How to Make a Woodworking Vise

Overview

Many woodworking benches utilize a vise with a heavy steel screw. The problem is that grease or oil from the screw can stain your woodworking project. A vise with more traditional wooden parts is a better choice and can be just as functional. With the proper parts and tools, you can make a shoulder vise, tail vise or just about any type of vise you need.

Step 1

Drill a hole slightly larger than your wood screw in the center of each of the two hardwood jaw blocks.

Step 2

Insert the wood screw into the front block, and attach the screw's garter--the metal ring just in front of the hole for the handle--using a wood screw in each of the screw holes in the garter. Pre-drill a pilot hole for each screw in the hardwood before inserting the screw.

Step 3

Affix the rear hardwood jaw to the edge of your workbench. Using the hole in the rear jaw as a guide, continue the hole all the way through the bench's end support.

Step 4

Align the hole in the knuckle with the hole on the back side of the bench's end support. Pre-drill pilot holes, and attach the knuckle to the support with 3-inch wood screws spaced about 4 inches apart.

Step 5

Insert the wood screw through the hole in the rear jaw and into the knuckle. Turn the screw to engage the threads in the knuckle.

Step 6

Attach the wooden handle through the hole in the front of the wood screw.

Step 7

Test the operation of your vise by closing the jaws and reopening them.