Leg vise from junk

[Tuomas]

Made a diy leg vise from junk / surplus that i could found.

Its not a beauty, but works for me.

Traditionally leg vises are based to threaded rod with a big diameter, that supports / alings vise straight. Some extra guidance can be get with dowels etc..

But, big screw is the "main" thing.
Those are just hard to find for cheap.
I wanted to found alternative way to make a leg vise.

If you watched the video, you might notice, i didn't need to use any extra supports on the long end of the clamped piece. Vise holds well and is easy to make.

[DIYer]

Thanks Tuomas! We've added your Leg Vise to our Vises category,
as well as to your builder page: Tuomas's Homemade Tools. Your receipt:

Leg Vise by Tuomas

tags: vise, jack

[bruce.desertrat]

Those are, I assume, OSHA certified steel-toed safety socks in that last bit :-) I think I should go prowling for a couple of old car jacks...

[Drew1966]

Nice. Definitely not a carpenter’s vise, but a good, solid build. Good job.

[Tuomas]

Those are, I assume, OSHA certified steel-toed safety socks in that last bit :-) I think I should go prowling for a couple of old car jacks...

My friend says that i am weird.. but i have a reason not to wear shoes on the shop.

These:

I "have to!" keep floors clean from the sharp depris etc.
When walking on the floor starts to feel uncomfortable, its time to clean.

[Tuomas]

Nice. Definitely not a carpenter’s vise, but a good, solid build. Good job.

Thanks.

[Toolmaker51]

The heavy forged leg vises depend on a hinge at lower edge. Suddenly that causes wonder how they expect parallel clamping with that fixed point, though the jaw faces are far narrower then Tuomas's. There is no dispute his version works well on various thicknesses. And just like strap clamps for milling, the leverage is correct with tightening closer to jaws. Cannibalization of the screw jack, especially nut and thread is a super economical supply of sturdy material. Using all of it is perfection.
Unless you treasure rivets...

[Drew1966]

The heavy forged leg vises depend on a hinge at lower edge. Suddenly that causes wonder how they expect parallel clamping with that fixed point, though the jaw faces are far narrower then Tuomas's. There is no dispute his version works well on various thicknesses. And just like strap clamps for milling, the leverage is correct with tightening closer to jaws. Cannibalization of the screw jack, especially nut and thread is a super economical supply of sturdy material. Using all of it is perfection.
Unless you treasure rivets...

Toolmaker, those heavy leg vises with the hinge at the bottom are a blacksmithing tool. Carpenters leg vises have always had some sort of mechanism to hold the faces close to parallel, sometimes heavy dowels, sometimes a cross mechanism and sometimes a simple wedge system.

[Toolmaker51]

Agreed, Drew1966. I don't recall leg vises that weren't associated with blacksmithing. Mechanically speaking, that seems to counter best possible grip on parts; of jaws engaged flat on material. I've considered fabricating a leg vise over the years, with a notched link versus hinge. Tuomas's compression springs are a great solution.

With some bit of a thread hack;
Mentoring potential machinists, getting to discussions on machinery setup, I rely on a quick demonstration of leverage. Sketching it out is not effective. Some few decades now, the ability to grasp simple, unalterable principals has waned.

"Put your index fingers flat on the table, about this far apart [using a wood pencil]".
I lay pencil across their fingers and thumb the middle. Then I move thumb closer to one of their fingers, and press the same amount.
"So what position of the clamping stud is going to hold more securely?"
They get it every time.
Having them arrive at concept the strap must pinch at the end or be flat, takes a little more convincing.

[Drew1966]

If you have a look at the Pask Makes channel on YouTube, he’s done a pretty classical carpenters leg vise.