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Sat Nov 13, 2021 2:35 pm

I have a 6ft Husky workbench from Home Depot. The legs are of hollow steel and the leg mounting brackets are really close to the edge of the wood surface. I have a small vise that I want to install on one of the front corners. The holes of the vise fall directly in line with the steel construction below.

I am trying not to riddle this work surface but I am not sure how to mount this vise. I have thought about using lag bolts, but I'd certainly prefer to use nuts and bolts for a more secure mounting.

Does anyone have this same bench that has a vise mounted on it?
https://www.homedepot.com/p/Husky-Ready-to-Assembl.../206288247

Sat Nov 13, 2021 2:44 pm

That ones gonna be rough... Im not sure lags would give enough strength to use a vise as its meant to be used. Mine is mounted to a 2" oak top with steel plate under the wood. I beat the crap out of stuff in the vise so it has to be mounted really solid.

Sat Nov 13, 2021 2:48 pm

so far as long as I've had my VW (3 years), I've only need my vice to hold things, and not so much for beating. Not that it won't ever happen, but certainly rare

Sat Nov 13, 2021 2:53 pm

I would use a thick base on top, with another thick plate underneath, bolted through the wood bench top using bolts and large washers. It may be worth drilling it and bolting the vice to it before mounting, countersinking the bolts if needed.

That way you are not relying on the thin top for strength.

Sat Nov 13, 2021 3:53 pm

Drill hold and add either wood blocks or some steel plate underneath to reinforce the top.

I made my own workbench and one for my son.

Sat Nov 13, 2021 4:04 pm

I made my own bench that looks almost exactly like Glens. I pre-drilled through the top into the 2x4's. This allowed three of the four mounting points to line up over the 2x4's and I used lag bolts.

The last one I just cut the lag bolt short, and just went into the top surface. Like Crankbait, I just use it to hold stuff, rarely do I ever pound on it much. But I definitely do some light to moderate hammering from time to time. It's plenty stable for what I do.

Now if I was going all blacksmith on it, I'd probably use a plate and bolt for the last mounting point.

Sat Nov 13, 2021 5:16 pm

Glenn wrote: I made my own workbench and one for my son.

in Phoenix, I have a workbench that I put together from a kit in the early 1980s, looks somewhat like Glenn's. Even my bench vise is mounted in almost exactly the same place.

I posted to add two suggestions:
1. I securely mounted the workbench to studs behind the wallboard.Especially important when I've also mounted my bench-mounted engine stand at the end of the bench (near the bench vise).

2. I mounted my 6" bench grinder to a short piece of 2 x 4; then when I need to use my bench grinder, I set that 2 x 4 into the bench vise to secure it. I also have a bench-mount drill press bolted at the opposite end of the bench.

Sat Nov 13, 2021 5:18 pm

Cusser wrote: Glenn wrote: I made my own workbench and one for my son.

in Phoenix, I have a workbench that I put together from a kit in the early 1980s, looks somewhat like Glenn's. Even my bench vise is mounted in almost exactly the same place.
Left handed also?

Sat Nov 13, 2021 6:55 pm

The jaws of my 5" vice hang over the front edge, so I can clamp long stuff vertically when desirable. It's inboard from the end of the workbench.

Sat Nov 13, 2021 8:52 pm

if your using the bench with a engine adapter, make sure the bench is stable and secure. unlike this...

Sat Nov 13, 2021 11:04 pm

Sounds like a job for Mighty Putty! :P

Sun Nov 14, 2021 4:04 am

Best and one of the cheapest work bench is an old commercial flush wood door. 1-3/4” thick nominal size is 36” x 80” or 84” you can find 96”one too. The core of the doors are usually made of a very dense particle board, solid. Find a door supply company in your area and ask if they have any door that are damaged or they can no longer sell. They will probably just give it to you to get it out of their way. At least that’s what we do if we have any.

Sun Nov 14, 2021 5:09 am

I would try to mount the vice to the top before securing the top to the legs. Use carriage bolts from the bottom and countersink them slightly so they don't foul up the legs.

I built my own bench on top of some old cabinets salvaged from my house remodel. My vice is mounted on the corner as close to the edges as I can get it so it can be used on the side or on the front.

Sun Nov 14, 2021 11:50 am

When I mounted my Columbia on the bench I used heavy stove bolts. The fixed portion of the jaw is parrallel with bench top. This allow a square or plumb area for stuff hang down.

https://www.etsy.com/ca/listing/1012351931/vintage-columbian-d43-12-swivel-bench

It is pretty heavy duty

Sun Nov 14, 2021 1:18 pm

I just mounted my 6" Columbian last week. The base only has three holes, I guess since there's usually a table leg in the way on that corner anyway. I used long bolts and fender washers. The table is 2x2" 1/8" wall tubing with a 1/2" steel plate under the stainless top.

Sun Nov 14, 2021 4:53 pm

Ok here’s another Columbian vise. I built the bench over 20 years ago when wood was cheap, vise came from a flea market cheap. It’s seen a lot of action

Sun Nov 14, 2021 11:22 pm

My bench is 2x6s so I just used lag bolts. I really like this Versa Vice I found at an antique store recently.

Max

Wed Nov 17, 2021 2:14 pm

Took the time to show off mine....Columbian D 45. Was out scouting VW parts and the fellow had this sitting on the ground...asked if it was for sale, yes, picked it and a small anvil for thirty five bucks. Quite the deal.
It is mounted with the fixed jaw in parallel with the front of the bench. The bench is 2x6 sub top with 3/4 plywood on top.

Wed Nov 17, 2021 2:38 pm

Be careful with that COLUMBIAn free base, it was prone to fires in a Pryor life.

Wed Nov 17, 2021 2:52 pm

Abscate wrote: Be careful with that COLUMBIAn free base, it was prone to fires in a Pryor life.

But when that fire hits your ass, it’ll sober you up real quick..