Working on final step of the new workbench, installing an Emmert patternmaker's vise.  Have any of you ever done this or have one?   I'm trying to decide the right install position.   It appears there are three common positions, depending on who you read:

1. Hinged part insert into the front of the bench the thickness of the hinge (~ 5/16").  This leaves a gap between the front of the bench and the back of the rear jaw.   Highland Woodworking's Emmert clone appears to do this, but I'm not real happy with the gap there.
   
2. Front of the bench abutting the back of the rear jaw.   This closes the gap, but leaves the jaw joint away from the front of the bench
   
3. Inner side of back jaw flush with front edge of bench.  This requires a profiled cut out in the front of the bench to match the back profile of the back jaw.   I am not leaning toward this because my bench top is only 1.5" thick as opposed 4 or 5" that would provide support for a board.  In addition, if you want to swivel the jaws around on the screw axis you have to pivot out, rotate. then pivot back in.
   

Looking for comments and experiences.

 

Signed, 
Goldilocks

Edited September 30, 20196 yr by kmealy

(Green with envy over that vise): I really like that bottom installation (the center pic doesn't show up). Is the need to pivot it out that big a deal? Anyway, if you choose this, maybe the benchtop could be made a little thicker in the area around the vise????

Very nice.  I don't have that vise but believe the vise let into the top has the best look.

Unless I find one curb shopping, way out of my price range. 

5 hours ago, Larry Buskirk said:

Unless I find one curb shopping, way out of my price range. 

Yeah, I got this years ago for $125.   I hear they're going for $450-900 now.

 

I think there's one on Ebay! with a BIN price of are you ready for this?

$1295.00 plus shipping.

1 hour ago, Larry Buskirk said:

I think there's one on Ebay! with a BIN price of are you ready for this?

$1295.00 plus shipping.

Bargain basement pricing.  I bought mine about 20 years from a friend for $20.  He found it at a yard sale. 

3 hours ago, Ron Dudelston said:

He found it at a yard sale.

Much better deal that that $1200 ish thingy..

Hummm.... I'm a vise collector .... Never paid more than $100 for one...

On 9/30/2019 at 5:23 PM, kmealy said:

Looking for comments and experiences.

Did you ever decide on how to mount this is still looking for ideas?

2 hours ago, Kevin Beitz said:

Never paid more than $100 for one...

 

I am always open to a FREE one.  

Good question. Keith, I'd be interested in the approach you choose.

11 hours ago, Kevin Beitz said:

Hummm.... I'm a vise collector .... Never paid more than $100 for one...

...If having 4, or 5, or...of them is being a collector, I guess I'm guilty. 

8 hours ago, Woodbutcherbynight said:

I am always open to a FREE one.  

...That's how I get mine! 

My vices are all money wasters. Collecting more would bankrupt me. Scotch ain't cheap. 

finally got it installed with about 1/4" gap between bench and rear vise part.   I tried just cutting out a curve in the base for the vise to fit in and just gave up and cut a whole part out.

Then the problem was getting it back together.   I was getting a lot of resistance in the first turn of the threads when engaged.   Turns out there is a collar in the back that is a tight fit and engages at the same time as the threads.  I tightened and popped it out, then had to put back in place with the two retaining screws and washers.

 

 

Dang that thing can do anything you would ever need.

I have the Emmert pattern maker's vise for metal...