Shop-made Tail Vise

[Tom Miller]

I got a few requests recently for more info on my shop-made tail vise, so I decided to write up some quick instructions. Let me know if anything is not clear, or if there are any gaping holes in the write-up.

Here's the finished product. In the write up, I left out the top cover piece, since, in the end, it serves no function. Keep in mind, it's the center part with the dowel (dog) that is stationary.











And, in use:





Next, the "instructions"....

[Tom Miller]

[ATTACH]3495[/ATTACH]

[ATTACH]3496[/ATTACH]

[ATTACH]3497[/ATTACH]

[Tom Miller]

The end.

[JoeyGee]

Very cool. I am going to *hopefully* build my "workbench" this week and was intending to build a version of Norm's shop-built vice, but yours looks much less involved (and cheaper) and just as functional. I would rather spend time working IN my shop instead of working ON my shop. I may just have to build one of those...

[charliex]

Thanks Tom: Thats what I needed. Now if the weather holds out I can see if I can make one. Then I'll have to drill some more holes in my bench.
Chas.

[cabinetman]

That's a great vice you came up with. I'm envisioning all the possibilities it has. Pictures and instructions are easy enough for even me to understand. I like pictures, but read Playboy for the articles.



A THING OF BEAUTY IS A JOY FOREVER - John Keats

[RodKirby]

Kirby version (inspired by Tom )...

[linear]

Well if that ain't slicker than snot on a doorknob.

[Red88chevy]

Thanks Tom and Rod, both very neat ideas!

[LinuxRandal]

Are these in the ARTICLES section yet?

[Tom Miller]

Kirby version (inspired by Tom )...

Somehow, when I see your version, I'm reminded of the "knife" scene from Crocodile Dundee:

[Aussie accent]"Thet's naught a tail vise, this is a tail vise!"[/Aussie accent]

Regards and apologies to all our friends down under,
Tom

[radhak]

Somehow, when I see your version, I'm reminded of the "knife" scene from Crocodile Dundee:

[Aussie accent]"Thet's naught a tail vise, this is a tail vise!"[/Aussie accent]

One of my all time favorite scenes

Tom, pardon my novice-ness, but do you have a pic of your vise 'in action'? I am unable to see where the workpiece would go. ( i know - shows me up, but i'd rather know than pretend i know )

[Black wallnut]

One of my all time favorite scenes

Tom, pardon my novice-ness, but do you have a pic of your vise 'in action'? I am unable to see where the workpiece would go. ( i know - shows me up, but i'd rather know than pretend i know )

I sure ain't Tom but the 4th picture in the originating post is it in use....

On another matter Thanks Tom I've started mine, got as far as making the strecher for the handle (dang it can't think of the right term...) then had my accident in the shop. Oh well I have two projects on hold until my finger heals.

[Tom Miller]

...the 4th picture in the originating post is it in use....

Yep, that's it, but maybe a little more clarification is in order. The workpiece is the 3" x 3" x 36" post, held between the tail vise at the far end, and the square top of an otherwise round dog at the near end.

Mark, I hope your finger's doing better!

Regards,
Tom

[JR]

Tom,

This is a very nice design! Thanks a lot for sharing it in such clear fashion.

Do I have it right that you used the all-thread itself to thread the hole in the center block? Any special trick to holding the rod while doing this operation (maybe the double nuts thing?)?

And a slightly derivative question for both Tom and Rod: Tom, it looks like your dogholes run along the "open space" outside the undertable cabinet, which would normally allow sawdust to fall through the holes onto the floor. Is this right?

Rod, your dogholes seem to run accross the table surface, even over the cabinet. How do you address the issue of dust going through to the cabinet?

JR