for your patriotism ;)

madwilliamflint says: Sep 1, 2009. 4:48 PM

Nice :) The threads seem like they'd be fine enough that it might be a headache.

matt byrne (author) in reply to madwilliamflintSep 2, 2009. 2:32 AM

Yes indeed, that's one of the problems with it. I had a thought of hacking up an old g-clamp to get the threaded rod out of that (which has a much steeper pitch), but I haven't worked out how to fix the female side to the face of the vice (if you see what I mean).