Placement of Record #53 Vise

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Ok, I've got a Record #53 vise and have a mounting problem with it. I'm right handed so normally I'd mount the vise on the left side of my workbench so I could saw with the right hand and catch or hold cutoffs with the left hand. Problem is that I've got very little space to the left of my bench and realistically no other place to put the bench so I could have have the necessary working space to the left of the vise.

My question is if anyone else has experienced this problem and what if anything they did to rectify it?

Thanks Dave

 

[Cheese]

I also have a 53 and am right handed. I mounted mine on the right side of the bench and it's worked out fine. It's probably been mounted like that for the last 20+ years.

About 4 years ago I had the opportunity to move the 53 because I put a new bench top on. However, I never even considered moving it. It seemed "just right" where it was. [smile]

 

[nclemmons]

I mounted mine like this.  Granted, not an MFT top, but it works well.  It happens that I have a Sysport to the left of the vise which is set back a bit for clearance and that works fine.  Not sure if you could have something a little shallower to help you with clearance or not.

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[quote author=Cheese]
I also have a 53 and am right handed. I mounted mine on the right side of the bench and it's worked out fine. It's probably been mounted like that for the last 20+ years.
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I see you have some track around your bench. What clamping or accessories do you use it for?

 

[Cheese]

I see you have some track around your bench. What clamping or accessories do you use it for?

You name it, it’s been really handy. Sometimes I’ll mount a 3/4” thick piece of 8020 to the top of the rail and use that as a positive stop when routing say HVAC vents. So my 3/4” board is slid up against the 3/4” 8020 and that positive stop will become a datum. Then when I use the MFS routing template, that can also be clamped down to the bench because of the channel/groove in the top of the 3/4” thick 8020.

I’ve also used the 8020 to hang an additional work space off of the workbench. When I don’t need the extra work table, it all folds up and is stored under the workbench.

I’ve also modified 1/2”-20 stainless bolts that thread into the bottom of Bessey clamps that work well around the perimeter of the 8020.

The 8020 rail was a simple install and well worth the time & effort.

 

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[quote author=Cheese]

I see you have some track around your bench. What clamping or accessories do you use it for?

You name it, it’s been really handy. Sometimes I’ll mount a 3/4” thick piece of 8020 to the top of the rail and use that as a positive stop when routing say HVAC vents. So my 3/4” board is slid up against the 3/4” 8020 and that positive stop will become a datum. Then when I use the MFS routing template, that can also be clamped down to the bench because of the channel/groove in the top of the 3/4” thick 8020.  [/quote]

Might be something I'd consider down the road. For now I have ONE dog hole drilled. When I need more dog holes I'll drill some more. Mounting the #53 comes first.

 

[Cheese]

FWIW...I’m working on some RAB lighting right now and spotted the stainless bolt I modified to work with the Bessey toggle clamps. Here’s a better photo of it and what needs to be done.