Leg vice mounting

[85_Ranger4x4]

Dad gave me one, it has been in the family forever. I don't want to beat it up in the garage and I need a vice for the bench I building for light gunsmithing so I thought it would be neat to have there.

Looks like this one more or less:

http://anvilfire.com/FAQs/blacksmith-vise.php

Top just bolts on, easy to see that. I see just about every method imaginable for the bottom foot though, into wood, into steel, strapped to the leg of whatever it is mounted on...

It takes the brunt of when you are beating on something (otherwise the little bolt on flange at the top doesn't look overly strong) Anyone know what the preferred way of mounting that part of it is? I am not going to beat on much but I will be torquing things... and I don't want to break it.

 

[Doofy]

Very nice. Treat it well.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Very nice. Treat it well.

Mine isn't that nice or that old, it is all there and pretty straight but it hasn't been treated that well either.

I think the stuff I will be using it for will make a pretty decent semi-retirement for it though.

 

[Doofy]

Well...that is still the finest vise I have ever seen. Anything hand-made is extra cool.

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

It looks to me like the top mount could be flipped so it attaches to the bottom of the bench. That might get the bottom leg closer to or at the floor level depending on bench height.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

It looks to me like the top mount could be flipped so it attaches to the bottom of the bench. That might get the bottom leg closer to or at the floor level depending on bench height.

It is going to be in my house so I don't really want it on the floor.

Best idea I have going is to wrap steel straps around a piece of 4x4 to hold it to the leg of the bench (which I haven't built yet) and drill a hole in the top of said 4x4 for the stub of the foot/leg to go into. And then have the 4x4 on the floor than a 1/2" nub of steel.

This one is actually mine:

 

[Doofy]

I think I would de-rust it and maybe blu it (as in gun barrel bluing). You don't want it shedding rust all over the house.

You will maybe want a metal insert in that 4x4 block to keep from splitting out, if you actually do any hammering.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

I was going to repaint it, looks like it was grey. Haven't settled on a color yet aside from probably not grey. Just surface rust, nothing is flaking off. Bluing would be neat but I haven't had a whole lot of luck with cold bluing.

I was thinking the straps would hold the block together, after I get my last AR together (torquing barrel nut and receiver extension) it is mainly going to be for holding things. Little to no beating planned. Something like a washer (since the foot is square at the bottom) probably wouldn't be a bad idea though to spread it out though.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Good bad or ugly I have it mounted, looks pretty good so far.

 

[Mark_88]

Yes, looks good...

Judging by the desk to window ratio I'd say you are a giant...

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Yes, looks good...

Judging by the desk to window ratio I'd say you are a giant...

Thanks.

Ain't that huge, not sure why they all but put the window on the floor 150 years ago when they built the house...

I wanted the bench to be a comfortable work height whether standing or sitting on a bar stool. From my manufacturing engineering days ideal is elbow height +/- 2", worked out nice with the vice too.

My biggest gripe about doing dishes is the freaking counter is so freaking low, it kills my back to hunch over for hours on end (or what seems like hours on end)

 

[Mark_88]

Oh, yes, those counters were always a pain for me too. I have the opposite problem now since I spend most of my time at home in the wheelchair...comfort is the big seller there too...I can always strap on my portable leg if I want to feel normal for a bit...lol.

I've seen a few places where the window placement in some rooms just didn't make sense to someone over 6' tall...they didn't grow as tall back then so there might be some renovations in your future if you really want a room with a view...

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

If you notice the window is also kinda close to the ceiling, like it is almost too big really.

As far as renovations go I would love to stick a 2 car garage on the side of the house with the window with a second level above it someday.