post vice

[waianvil]

I want to install a post vice what height do you use for the vice straight out from your arms need advice only want dig hole once.

[CurlyGeorge]

This is a picture of my 5" Columbia leg vice. The log is 36" tall. I don't remember exactly what the jaws measure from the floor. But I'm 5'11" tall and it is comfortable to work at. Note the 4X4 strapped to the log for the bottom of the leg to rest in.

[irnsrgn]

Waianvil, it depends on what you are going to use it for.

1. bench vise, for filing, twisting and other hand work. standing beside it with your arm down by your side and bent up at the elbow, your elbow should just rest on top of the jaws.

2. pounding anvil, close to the anvil and used for a lot of hot work. Same height as anvil or about 6 inches taller.

Like anything else you must decide what you are gonna use it for the most.

[irnsrgn]

There was a time when I was an actual working smith, that I considered an adjustable height anvil. I took a picture of this anvil at a hammer in in Missouri and liked the idea of the pipe flange and pipe bolted to the floor. Then the light bulb clicked on and I got the idea to remove most of the leg and fasten the vise to a piece of pipe that slides up and down on another piece of pipe inside like the adjustable hitches on fifth wheel camper trailers and use a series of holes for a pin to go thru both pieces and then two sets of set screws set at 90 degrees to each other to take the slack out when using it.

Another option would be to find an old Semitrailer Dolly Jack and put a flange on the bottom to fasten to the floor, so you could just crank the vise to the proper height you needed for the job at hand.

[Dutchmancreek]

Mine's at elbow height.

Steve

[ThomasPowers]

Post vises came from the factory in a number of different heights as measured from the top of jaws to the bottom of the foot ball. I have several around the shop and use different ones for different tasks.

I have a regular bench vise that mounts on the crank table for my large drill press that is a great one to use to prevent back/neck/arm strain when I'm fitting a guard or grip.

[mtncrawler]

Here's a pic of mine - 44" to the top of the jaws. I find the height OK, but given my height (5'7"), I wouldn't go higher. I think for finer/delicate work, higher may be better (good visibility too) and for heavier work, better leverage and being more "over" the work may be an advantage.
Mike

[HWooldridge]

I have 3 post vises in the shop. One is at chest height for close filing, one at elbow height for general work and one at anvil height. It is a full length leg vise buried in the soil along with the mounting post and allows a full hammer swing.

I think elbow height might be the most flexible but as others stated, each position has strengths depending on the work.

[philip in china]

Mine is at elbow height. I like my forearm to be horizontal when filing something in the jaws. If I had a second one it would be at anvil height- which to an old man like me is wrist height although I know most people will tell me that that is 4" too high!

[Scratch]

How would you adjust the height of your post vise? Doesn't the leg decide how high it is? Mines at about 40" and other than cutting the leg, don't see how I would shorten it. I guess burying it would be an option if it was planned to be permanent... I'm guessing that's what you're all talking about right. Mines on a cement floor so I don't have that option. I can see wanting another one, more towards anvil height though for swinging a hammer.