How to Make a Wooden 6" Bench-Vise

by Yonatan24

52K35859

Intro: How to Make a Wooden 6" Bench-Vise

I have a great little vise. I use it a ton (pun not intended)! The only problem with it is that it's tiny-- It opens to a little more than 1.5"

I wanted to buy a bigger vise (for my birthday), but the prices are INSANE!

As a "maker", I don't think it makes sense to pay $100 to $500+ on a vise, when it's basically a big chunk of metal and a bolt. I know that I'm not the only one that thinks that.

I decided to build my own 6" (~16cm), with free reclaimed wood, and less than $5 worth of hardware.

Did you know that if this Instructable gets 150,000 views, and 5% of the people that would see it would build the vise, it would mean that this Instructable saved ~MILLION DOLLARS!!! Share, Share, Share!


*Pssst! Make sure to check out my top comment (in the comment's section) for a chance of winning several free PRO memberships to Instructables!

STEP 1: The Plan

Back in April, I tried to build a vise, but it didn't really work out like what I wanted. You can see that vise here.

This vise is bigger, stronger, can fit in a small Drill-Press, is easier and faster to use, and many more.

While I don't have Sketchup Plans (I still haven't learned how to use it) for this vise, you can see the pictures above for the plans, along with fully detailed instructions in the next steps. If you need any more help, feel free to contact me in the comment section below.

Also, if you want to build your own vise, but am not really fond of my design, I recommend seeing this collection of homemade vises, which many different DIY designs.


Let's get started!

STEP 2: What You'll Need:

Hardware & Materials:

Chemicals & Adhesives:

Tools (+Attachments):

Electric/Power Tools:

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Recommended Safety Equipment: Earmuffs, Respirator, Safety Goggles

Cost (for me): <$5

Difficulty: Fairly Hard

Approximate Time: 5 Hours (It took me more10 because I didn't have written Instructions...)

STEP 3: Cut Wood to Size (& Glue for Making the Final Size)

Since this is made from reclaimed wood, I thought there would be no point in making two different steps, for cutting, and then gluing, to the final size. For example, if this was made from a 2X4, the base wouldn't have been made from two different parts. Makes sense? :)

I started by measuring and marking cutting all of the European Beech Wood parts with my Drill-Powered Circular Saw.

After that, I glued them together with wood glue, and clamped them together while they dried. For the actual build, I had to split this steps into several parts, because I didn't have enough clamps.

Here are the dimensions in centimeters:

3.5 X 4.5 X 7cm of European Beech Wood

2 Pieces of 5 X 9 X 7cm of European Beech Wood

32.5 X 9 X 2.5 of European Beech Wood

STEP 4: Drill Holes for the Front & Back Jaws

I aligned and clamped both of the 5 X 9 X 7cm pieces one on top of another. Make sure they are totally aligned before you drill, this is REALLY important!

I drilled a 10mm hole in over the middle part of the first block, and then drilled two 8mm holes for the metal rods.

After I drilled them, I used my Drill-Press, again, to slightly widen the holes so the rods could slide better.

STEP 5: Chisel Holes for the Hex-nut

The nut is going to fit inside the back jaw, like my first homemade vise, I decided to chisel out the holes. This works really well!

I first traced the outline of the nut over the hole, after that, I used a sharp chisel to chisel out the hole, and then hammered it in.

Unlike my first vise, I used one hex-nut, and made it a tighter fit, instead of using Epoxy.

STEP 6: Glue the Rods

I mixed up some 2 part Epoxy, and glue the rods inside of the holes that were previously drilled in the first jaw.

Since this a tight fit, make sure that you apply a lot of Epoxy.

STEP 7: Glue the Front Jaw

Glue the front jaw to the base with some wood glue. If you want to turn this into a Bar-Clamp, you won't need to do this ;)

I clamped the joint until the glue dried.

STEP 8: Make the Handle

I started by drilling a 9mm hole in the tip of the 3.5 X 4.5 X 7cm piece, and when I made sure that the rod fit snuggly inside, I drilled a 2mm hole through the wood and the rod. This will help strengthen the bond.

After that, I quickly mixed up some new Epoxy (stronger), and pushed the rod inside. Don't forget to add the 2mm strengthening rod!

After after about an hour, I came back, and drilled a 19mm hole through the piece of wood for the handle.

To finish it off, I drilled a 27mm hole in some hard plywood, drilled two small holes in each end of the handle, and screwed them in.

I let everything cure for a few hours inside the holes of my second Homemade wooden vise ;)

STEP 9: Sand Everything

Since this is reclaimed wood, a small part was actually sanded and finished, the most, however, was not.

I started by sanding the wood with steel wool, and then finished it with 200 grit sandpaper.

STEP 10: Cut & Grind Off the Rods

The rods were a bit longer than I wanted, so I cut part of them off. I'll use the leftover piece for a future vise.

I also used my mini Bench Grinder to remove some of the sharp edges. Handheld this time!

STEP 11: Varnish

I applied a coat of varnish.

2 Hours later, I came back. I sanded the whole vise again, and applied another coat of varnish.

I hope this will make it waterproof.

STEP 12: Grease the Rods

Greasing the rods- I've said it a lot, and I'll say it again.

This lowered the amount of friction probably to a fifth. I suppose I'll have to do this again every once in awhile...

STEP 13: Use It!

Congrats! You've built your own Wooden Bench-Vise!

I don't need to explain how useful this will be. You'll see this in MANY more of my upcoming Instructables!

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49 Comments

Yonatan24 7 years ago

HUGE Giveaway? YES!

Want to help me save YOU over a million dollars? Share this Instructable on social media!

You can win 5 free PRO memberships to Instructables by ONLY sharing this on four social media websites. This can take you less than 2 minutes.

Prefered sites listed by order: Pinterest, Facebook, Google+, Twitter, and others

Here's what you have to do to be able to receive the free membership:

1. Follow me on Instructables

2. Leave a comment down below writing that you're going to post it on social media (This will eliminate confusions. I WILL NOT give it to you if you don't do this, even if you're first...)

2. Post a picture of the thumbnail in all four of your posts, with the link to this Instructable. Here are examples (scroll down)

3. Reply to this message with links to your posts

4. Nothing! I will PM you the free code!

Are you confused? Reply to this comment with your question so I can help you and others.

People with a larger audience will be rewarded with a bigger "prize" :)

TechnicalKid 7 years ago

Posted it on Google+

https://plus.google.com/116527196500823463195?hl=de

Yonatan24 7 years ago

GIVEAWAY CLOSED

GIVEAWAY CLOSED

GIVEAWAY CLOSED

However, if you make one, I will still give you the membership...

Joe Pixie 7 years ago

And 'ere...

https://plus.google.com/u/0/108090074198447514176/posts/p/pub

Joe Pixie 7 years ago

And 'ere

https://twitter.com/JoePixie1/status/765557681021038592

Yonatan24 7 years ago

Awesome! Thank you so much!

I've sent you the free PRO membership to Instructables through a Private Message. Please let me know when you recieve it! :)

Yonatan24 7 years ago

Do you want a FREE PRO Membership?

I'm still giving a FREE 1 Full-Year PRO Membership to the first member that makes their own bench vise with my design!

Here's what you have to do to be able to receive the free membership:

1. Follow me on Instructables

2. Reply to this message with pictures of the end result (And any explanations, If you want)

3. Nothing! I will PM you the free code!

If this Instructable doesn't reach 50K views before the end of August, I'll be giving away only 3 months :(

IAmADragonite 4 years ago

You said that it "makes no sense" to spend $100-500 on a good vise. Your wood one looks very well made, especially for someone your age with limited resources, but it is nowhere near the strength of a good quality Taiwanese made vise. If you make it form steel, there is a possibility of it being useful as an actual tool. The wooden vise you made is really just a toy.

Yonatan24 4 years ago

It's not a toy - as I've explained before, I used it quite heavily for a while. But I do now have a great $50 YOST vise.

IAmADragonite 4 years ago

How is the $50 YOST vise? I used to have a $50 vise several years ago and it cracked in half

IAmADragonite 4 years ago

Oh well, I guess you're right. my steel vise required a vise to make lol. Did yours?

Yonatan24 4 years ago

I remember trying, but if I recall correctly the jaws wouldn't open up enough, and were too small by a millimeter or two.
Not required though. But bar clamps were used.

IAmADragonite 4 years ago

Well, wood is much easier to work with than 40mm x 3mm square steel tube. A hacksaw would not cut that steel, I had to use my sawzall. I salvage most of my steel just like you salvage wood. The issue is salvage steel is often rusty or dirty.

쌀맛을껌 - RiceFlavoredGum 5 years ago

I am very happy to see a fellow teenager building something instead of playing Fortnite or chasing girls. For light use, a small wooden vise like the one you made definitely gets the job done, saves money and is fun to build. I mostly work with metal so I use a Wilton machinist vise, but I sure wish I had a small wooden vise for working with delicate objects.

Yonatan24 5 years ago

It was a really fun project. I used the vise for metalworking projects too. I think I used it for over a year. One of the glue joints did come apart while in use once - the vise pretty much exploded, but it was fixed. Something was wrong with the glue I used too.
And speaking of TPI - the threaded rod I used for this vise was way to fine and it would take forever to adjust it. I used what I had, though. Now I have quite a variety of threaded rods to choose from!
I believe you've commented that before, but have you considered making wooden jaws for your vise?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=64RHM05EQds
:)

DavidG809 6 years ago

Great work! You just solved a small mystery for me. My father had made a few like these for his work bench, I was always transfixed on this as a kid bet never got around to ask how he made it - sadly he is no longer around to ask. But your simple tools has inspired me. I may try to replicate those old tools!memories
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