If the internet told you you needed one Mike, then you do my friend. Next month, you'll need something else. LOL. Joking aside, there is definitely an advantage to being able to raise some items higher to work on them. Not long ago, I bought a patternmaker's vice from Axminster and I've used it a lot to hold small items and irregular shapes. I'm sure you'll find many uses for it.
Andy -- Old Chinese proverb say: If you think something can't be done, don't interrupt man who is doing it.
I have a cheap patternmakers vise like the one Andy posted (but green) that I use a lot more than I expected. It’s generally sitting in the last dog-hole on the bench that has my miter box and little inset vise which I also use a lot. The inset vise is my default workstation for getting my groove on with the little plough plane when making boxes. The patternmakers vise holds all sorts of oddly-shaped things. Yesterday it had an axe-head held in it while I put in new wedges to hold the handle.
Thanks Andy, I use my mini high vise a lot, and the full size one every so often, this ones going to live at work so I can practice my currently woeful carving on my lunch I think.
Thanks Ryan.
Cheers Dave - I got one of the Wonder dog knock offs that I'm using on my bench until I get round to rebuilding it with a wagon, works well.
Great job B_UKy... while my "mini workbench" is totally different, the concept/purpose is similar.
Contrary to what pottzy said, I use mine extensively, if only to move the work platform around the workshop/hose. You'll probably get hooked on the concept and expand/redesign for various formats. It's easier to whip out a few dedicated formats and mount on the workbench than try to change/customise the workbench. You just need to get your preferred take, for mounting on surfaces... I use the TSO loc-dogs and the Rockler/(generic) Universal Fence Clamps.
If your first cut is too short... Take the second cut from the longer end... LBD
I'm working off two saw horses at the moment and don't have room for a bench, so I can definitely see a use for one of those. Another thing to add to the to do list.
Similar (mostly just in size) to those Sjoberg Smart Vices. Some years ago I got one of those gifted to me, and off of that I made my first Moxon. Since I have walked away from the "classic" Workbench, and instead use smaller platforms attached to work tables
For use if it serves you well size wise, it's cake to fasten it down to something weighty to give it stability.
Thanks Tom, not my idea, mini benches seem to be popular.
Thanks Duck, yeah, I'm sort of just testing stuff before committing to a new bench build, milkman's workbench next I think. Not seen those loc-dogs before, interesting.
It's always an ever expanding list Renners :)
Thanks George, I looked at the ones like the Sjoberg, but my main issue with my face vice is the racking when just using 1 dog hole, so skipped that idea for a main vice with a dog hole at each end. I could use something to wedge the other side, but mostly don't.
That should see a lot of use Mike! It seems that when I build a Version 1 of a shop item it gets used for about 20 years before I ever get around to doing an upgrade😁
Same here Steve, they tend to get used until they fall apart - unless I use them a lot and there is some fundamental issue that bugs me enough to remake it.
This one you made is very nice!! I have a bench top workbench and a moxon vise but these days, I really started to feel like maybe I should've made them together like this.
That's pretty neat! I'm up against space constraints, or I'd likely make one. I'll have to settle for my Zyliss vice, which I haven't actually used yet. I have a lump on one finger joint which gives me grief when I hold a mallet or a carving chisel. Doctors are playing coy about removal, all the way up to an MRI, scheduled for the 14th.
