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Ideas for mounting a bench vise?


SpankySmith

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Just starting out, I haven't yet acquired a Blacksmithing post vise (though I have a line on one)... in the meantime, I'll be using a bench vise I have already.   I'll be working outdoors, want to mount this vise for use out there by my anvil, but I have no idea what to mount it on that would be stable enough?    Thought about a tree trunk, but a tall enough, thin one would want to topple over if I'm twisting - a tall enough WIDE one I wouldn't even be able to get into my yard!   Any ideas?   It wouldn't have to be portable, just something I could position in the middle of my side yard, next to the anvil?     Help?  Any suggestions? 

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I have one mounted to one of those big wooden spools that electrical cable comes on. It's my all in one work bench. Seems to work fine for me. I don't do any hammering on it for more than obvious reasons, so it seems to be heavy enough. Of course most of what I make are tools for the farm and some of those supposed viking style knives. So my vice gets used mostly to hold hot blades while I run the file over them to shape them up.

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Another method is to take a 55 gallon drum with a bung on the side near the bottom and trace a piece of 2x12 on the inner curve of the open top and cut it to fit inside and lag bolt it in place.  Fill the barrel with water and you have about 400 pounds of weight.  Need to move it? Remove the bung and empty it.  I've used this for a travelling set up as it's light and easy to move empty and site owners *like* all that water in the smithy for some reason.

 

Not so good in an inside smithy where 50+ gallows of water on the floor when you empty it might be a problem...

 

(I learned this set up from a travelling lady smith who did very nice hand forged labrys for radical feminists; great blade work, interesting niche market.)

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Greetings Hairballz,

 

It might be best if you just build a small table out of 4x4 and 2x6 ..  You will need a surface area anyway for tooling and projects not to mention a tong rack..  Put a lower shelf on it for strength and if required for weight a bag of cement.   It does not have to be that complicated to mount a bench vise..  When you get your post vise thats what you will use the most...  Just a good ol boys 2c

 

Forge on and make beautiful things

Jim

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How about using a RR tie?

 

Lumber yards or nurseries usually have some used ones for $10-$12 each.  Look for a relatively good one.  You can stand it on end in a hole.  Figure out how much you can bury in your soil.  If it's going to be too tall, cut off the excess with a chain saw before burying it.  To keep the bottom end from digging into the ground, just place a small, thick piece of scrap iron or even wood under the toe to support it while you are hammering.

 

Beware!!!...if you DO cut a RR tie with a chainsaw, be prepared to ding up your chain, possibly beyond sharpening it afterwards.  RR ties are usually chocked full of sand and gravel and WILL chip your chain teeth.

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I might steal the drum idea, but I found out the hard way if you leave water in containers below freezing temps, make sure you have left room for expansion, it can get messy when the ice thaws..........



I'm in 'bama, we don't hardly see that thing called ice round these parts!
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I'm in 'bama, we don't hardly see that thing called ice round these parts!

 

Ice is those cold little cubes floating in your sweet tea. All workable ideas, I've used the 55gl drum idea, have a work bench/table that used to have a bench vise. I like the cable spool idea and if it's too light you can shovel gravel in it.

 

Frosty The Lucky.

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Another method is to take a 55 gallon drum with a bung on the side near the bottom and trace a piece of 2x12 on the inner curve of the open top and cut it to fit inside and lag bolt it in place.  Fill the barrel with water and you have about 400 pounds of weight.  Need to move it? Remove the bung and empty it.  I've used this for a travelling set up as it's light and easy to move empty and site owners *like* all that water in the smithy for some reason.

 

Not so good in an inside smithy where 50+ gallows of water on the floor when you empty it might be a problem...

 

(I learned this set up from a travelling lady smith who did very nice hand forged labrys for radical feminists; great blade work, interesting niche market.)

 

 

Just fill it 1/4 of the way and it should still be plenty sturdy.

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