Where to Put Vises

Susan_in_SF

Susan_in_SF

Wood and Metal Goddess
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I have a problem, I think. I am a newbie and I am still building my woodworking /metalworking workshop in my 1 car garage. I love vintage vises. I have quite a few, including old Columbian woodworking bench vises, and a couple of Wiltons, including a Buller vise :). In my workshop, the metalworking stuff includes a South Bend 9A lathe, a Craftsman 101.07301 6" lathe, an old Jet mill drill, a little 6x12 surface grinder, a Baldor pedestal grinder, a Craftsman pedestal block grinder, a Baldor pedestal buffer, a restored Craftsman vertical bandsaw for cutting metal, another bandsaw for cutting wood, a steel bench, and a welding cart. I also have a little 2 ton arbor press, and a static wheel balancer I need to make a stand or put onto my steel bench. Right now, my teen daughter hates how she can barely squeeze through all my stuff to get the the washer and dryer.
Which of these machines would it make sense to mount a vise next to?
I need to stop buying stuff, but am always finding super craigslist deals, like a Baldor dental lathe with a portable Baldor dust collector for $40, or my 2nd (yes 2nd) South Bend 9 lathe (with free vintage steel bench cabinets) for $120.
Thanks a lot,
Susan
 
I have only one 5" Wilton vise on my main workbench, and a 2" Wilton that I can clamp with the 5" for small work; I have a separate wood shop with a Emmert patternmaker's vise, this for an approx. 2,000 sf. shop. As to location my vises are located where the best natural light is.; the rest of the shop is pretty dank with not enough florescent lighting and some task lighting on a few machines. Why would a sane person want to stop buying tools? Whoever dies with the most wins! BTW, I have a Craftsman (very vintage) table saw that I want to sell; it is mostly cast iron, not tin and pot metal, you may need it! It would seem that your steel bench would be the best place to mount the vise, I haave mine on a wooden bench with steel top.
 
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Susan_in_SF said:
Right now, my teen daughter hates how she can barely squeeze through all my stuff to get the the washer and dryer.
Which of these machines would it make sense to mount a vise next to?
Thanks a lot,
Susan
Click to expand...

Susan, I guess that I would mount it closer to the dryer rather than the washer :)

Sorry couldn't help it. Seriously though my first thought would be the welding cart if it is on wheels and you can move it around depending on where you need to use the vise. It sounds like you are in tight quarters so you will probably have to move stuff around a lot.
 
Susan_in_SF said:
Right now, my teen daughter hates how she can barely squeeze through all my stuff to get the the washer and dryer. Susan
Click to expand...

Build a lobby inside the garage and put the washer and drier in there. you should gain some usable space and it stops domestic stuff cluttering the place up. Your shop is no place for a teenage daughter, she might damage something. :cool:
 
Remind your daughter how inconvenient the laundromat is...

Seriously though, both my vises are mounted to my welding table.

I would say put it where they are most easily accessed for use, but still out of the way. A heavy anchor point is a plus.


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Like already mentioned, near or on the welding bench would probably be your best bet.

You will, of course have to leave room for one more vise... on the Bridgeport you do not yet have that will displace the washer and dryer altogether. ;)
 
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