Etau/HiVise/High Vise/Tall Vise

[mdbuntyn]

I've wanted to make a high vise for a few years. I started one several weeks ago, and finished it over the weekend.

The wood is ambrosia maple, the screw is a 1" twist lock dumbbell handle, and the cross arms and pins are made from ¼" x 1" flat bar and ⅜" round bar respectively.

 

[tvrgeek]

Is it steady enough just clamped on?

 

[pop-pop]

I've wanted to make a high vise for a few years…

Unique design! Kind of minimalist which is great!

Do you have any more photos? Interested in how you did the cross pivot. I assume that you used the nut from the dumbbell screw? Did you add metal for the cross arms bottoms to ride on?

 

[TIDE500]

Interested to see more specs!!

 

[mdbuntyn]

Unique design! Kind of minimalist which is great!

Do you have any more photos? Interested in how you did the cross pivot. I assume that you used the nut from the dumbbell screw? Did you add metal for the cross arms bottoms to ride on?

Unfortunately, I didn't take any progress pictures.

The pivot pin is a short piece of ⅜" round bar. I used a hacksaw to cut slots for e-clips and there's a washer between the cross arms.

I did use one of the collars for the nut. I drilled, and countersank, holes in each of the tabs and screwed it onto the back of the rear jaw.

I did install a piece of ⅛" flat bar into each jaw mortise for the cross arms to ride against.

 

[mdbuntyn]

Is it steady enough just clamped on?

My only test was using a coarse rasp on a scrap piece of cherry, but the clamps held it securely.

 

[pop-pop]

My only test was using a coarse rasp on a scrap piece of cherry, but the clamps held it securely.

My experience has been F-clamps are fine for holding a clamp-on vise for light to moderate forces. C-clamps work better for heavy forces but they are a bit bulkier

 

[Hmerkle]

My experience has been F-clamps are fine for holding a clamp-on vise for light to moderate forces. C-clamps work better for heavy forces but they are a bit bulkier

Did you just say you need a bigger F-clamp?

 

[pop-pop]

Did you just say you need a bigger F-clamp?

Took me a bit to get that.

The straight answer is C-clamps are much more resistant to twisting than typical F-clamps.

 

[Tim Sherwood]

Really a nice vise Matt. I like that it raises the work piece up where you can see it. That should save your back too. It looks like it could also mount lower for sawing or planing?

 

[mdbuntyn]

It looks like it could also mount lower for sawing or planing?

The batten is too close to the screw and nut. I have a Moxon vise for sawing dovetails, but I do most of my sawing either in the leg vise or on the bench

 

[mdbuntyn]

@tvrgeek @pop-pop I forgot to mention this: You can't see them in the picture, but I have holdfast holes 5" from the edge of my bench. If I need extra clamping strength I can use f-clamps and holdfasts together.

 

[Hmerkle]

@mdbuntyn I meant to ask - what does Etau mean?

 

[Martin Roper]

@mdbuntyn I meant to ask - what does Etau mean?

French for vise.

 

[Hmerkle]

AH! a Holz Schraubstock

 

[Martin Roper]

Gesundheit!

 

[mdbuntyn]

@Hmerkle There's a little background info in this old blog post:

La Forge Royale Etaux

I've been fascinated by the Forge Royale catalog since I was first introduced to it several years ago by Chris Schwarz. This catalog, and...

benchcrafted.blogspot.com

 

[Rwe2156]

I did something similar with a Moxon. But its a beast. I never use it.