Please recommend Vise for a 48" Worktable

[bushmaster1313]

I am ordering a not expensive and hopefully sturdy 24"x 48" worktable with a "Rubberwood" top.

What vise should I get to attach to the table to keep a rifle secure when cleaning or tinkering.

Do I attach the vise to one end of the table and rest the muzzle on a shooting bag or do I get a vise for the middle of the table and the middle of the rifle.?

I have no plans for heavy torque such as removing or installing a barrel

What sort of grip goes inside the jaws of the vise?

Thanks in advance

 

[Muley Gil]

For cleaning, I would buy this:


[ame]https://www.amazon.com/Tipton-Adjustable-Non-Marring-Gunsmithing-Maintenance/dp/B000P4YJC6[/ame]

For general metal working, etc., I would go with a 5" bench vise with wooden and aluminum jaw pads.

 

[chief38]

My answer below is geared more towards a general purpose vise - not specifically for firearms. A firearm's vise is very limited IMHO. You can get both of course, but for cleaning a rifle I use shooting rest bags that hold the rifle pretty firmly - good enough for cleaning and mounting scopes. I would bet you would use a general purpose vise way more for other purposes than just for firearms. I have also made up at least a half dozen types of "soft" and padded jaws for holding handguns without causing any damage.

A 4 inch Wilton, Irwin, Yost or even a Craftsman vise would fit the size bench you have well. Obviously not the strongest available but I do believe you are smart in considering the size and weight of your bench to pair up a vise with.

There are also lots of used vises available on ebay or at garage sales if you have the patience - lol. The vises I am referring above to are not expensive and would be adequate for smaller jobs. If and when you can get into a larger workbench, you can always upgrade your bench vise.

For a new high end American made vise these days (not many made here anymore), be prepared to take out a loan to buy as they are expensive!! That said, some of the higher quality Wilton vises made overseas are not terrible. Then again, for well under $75 bucks you can buy what I suggested above for your current bench.

I have a 5" American made Wilton Vise that I bought new the 1980's and it has served me very well for 45 years. It is a little small for my current 18 foot long & sturdy workbench, but these days I usually stick to smaller jobs so it still works well. I am always on the lookout for a used, heavy duty, larger, vintage, American made vise from yesteryear - and while I do not mind a light restoration project, I will not buy a "dog". So far - nothing has turned up locally and to pay hundreds to ship one is insane!

Pardon me if you have no other intentions for vise usage other than for rifle cleaning - then of course go with a specific vise system made for that purpose. I am sure there are a bunch of them on Amazon. Sorry for the long winded answer, but I spend many hours in my workshop and use my vises very few times for firearms so I wanted to pass that along.

 

[SweetMK]

Since 2019, I have been using this bench vise,,

 

[BE Mike]

I've used a 4" vice for decades, mostly for general use and for pistol applications, although I do have an adapter that I can use for mounting an AR-15 style rifle via the magazine well. Harbor Freight has a lot of reasonably priced vices. I also have one of these: Rifle & Shotgun Vise | Gun Cleaning Vise | Tipton

 

[chief38]

Since 2019, I have been using this bench vise,,

Luv it! Nice and sturdy vintage vise! However I'd classify that as a drill press or milling machine vise.

 

[chief38]

Not to hi-jack this thread too much but 30+ years ago I purchased a Starrett drill press vise that is now no longer made. I have three others but this one is the best, heavy duty and sturdy I own. I use it at least a few ties a week. Not conducive for most firearms applications though, just figured I'd post it for fun.

 

[T44spl]

Chief, you have a very nice, well organized, clean and well lite work space there. The kind of workshop we all wished we had. I'm sure it took a lot of thought, planning and work to get that to come togther. But I can see comfortably spending several hours in a good work enviorment like that.
I hope that your workshop serves as the blue print for many of us fellow forum members or at the very least the inspiration for those of us not as handy as you.

 

[Imissedagain]

If you are creative, a wood work vise, can be used.
Mount it to a board and clamp to the table,
when necessary.
Holding the rifle just needs some leather padding
for front and butt.
Has lots of other uses.

 

[s&wchad]

Decker or Tipton gun vices work great for cleaning, mounting scopes and general maintenance. You can C-clamp either to your work table and take it off when not needed.

 

[Bald1]

I would just use a "gun Vice" on bench as Chad suggested. But also mount a medium sized Vice on end of bench for other work. I think any Harbor Freight Vice will do but you can find some good deals on older vices on Craigslist and marketplace

 

[AudieMurphy]

I can tell you one NOT to get....Kobalt brand...total junk,must be made out of recyled beer cans!.....Seriously, the bolt underneath will stretch if its challenged..in other words tightened up ...which is what a vise is for

 

[AudieMurphy]

After looking at the pic of the workbench you have/or going to buy....I'd say save your money and buy a real workbench....from the pic you posted a kitchen table would probably be better...why? because the that workbench (from the pic) has no support under the board other than the two legs on each side. After awhile the board will sag and bow. looks like the boards not even an inch thick!!....get a real workbench...just my opinion

 

[AJ]

I own at least 4 different vices from a 3 inch to a 6 inch table tops. Three I clamp to the bench top wherever I and working and the big 6 inch is clamped to one end of the bench top. One vice has a rotating head (panvice) and the others are more or less stationary, though the big 6 inch will swivel. I also have a gun vice mounted on a B&D Work Stand that fits under my work bench. I have a work bench that is a bit heaver than the one you are getting, but it is used for a reloading bench. My work bench is made with 4"X4" legs with 2"X4" supports and cross braces. The top is a 4'X8' sheet of plywood cut in half length ways (2'X8') and glued together then mounted on the legs and all is attached to the wall studs with lag bolts. No idea how much it will hold, but have had 800 pounds of lead on it with no sagging.

 

[arjay]

A small one that rotates so you can put one end of the rifle in it with pads and rest the other end on the bench.I've found that those cheap little clamp on vices from harbor freight work well for my hobbies and can live on a shelf or in a drawer out of the way until I need them

 

[AJ]

After looking at the pic of the workbench you have/or going to buy....I'd say save your money and buy a real workbench....from the pic you posted a kitchen table would probably be better...why? because the that workbench (from the pic) has no support under the board other than the two legs on each side. After awhile the board will sag and bow. looks like the boards not even an inch thick!!....get a real workbench...just my opinion

The bench you are showing is not made for heavy work. You can build a better one.

The first two pictures are the work bench that I bought. Very heavy, well braced and extremely solid! First picture is when I set it uo and the second is how it looks now. Nothing is bolted to the bench. The presses are bolted are bolted to two pieces of 5/4" oak and then clamped to the bench. No give at all when using the presses no matter how hard you pull on a handle.
The third picture is the work bench that I built. Solid as a rock, the 6 inch vice is clamped to the far end (Wilton vice). Under the bench on the left end is the gun vice mounted on a B&W Work Station, I just slide it out when I want to use it.

 

[SweetMK]

Luv it! Nice and sturdy vintage vise! However I'd classify that as a drill press or milling machine vise.

I was addicted to buying used vises when I ran my own business, and there was a used machine tool company in town,,

The vise in the previous pic is serial numbered to the milling machine that it originally came with,,

 

[SweetMK]

This is the vise I keep on my drill dress,,
both the front and rear jaws move, it "self-centers" the part.

I originally used it where the hole was centered on the part.
I could switch part width, and the machine would stay on center,

I added the down pressure clamp so that it could drill stacks of parts,,

 

[walter o]

Most of the vises shown would be too heavy for that lite of a work bench
A workbench needs to be solid and stable to accept serious work hand plaining, sawing ,wrenching and hammwring on .Start with a solid base and then think about yhe too;s you weill mount to it and the work you will be doing.my 2 benches are made with 2x1/4 welded angle iron with a salvaged bowling alley top .1 has a old wood workers vise with maple wood jaw inserts, the other bench has a old sears 6: vise on it .THEY DON'T MOvE asout when i have work on them.The top is sturdy enough to clamp things to.

 

[chief38]

Bushmaster1313,

I do not know how ambitious or handy you are but you can build a much better and sturdier work bench for the same of less than the $200+ this one sells for. A few 2x4's and a 3/4" - 1" thick top would be much heavier and sturdier. By adding a shelf or two below the bench would give you lots of storage and add to the weight which is great for stability. Just saying.....

When I was first married and we lived in a 1 bedroom apartment I built a 2 ft x 4 ft workbench in my foyer. Yes, it looked out of place however I kept it neat and clean. It served its purpose for the several years that we lived there. No matter where we lived I have always built one to fit my needs. Didn't take long either.

 

[SweetMK]

Bushmaster1313,

I do not know how ambitious or handy you are but you can build a much better and sturdier work bench for the same of less than the $200+ this one sells for. A few 2x4's and a 3/4" - 1" thick top would be much heavier and sturdier. By adding a shelf or two below the bench would give you lots of storage and add to the weight which is great for stability. Just saying.....
,,,,,,,,,,,,

In 2002, a guy was closing his shop,, and sold me this workbench for $100,, the top is double 1/4" thick steel,,
It is 6X6 feet,,

The hardest part of owning it,, is keeping "junk" from accumulating on it,,

I also have two other smaller ones,, 5X5, and 4X5 feet

The 5X5 is where the milling vise lives,,

 

[2152hq]

That worktable you have pictured may well work out OK for what you want to do..However I would reinforce it somewhat in order to meet that level.

One of my work benches, the top is from a discarded old coffee table. Heavy, hard surface. Some of the rest of the wood was used in attaching it to a wall. I do stock shaping, metal polishing and filing, etc on that bench with no problems. I wouldn't mount a bbl-vise to it!
It does have limitations due to the my choice of construction materials!

The bbl-vise in on the basement bench, a much sturdier & heavier built bench.

I often don't do the 4 legged thing for a work bench as I attach them to walls a rule.
I mount the 'legs' at an angle .
They are cut to fit under the front edge of the bench top. Then they angle back to the base of the wall the bench is standing against.
A longer bench top,, then add an additional leg support midway or space them if you have a bench that runs room length.

Extremely sturdy. easy to build and doesn't move.
I don't make benches for gunsmithing too awful deep as they just accumulate junk on the back half (or more!) of the top surface anyway.

A half depth shelf runs the length underneath for storage. It's far away enough from the front edge of the bench top so you don't hit it with your legs while working.

A 5" swivel bench vise is about right (for me). One on the above bench.
I think the downstairs shop has a 5 1/2" width jaw. A good old Craftsman.
There's a giant Parker vise on the bench in the garage. Non swivel and been weld repaired sometime in it's past. But it still works well for stuff needed to be done out there.

Several smaller Wilton and other assorted named vises that I don't have bolted down. I use these for holding parts for brazing and welding and such things. Sometimes they are used as gluing clamps.

I've got one of the Wood Workers vises. Looks new and bought for $20(?) at a local Used Tool SHop.
I thought I'd use it somewhere, but haven't yet. Maybe I just bought it cause it looked so nice and the price was good.

One of those vises that you clamp the complete long gun (pictured above in S&WChad's post) into for cleaning or minor repairs adjustments may be all you need for your purposes.
C-clamp it into position and tinker away.

 

[bobsguns]

+1 on building one's own bench!

On mine, I used 4x4s for legs, 2x6s for the top table wood and leg braces & 2x6s for the table top support that runs on the front & back, holding the top boards in place. This sucker is rock solid!

As for a vice, I would meander down to Northern Tools (or similar) and find one that fits your budget. NT is a cut above Harbor Freight but well, well below a tool truck price. I think I got my current one there?

Another thing handy is an anvil. Sometimes you just need to hammer the snot out of something & it's not good for a vice to do that on, IMO.

Another thing on the table you showed, the legs will shake something fierce if you try to do anything heavy duty on it. Telescoping legs are not what one needs on a work table.

My .o2

 

[s&wchad]

The bench you are showing is not made for heavy work. You can build a better one.

Yes, you can build your own bench that's rock solid. Plans can be found online. You don't need to add the storage cabinets, but I would recommend it.

 

[Zipdog]

After looking at the pic of the workbench you have/or going to buy....I'd say save your money and buy a real workbench....from the pic you posted a kitchen table would probably be better...why? because the that workbench (from the pic) has no support under the board other than the two legs on each side. After awhile the board will sag and bow. looks like the boards not even an inch thick!!....get a real workbench...just my opinion

You'd better listen. That isn't a work bench. It's a card table.

 

[bushmaster1313]

After looking at the pic of the workbench you have/or going to buy....I'd say save your money and buy a real workbench....from the pic you posted a kitchen table would probably be better...why? because the that workbench (from the pic) has no support under the board other than the two legs on each side. After awhile the board will sag and bow. looks like the boards not even an inch thick!!....get a real workbench...just my opinion

Point very well taken.

So I went back to the website and I see that there is support running along the side of the table top from the legs on the sides !

 

[collectordude]

I bought a vevor 6.5" vise from temu for $35

 

[LostintheOzone]

The bench you are showing is not made for heavy work. You can build a better one.

The first two pictures are the work bench that I bought. Very heavy, well braced and extremely solid! First picture is when I set it uo and the second is how it looks now. Nothing is bolted to the bench. The presses are bolted are bolted to two pieces of 5/4" oak and then clamped to the bench. No give at all when using the presses no matter how hard you pull on a handle.
The third picture is the work bench that I built. Solid as a rock, the 6 inch vice is clamped to the far end (Wilton vice). Under the bench on the left end is the gun vice mounted on a B&W Work Station, I just slide it out when I want to use it.

You can build a better one.

Yup.

All 2x6 and a piece of finished plywood for a top. Just drill out the top for anything you want to mount and remove it when you aren't using it.

I have a work bench in my garage with a permanent vise. This is my reloading bench.

 

[chief38]

Chief, you have a very nice, well organized, clean and well lite work space there. The kind of workshop we all wished we had. I'm sure it took a lot of thought, planning and work to get that to come togther. But I can see comfortably spending several hours in a good work enviorment like that.
I hope that your workshop serves as the blue print for many of us fellow forum members or at the very least the inspiration for those of us not as handy as you.

Thank you!

I did spend many hours educating myself and researching all about LED lightning which prior to moving here I had limited knowledge of. Lumens, Kelvin temperature, size tubes, wattage vs output, etc. Once I knew what spec's I wanted for the shop lighting I had to research where to buy the size fixtures to fit the bulbs I wanted and I wound up having to order them as no one actually stocked them. Installing them was the easy part.

This is my 4th home and 4th workshop so I did have prior experience. I have made a few minor adjustments since this picture was taken but nothing most would pick up on.

Since I do spend a fair amount of time in my workshop I wanted it to be comfortable , climate controlled and well lite.

The shop I had in my last house was three times the size of this one and I do miss some of the machinery and equipment I had to sell when moving here. That said, I had no desire to remain up North any longer and we are very happy here.

 

[Bald1]

OP stated pretty clearly his bench was for cleaning and tinkering. He specifically said no heavy tourqing. Table top type projects. He asked about a vice. He didn't ask to be ridiculed on his choice