Having just completed my Split-Top Roubo, this is something that is fresh on my mind. My bench features two vises: a sweet Benchcrafted Leg Vise and a smooth Benchrafted Tail Vise. Between the two vises, my bench dogs, my Gramercy holdfasts, and my Veritas Surface clamp, there aren’t a whole lot of things that I can’t clamp effectively to my bench. Although, I have to admit I do have my eye on that Moxon vise. Dang it! I drank the Kool-Aid!
Polls are created by Tom Iovino of TomsWorkbench.com.
I am not a professional but for domestic purposes i think grip vises and bench vise are enough. For template transfer I need the C-clamp which I can buy or borrow from my neighbor.
I”ve got 2 on my new roubo (thanks Marc!!) and 1 on my original bench. I use dogs and holdfasts in both benches – depending on the work to be done. And I’m getting ready to build a moxon vise from a 3′ length of 1″ acme threaded rod i’ve ordered. Although, I too would like the Benchcrafted handles to use with it
My current bench is the concrete slab. (the one I call my bench has just recently become my lathe table…. so no more plans for it.) But the plan on the upcoming bench calls for a face vice running the entire face – not sure how I’m going to pull that off – and a modified version of a tail vice. I’ve seen the plans online, and someone here (don’t remember who) built one similar to it, using just the wooden handscrew clamp and their dogholes. Considering this new bench will need to be wheeled into storage and broken down every night, the vices (visae? veeces? vixes? stupid correspondence course) need to be lightweight but durable and/ or replaceable. (not to mention low profile.)
being the only income, means they won’t happen soon.
I have 2 vices on the bench(1 wood and a metal vice) but I have atleast five others, 3+ are portable and 2 are attached to small benches. I also have Trton super jaws which I use as a vice and for clamping. As I have a two car garage underr the house, I need portability and the ability to move outdoors when the weather is ok. I use the work benches for storage rather than using them as working areas.
Enjoying your website, keep up the good work.
If I had to do it again, I would install a second wagon vise for the to work in tandem when needed.
Building a Roubo style bench out of SYP now with a leg vise and a quick release vise in the right-end to use as a tail vise a-la one of Chris S 2005 bench.
I have a Swedish Sjobergs bench that has two vises. However the cool thing about it is that the vices can be fitted in 4 different places on the bench so making right or left handed working.
If you want two vises at either end of the bench in the same plane you can configure it for that too.
I normally have it with a vise on the left and a tail vise at the right.
Got only one vise for the moment (tail vise), but I’d like one more !
I have a Jorgensen 41012 and, like Jeremy, holes and a Wonder Dog for long pieces laying flat on the top. Read a lot and made sure I embedded the Jorgensen in the bench – makes it much easier to hold longer pieces although it needs support on the exteneded end. C-clamp works great.
Two.
A Wilton quick-release woodworking vise on one end of my workbench, for the bigger stuff, and a Versa-Vise on the other end for the small stuff. For the kind of work I do, they get the job done very nicely.
DD
My main workbench has two vises and my secondary workbench has one. I also have detachable vices for metal and and for small work. None are high dollar, just effective. Need to build a new primary bench as mine is too narrow and rocks too easy when paring with chisels or working with bench planes. Putting out riggers on it for now. :(
Like the Split Top and am building up to talking to “Momma” about building it. Being retired she gets upset when I start spending big bucks. :)
I’m looking to build the Split Top Roubo sometime in the near future. I’d like to at least start on it this year. I love the look of the Benchcrafted hardware and will be using those vices, including the Moxon vice – it looks great.
I see Benchcrafted are set to release a new twist on their leg vice, one that doesn’t require the pin. Interested to see how that turns out.
I have no vices, only virtues. Building a Roubo style bench out of 2×4 and 2×6 as a design and budget constraint exercise. Will be using hold downs and holdfasts only, at least for a while.
I have a Moxon vise that I built with a small surface and dog holes that I clamp to my bench. It handles almost anything. The other vise is a standard metal vise I use for… well, metal things! I think if I had a leg vise, I’m not sure I would use it all that much. BTW, Marc, the split top bench you guys just finished in the Guild is SWEET!!!
My current bench does not have a vise because it is more for storage than anything else. I am planning on building a new bench soon which I will mount my Emmert’s T3 to.
I don’t have a bench, but if I did, I’d want to have one of each.
Guess I’m a work in progress.
Only one vise – a quick-release face vise, on the right side. Also have a Wonderdog I can use with my dog holes, and a holdfast, but I’m not sure those count for this poll.
Marc,
I have two vises on my Sjoberg bench (along with two screw type hold-downs – I don’t know if those count as vises or not). The funny thing (after reading your post above) is I picked up the hardware for a Moxon vise from Benchcrafted at the Lie-Nielsen Hand Tool Event in Chicago over the weekend. After that bad boy is up and functioning I’m pretty sure my vise vice (bad pun I know) will be fulfilled. I figure I can use it on my bench, at job-sites, at home, et cetera.
Jay
Vices? Lets see, I have a beer, some cigarettes here and I just caught myself swearing at my bench again- does that count as a vice? I guess that makes 3.
I have also recently purchased a Tucker vise that will go on a separate table and will add a joinery bench for a Moxon vise.
If I had a larger shop I would have more than one vice on my work bench. As it is I only have room for one vice with the way my bench is situated. Also, I never fully appreciated the difference between a left hand vise and a right hand vice until I installed a left hand vice on my bench, because that’s the best location for it with consideration for my shop layout/space. However, being right handed I now know and appreciate the difference and many times wish I had a right hand vice.