Vise mounting plate

[jake27081991]

hey i recently bought a post vise....

its around 80# or so.

when i got it, it didnt come with the mounting plate (the bit that holds it to the bench/post)

i was wondering if anybody knows of any detailed piictures of one out there somewhere, or if any one could be so kind as to draw some up and post them..

also would a truck spring do for the spring? what dimensions is a standard one??

thanks

[larrynjr]

there are so many different types out there that I doubt there could be anything considered standard. Post some pictures of the vice and most likely someone here has one like it and can give details and pictures as to what the mount looks like and the spring.

Without those 2 items I hope you got a good deal on the vice.

[John B]

A picture of the item needing the fitting would help

[matt87]

Don't forget, a leg vice/vise spring doesn't have to be very strong, just have enough oomph to 'persuade' the moving jaw outwards when you open the screw. If you make it too strong it will be hard to close the screw. You should be able to squeeze the jaws closed with one hand. Truck springs are (I think) 1/4inch (6mm) thick. The spring on my vice is about 2mm thick, or 3/32inch.

Dimensions-wise, most leg vices I've seen have the spring anchored by some method where the mounting plate attaches to the leg, and terminate an inch or less above the pivot.

Use the search function in the gallery, and Google image search, for terms like 'leg vise' 'post vise' etc. In the gallery, just 'vise' will probably suffice.

[NateDJ]

I just used a piece of 1/2'' thick x 4'' angle iron for the back piece that attached to the bench and a flat bar about 1/2'' x 1'' x 3'' for the front piece. drilled holes and mounted the angle to the bench and drilled holes in the 2 pieces that allowed me to run a bolt on either side of the vice leg between the 2 pieces.

For a spring I used a piece about 1'' wide and about 12'' long cut out of a lawnmower blade, bent it at the anvil and quenched it in water.

[ThomasPowers]

Columbian brand vises often have the "U bolt and angle iron bracket" direct from the factory.

A lovely ram's horn scrolled bracket looks great if you are going for an early look for your forge.

Not much in the way of standardization; look at pictures of peoples post vises and go wild!

[Frosty]

These are a couple pics of the Columbian I repaired this summer. It needed the spring and new wedges in the U clamp. Somewhere I have pics of the parts laid out for painting but I don't know where.

I REALLY like the idea of animal head finials on the "U" clamp.

Pics of what you have will make helping a lot easier.

Frosty

[John B]

Do these pictures help any, two methods of securing springs are shown

[Frosty]

I love the clamp on legless vise John.

Where'd you come across it? What's the make? Etc.?

That thing would purely be handy.

Frosty

[jake27081991]

thanks John thats what i was looking for....

does the tappered pin have to be any particular taper...or just make to fit, the beat it in???