Pipe-Clamp Bench Vise
Updated: Mar. 20, 2019Increase your workshop’s vise-atility with a 1/2-in. pipe clamp screwed to one end of your workbench. It works like a third hand for all kinds of jobs.
Increase your workshop’s vise-atility with a 1/2-in. pipe clamp screwed to one end of your workbench. It works like a third hand for all kinds of jobs and only takes a half hour to install.
■ Start with a piece of 1/2-in. black pipe threaded on one end. Hold the pipe against your bench and mark the 1/4-in. diameter hole locations for the lag screws.
■ Drill 1/4-in. diameter clearance holes through the center of the two 3/4-in. thick spacer blocks. The spacer blocks allow the clamp hardware to slide freely.
■ Hold the assembled pipe clamp against the edge of the bench again and transfer the hole locations to the bench. Drill 3/16-in. diameter pilot holes 1 in. deep at these locations.
■ Attach the pipe clamp to the bench using 1/4 x 2-1/2 in. lag screws (outfitted with washers) against the pipe. Tighten the lag screws with a wrench.
That’s it! Now have fun discovering how handy this vise can be when you’re building your next project. Thanks to reader Randall Johnson for this gripping tip
