Which vise for face, tail?

Collapse
This topic is closed.
X
X
 
  • Time
  • Show
Clear All
new posts
  • LCHIEN
    Internet Fact Checker
    • Dec 2002
    • 20920
    • Katy, TX, USA.
    • BT3000 vintage 1999

    Which vise for face, tail?

    I have two woodworking vises stashed away over the years.
    Now finally building a workbench.

    One is a Shop Fox 9" (width) with pop-up dog which is the bigger one.
    The other is a 7" (width) Record vise, also with pop-up dog.

    They have about the same capacity, the Shop Fox maybe an inch more.

    Which would you put as the face (front, left) vise, and which on the tail (right end) of the bench? and why? Or does it matter?

    I'm leaning toward the bigger Shop Fox on the tail location.
    Loring in Katy, TX USA
    If your only tool is a hammer, you tend to treat all problems as if they were nails.
    BT3 FAQ - https://www.sawdustzone.org/forum/di...sked-questions
  • cabinetman
    Gone but not Forgotten RIP
    • Jun 2006
    • 15218
    • So. Florida
    • Delta

    #2
    If I had only one vise, I'd mount it as a tail vise. The decision might be made as to where you would want a larger vise, and/or what kind of work you will be doing. With two to pick from, if after much use you determine that they need to be switched, you will at that time know that your decision is based on a variety of criteria.

    .

    Comment

    • dbhost
      Slow and steady
      • Apr 2008
      • 9209
      • League City, Texas
      • Ryobi BT3100

      #3
      I tend to use the face vise more, so if either of those vises is a quick release, I would put that one on the face.
      Please like and subscribe to my YouTube channel. Please check out and subscribe to my Workshop Blog.

      Comment

      • LCHIEN
        Internet Fact Checker
        • Dec 2002
        • 20920
        • Katy, TX, USA.
        • BT3000 vintage 1999

        #4
        they're both Quick release type.
        Loring in Katy, TX USA
        If your only tool is a hammer, you tend to treat all problems as if they were nails.
        BT3 FAQ - https://www.sawdustzone.org/forum/di...sked-questions

        Comment

        • dbhost
          Slow and steady
          • Apr 2008
          • 9209
          • League City, Texas
          • Ryobi BT3100

          #5
          Is one smoother / nicer to use than the other?
          Please like and subscribe to my YouTube channel. Please check out and subscribe to my Workshop Blog.

          Comment

          • Mr__Bill
            Veteran Member
            • May 2007
            • 2096
            • Tacoma, WA
            • BT3000

            #6
            Traditionally the wider vise is the face vice. The face vise often holds work in it's jaw while the tail vise holds the work against a dog on the bench and in that use the width is not relevant, often just a dog sticking up.

            Currently the vise on my bench consists of pipe clamps that can be arranged in several places with a heavy board as a face, and I have found that what I use most often is two clamp placed about 18" apart on the face. For the last year or so I have been practicing making hand dove tails and this allows the board to pass between the clamps and still be held tightly.

            Another factor you may consider it how far each sticks out when closed and will it be in the way when doing other things that do not require the vise.

            My bench/assembly table was patterned on this Blum Bench.

            Bill

            Comment

            • LCHIEN
              Internet Fact Checker
              • Dec 2002
              • 20920
              • Katy, TX, USA.
              • BT3000 vintage 1999

              #7
              Originally posted by dbhost
              Is one smoother / nicer to use than the other?
              looks like the 7" vise has slightly better finish and fit but overall they've got the same feature set - pop-up dogs and quick release.
              Loring in Katy, TX USA
              If your only tool is a hammer, you tend to treat all problems as if they were nails.
              BT3 FAQ - https://www.sawdustzone.org/forum/di...sked-questions

              Comment

              • cabinetman
                Gone but not Forgotten RIP
                • Jun 2006
                • 15218
                • So. Florida
                • Delta

                #8
                Originally posted by LCHIEN
                looks like the 7" vise has slightly better finish and fit but overall they've got the same feature set - pop-up dogs and quick release.
                Maybe it's down to flipping a coin.

                .

                Comment

                • dbhost
                  Slow and steady
                  • Apr 2008
                  • 9209
                  • League City, Texas
                  • Ryobi BT3100

                  #9
                  Originally posted by cabinetman
                  Maybe it's down to flipping a coin.

                  .
                  Sounds like it to me...

                  Heads the 9" goes face, tails it goes, well.. tail...
                  Please like and subscribe to my YouTube channel. Please check out and subscribe to my Workshop Blog.

                  Comment

                  • vaking
                    Veteran Member
                    • Apr 2005
                    • 1428
                    • Montclair, NJ, USA.
                    • Ryobi BT3100-1

                    #10
                    Lee Valley sells dual handle tail vise which is usually made the full width of the bench. Lee Valley bench is not common. It usually has only a tail vise. The more traditional scandinavian type bench has a small tail vise. Tail vise has no real face, just bench dog and single raw of holes along the front edge of the bench. It also does not need large opening since all you need is to have an opening the size of space between dog holes. The front vise, on the other hand, is used more often to clamp the object between jaws, not with dogs. So for traditional bench you want to put bigger vise to the front.
                    Alex V

                    Comment

                    • pelligrini
                      Veteran Member
                      • Apr 2007
                      • 4217
                      • Fort Worth, TX
                      • Craftsman 21829

                      #11
                      I'd put the bigger one on the face. I've found having a little more depth and jaw width to be a good thing. I two old 9" Wiltons on mine. One on the left as a face and the other on the right end as close to the front as I could get it as the tail. I mainly use the tail vice with the dogs. I don't clamp much in it proper. It might be different if I had a big twin screw and room to work on the end.
                      Erik

                      Comment

                      Working...