I am designing a travel box/bench for myself and would like to know the dimensions of the major vises out there (with bases), as I do not know which vise I will be replacing my $15 BPS vise with when it dies (I am currently very happy with it.) I need just a rough length-width-height measurements just so I can leave a space in the box that will accommodate most any vise. I am a woodworker and would like to make my own box. I already have a design in mind, please no suggestions on purchasing one. Thanks for your time. Luke McLeod
Just measured these… (all non-rotary vises; others may have larger bases)
Griffin: 5-1/2(l) x 4(w) x 3-1/2(h)
Dyna King; same
HMH: 5-3/4 x 4 x 2-3/4
It may be wise to make whatever you decide to constuct to hold the vise base is “adjustable”. If you’re like most of us…you’re gonna change vises eventually.
That’s why I’m asking, I’d like to leave a space big enough to accomodate just about any vise in the center of the box with adjustable hold-downs. Thanks. Luke
One thing I’ve noticed is that c-clamp vises have a longer stem - about 3 inches longer - than pedestal vises.
What about this, make a space that is big and put down a piece of foam to hold it in place when the case is shut.
I can accomodate 10" with my current design, do you think this will be enough? Luke
My Regal c-clamp would need at least 11", but you don’t have to get that vise.
Renzetti Traveler: 10"L x 5-1/2" W.
Cabela’s kit box size seems to fit any vise. 11 3/4" x 8". Have used it for traveler, regal, crown and dynaking. should be a good footprint to follow.
Luke
The base for my Regal is 6 3/4" x 3 7/8"
I have a different idea as a result of making a vise base from a maple cutting board. The vises (both a Griffin 2A and a Griffin Odessy Cam) came as a C clamp.
Since you are a woodworker - and since a box has 2 ends - make the material forming one of the ends wider (not deeper) than usual - like 1.5 or two inches ? made of hardwood - and drill a hole so that the entire box becomes a vise base. Then buy a vise with a C clamp. Thus you could attach/use the vise wherever you are. The only consideration is the box has to be about 10" by 8" to be a good base for the vise, since it won’t have weight, it will have a sufficient footprint to provide opposing leverage against the tug of the thread on the vise. IE, it has to be longer than the jaws of the vise relative to the shaft. My 2 cents. I can send you plans for the internal nut/bolt arrangement that would work to hold the shaft of the vise.
The box will be pretty substantial. My current prototype is 10" wide X 19" long X 11.5" tall with a flip out desk space of approximately 10.5" X 18". The “desk” should be able to accept clamp style vises as well as pedestal. I even contacted Norm Norlander about his Nor Vise dimensions. Even mounting a threaded insert in the “desk” is not a problem for me. It will be more of a long trip style box than a kit box. I want it to be big enough for any tools I may need, as well as a decent array of tying materials. And yes, I realize there will never be a box big enough to carry everything I really need. I also plan on using it as my primary tying station at home. I have an aircraft carrier sized school teachers desk in my “home office” that I like to tie at, but I do not want to surrender it to my addiction. Thanks to a good friend, I have enough materials to fill this box several times over, so a few pieces of matching cabinetry for home will follow the building of the travel box. Luke
That’s a nice set-up Greg. Luke
That’s a nice set-up Greg. I didn’t understand what you were saying until I saw the pic. Thanks. Luke
My idea is on the scale of Jon Haxton’s Fish Whisperer (Please don’t smite me Jon.) I’m not copying it, just building something with similar mass (maybe even a little bigger.) Here’s a link to pics of one:
http://moldychum.typepad.com/moldy_chum/2009/01/the-fish-whisperer.html#comments
If you happen upon this post Jon, that is one heck of a box. Beautiful design sir. Luke
Base for my regal (and many other vises with the same post) is custom made, so that the post holder is threaded onto the base…don’t know why the manuf. haven’t come up with this one, sure makes the vise pack down thinner.
Hey Luke
Might want to check these out before you start making sawdust…
http://www.flyfishingcreations.com/Pages/FTC.aspx
Brad
Thanks for posting that Brad, It gave me several new ideas to think about. Luke
Post a picture or 2 when you get er done. I would like to see what the final product looks like.
Brad