Portable tabletop vise

[Opensightryan]

For sometime I've wanted to learn how to hand cut dovetails and practice using hand tools. This gets me one step closer. It's a vise that uses pipe clamps. Nothing special really but it'll give me the chance to learn some hand tool skills while I'm not in my shop. Just throw it on a table top and clamp it down. Its got about 9 inches between the pipes and about two feet of opening but only because I didn't cut the pipes down. It's alot sturdier than I expected. Best part was it was all made with scrap or parts I already had.

http://www.ncwoodworker.net/pp/showphoto.php?photo=82258​

http://www.ncwoodworker.net/pp/showphoto.php?photo=82259​

http://www.ncwoodworker.net/pp/showphoto.php?photo=82260​

 

[Henry W]

That looks like a great idea - simple but effective. I may have to give that a try.

Your design? Based on others you have seen? Other sources I should look at?

I was just in Raleigh's Klingspors the other day and there is a Sjorberg (sp?) table top vise at the front table by the door; very similar idea. Of course as a finished manufactured item that cost way more than what you have invested - not accounting for your time.

Henry

 

[Opensightryan]

I saw the design first from a you tube guy named Jay bates, he has plans on his website. (He's not the first to do this I'm sure it's just where I came across it first)

I made a few changes:

- mine is alot smaller only 15", his is 30"
- my jaws are only 3 layers thick his are 4
- I used 3/4" pipe clamps (it's what I have) his are 1/2"
- he made his so the whole vise slides mine does not.
- I made a lid for my storage box he didn't

That's about it.

It took me about 3 hours to build, but I let the glue dry for about a whole day, so I don't have much time in it either.

Thanks,
Ryan