Vise to compliment a Vac Sys System

[KitShickers]

Hello All,
First post, but Ive been lurking for a bit.  I was hoping I could get some advice on my upcoming workbench build.  I am planning a small 27'x22' shop so space will be at a premium.  So I was hoping I could get away with one 4'x8' assembly table to serve multiple purposes, including outfeed for my table saw.  I have a dual head Vac Sys system to go on one of the 4' ends of the table, and I was hoping to get some help selecting a traditional vise to compliment it.  I was considering the 10" eclipse vise in the link below to use as a front vise on the main 8' end, but Im not sure its the best way to go.  If you could have only one vise, aside from the Vac Sys, what would you go with? Any advice would be greatly appreciated.  Thanks
PS.  I forgot to mention the 4'x8' table will also have a T-track grid installed on top.
https://www.woodcraft.com/products/eclipse-10-quick-release-vise

 

[semenza]

I don't have any vise help for you but you almost described my work bench. 4' x 8' dual head Vac Sys on one end and T-track embedded in the table. Mine is not a grid just seven tracks across the 4' direction.

Seth

 

[KitShickers]

I don't have any vise help for you but you almost described my work bench. 4' x 8' dual head Vac Sys on one end and T-track embedded in the table. Mine is not a grid just seven tracks across the 4' direction.

Seth

Awesome.  How is it working out for you?  Do you find you miss having a normal vise?  Seems like there are some things the vac sys wont hold well

 

[hdv]

If you already have a Vac Sys and T-tracks for clamping on that table, then I'd consider using a Moxon vise instead of a fixed vise. Unless you expect to use your vise almost daily or for very heavy duty clamping that could be a more flexible choice, without it getting in the way when you don't need it.

 

[gsdvorak]

I don't have any vise help for you but you almost described my work bench. 4' x 8' dual head Vac Sys on one end and T-track embedded in the table. Mine is not a grid just seven tracks across the 4' direction.

Seth

Seth, do you have any pics you can share of your setup?  I have my Vac-Sys heads mounted on my MFTs now but want to make an assembly bench and integrate them there.

Thanks,
Gerald

 

[clark_fork]

I used the plan from the Conturo book download, page 68. Look up Sedge Episode on the Sys Vac.

The vise you showed is retro-generational, old thinking.  You may need to visit a sporting goods store for some hip pads to deal with the protruding hip-slamming feature of this type of vise. In the olden days a work bench was against the wall. Now, most work benches are walk-around mobile benches.

Consider the purpose of the vise. The MFT top practically eliminates the need for horizontal  clamping from a vise. For vertical clamping consider a dado along the side, inserting a T-Track and use T-Track clamps for vertical clamping. The Festool MFT has T-Tracks along the side, assisting with vertical clamping.

In a close in shop, consider a bench top vise with Moxon jaws that can be clamped to the table for both horizontal and vertical clamping. Lots of good plans on the Internet.

 

[Cheese]

I'm of the belief that you can never have too many vises on a bench. [big grin]  Search "vise" or "vise on MFT" because there have been a lot of discussions on what to put on a work bench or MFT.

I have a 72" x 32" maple butcher block top that I drilled 20 mm dog holes in. I then made mounting plates for the Vac Sys heads and can mount them where ever I need them. I have a 45# Starrett machinist vise on a special mount and can move it to either end of the bench or remove it completely if I need the extra room. I also made a dog mount for a small Versa-Vise that can be located anywhere. The only item permanently mounted to the bench is a Record 53 vise.
https://www.festoolownersgroup.com/...small-parts-vice-on-mft3/msg506414/#msg506414
https://www.festoolownersgroup.com/...ts/face-vise-on-the-mft3/msg502712/#msg502712
https://www.festoolownersgroup.com/...s/hybrid-workbench-build/msg521999/#msg521999
https://www.festoolownersgroup.com/other-tools-accessories/drill-press-vises/msg588763/#msg588763

 

[tsmi243]

That's a good vise, IF you want a heavy vise.

But don't underestimate the light duty vises.  Lowes sells a $20 Irwin front vise.  Extremely handy, and doesn't jab you in the hip like Clark mentioned.

 

[KitShickers]

I used the plan from the Conturo book download, page 68. Look up Sedge Episode on the Sys Vac.

The vise you showed is retro-generational, old thinking.  You may need to visit a sporting goods store for some hip pads to deal with the protruding hip-slamming feature of this type of vise. In the olden days a work bench was against the wall. Now, most work benches are walk-around mobile benches.

Consider the purpose of the vise. The MFT top practically eliminates the need for horizontal  clamping from a vise. For vertical clamping consider a dado along the side, inserting a T-Track and use T-Track clamps for vertical clamping. The Festool MFT has T-Tracks along the side, assisting with vertical clamping.

In a close in shop, consider a bench top vise with Moxon jaws that can be clamped to the table for both horizontal and vertical clamping. Lots of good plans on the Internet.

Thanks for your reply.  I was planning to use the template from the contouro manual for mounting the vac sys heads, so I was planning a dado and T-track all the way around the table so they could be mounted anywhere.  I was just unsure if t-track clamps would be strong enough for vertical clamping for things like planing or chiseling.  Are there any T-track clamps you can recommend for a very strong hold?  Thanks

 

[KitShickers]

That's a good vise, IF you want a heavy vise.

But don't underestimate the light duty vises.  Lowes sells a $20 Irwin front vise.  Extremely handy, and doesn't jab you in the hip like Clark mentioned.

DO you use sacrificial boards with that Irwin?  If so, how long?

 

[clark_fork]

Are there any T-track clamps you can recommend for a very strong hold?  Thanks

I get good results from Festool clamps. However, I have started using Piher 22cm/9" Quick T-Track clamps. They can be used single handed and allow for sufficient pressure but not as great as the Festool clamps. They have a 9" span so they may too long for some operations. I don't know if they make a shorter version that might be more suitable for vertical clamping.

 

[tsmi243]

That's a good vise, IF you want a heavy vise.

But don't underestimate the light duty vises.  Lowes sells a $20 Irwin front vise.  Extremely handy, and doesn't jab you in the hip like Clark mentioned.

DO you use sacrificial boards with that Irwin?  If so, how long?

Like vise jaws?  Yeah, they're just 1/2" Baltic scraps.  Same size as the vise.

 

[Birdhunter]

I mounted a Record vise to an extension to my dual MFTs. Wonderful addition and it stabilized my MFTs.

 

[Michael Kellough]

Bessey magnetic vise jaw pads are a great compliment to iron or steel jawed vises.

 

[rvieceli]

I've got a love /hate relationship with those Bessey pads. They are easy to use but I often don't like the way they distort.

I took a couple of pieces of 1/2 inch mdf, cut them slightly wider than the jaws on my vise cut out a portion of the bottom that fits over the slide at the bottom and extends a little past the the jaw top. Works great for holding stuff and keeps the jaws from marring the workpiece.

ROn

 

[nclemmons]

I had a record version of that front vise on a 3” maple top bench that I used for years.  Downsized my shop and gave it to my son who is still using it. 

I have a handmade bench with an integral vise from WoodSmith plans years ago.  I also have a plate similar to Cheese that I mount a standard bench vise to - largely for metal working.

A bench vise like you shared with wooden jaw inserts will hold with more strength than most clamps or dog holes.  So it depends on the nature of your work and the strength you need to ‘hold’ something.

If you really want to go to a great vise, check out Bench Crafted www.benchcrafted.com and their line or end as well as leg vises.  Beautiful.  Strong.  Iconic.  And they will motivate you to raise the caliber of your work while holding it!

 

[semenza]

Here you go.

  The Vac Sys set up is a quick get it up and running install. I plan to remake it once I figure out how I want it after some use. Having it mounted on the bench means that large / long pieces can be supported on the bench but held by the Vac Sys.

  [attachimg=1]        [attachimg=2]          [attachimg=3]        [attachimg=4]

Seth

 

[gsdvorak]

Thanks Seth- much appreciated!  My current setup has the Vac Sys mounted to the plywood with bolts- I’ve seen this ‘slide-in’ approach before and plan to use that when attaching to a larger bench.

Regards,
Gerald