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As above, really. I don't have access to a shed with a workbench, but I often have need of a vice to do bits and bobs on. I have a big Record vice that's heavy enough to stay still for some things sitting on the patio, but I wondered if there might be a way to mount the vice, and maybe a small belt sander to a piece of thick MDF, then clamp it to a folding workbench that I can set up outside when the weather's fine, then take apart to put back in the shed.
B&Q have a metal topped folding bench, but I don't know how you could fix a small sheet of board with a heavy vice and sander to it securely.
Anyone got any tips?
no shed o garage her either.. (yet..!)
So.. ive got a vice like this..
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that i use on top of a cheap black and decker workmate type folding bench.. i found the workmate type thing in the cellar when we moved in here.. the top bits where a bit knackered so i replaced them with new wood..
to mount the vice i just drilled some big holes through the same size as the mounting lugs on the vice.. and as near to the support at one side as i could for strength.. and then added an extra bit of wood to give the board a bit more strength and support it underneath..
a bit like this.. only to one side..
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stuck some big washers underneath so the nuts dont dig in. while the varnish dried so they stuck.. got the right sized bolts and some wingnuts..
so all i need to do to use the vice is pop it on top... slip the bolts through and tighten up the wing nuts underneath by hand.. takes 30 seconds. 🙂
Buy a nice wooden workbench like this to replace your dining table. 🙂
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Then, you can say "Get your dishes and crap off of my workbench! I have stuff to do." 😡
Bolts through vice holes into a piece of 3 x 2 timber about 18 inches long, then clamp into workmate type bench some in toolstion/screwfix for about 15 quids.
Thats what i use, and it works well,
If you don't need the bigger vice and only need something for smaller jobs, one of these is handy.
http://www.screwfix.com/p/forge-steel-portable-bench-vice-swivel-base-3/49861
Spacehopper, that's exactly the sort of thing I was thinking of, I just wanted to know if anyone else had put together something that worked, and that pretty much ticks the boxes. I like the idea of using the wingnuts on the vice, I'm thinking if I cut hex holes for the bolt heads underneath so they're fully flush, and tape over the heads, then I can just drop the vice straight on. I can't remember the model, but it's a big heavy one, and something like you've done is just what I need.
Excellent stuff, I think there's an old Workmate kicking around somewhere as well, so that's a nice little project to work on.
Thanks all for the help, appreciate it.
😀