My main shop is a bench in my back yard. I have worked there for over 7 years, and I love working outside .

However, I need some suggestions regarding my vise.

I have a Woodriver Front Vise. It is an excellent vise. I purchased it used at a local flea market years ago. It came with leather glued to the jaws, but it did not take very long with the vise being out of doors for that to fall off. I have used the vise without leather on the inside face ever since.

The issue with that is that I have to crank the ever loving snot out of the vise to keep things from slipping.

Does anyone know of a material I can use on the inside face of this vise that will give me a grip, but also withstand prolonged exposure ?

Thank you.

Edited August 30, 20242 yr by Handfoolery

I wonder if cork pads would help.

That's a possibility. Maybe glued using Titebond II.

I'd use Titebond III it is waterPROOF

My choice would be contact cement. With cork OR leather.

Edited August 30, 20242 yr by HARO50

20 minutes ago, HARO50 said:

My choice would be contact cement. With cork OR leather.

Good idea! Probably better than TB glue.

I'm pretty sure the leather was glued on with contact cement. It lasted two weeks outside before it peeled off.

Thanks for the ideas; I'll give the cork a try.

Much appreciated.

Make some jaw liners that hang on the top edge of the vise and glue the leather to them.  You could add dowels or magnets to help keep them from moving around while in use.  When you are done for the day take the jaw liners off and put them inside with the project pieces.

You have the work piece to the far left side of the vise.  The jaws tend to rack when tightened like that.  Balance it out and put a same thickness piece in the far right of the vise at the same time and the jaws will stay parallel and hold better.  Try this first and you may not need the the leather.

 

The second tip in this video shows what I mean.

 

 

50 minutes ago, HandyDan said:

Make some jaw liners that hang on the top edge of the vise and glue the leather to them.  You could add dowels or magnets to help keep them from moving around while in use.  When you are done for the day take the jaw liners off and put them inside with the project pieces.

Great idea.

As for the position of the workpiece, the length determined placement. And you are correct there should be something on the other side.

Agree cork (rubberized) might work although I'm not sure how it would hold up outside.

 

I bought a roll LIKE THIS a few years back mainly for gasket material. However I've used it on pipe clamp jaws successfully as well wooden clamp jaws. IIRC just used #77 spray adhesive. I can't remember where I purchased for sure, but either Rural King, Tractor Supply or similar farm store. It would have been in the farm equipment repair section.

 

Dan's idea using a removable jaw pads is a good idea.

Edited August 31, 20242 yr by Grandpadave52
Correcting auto correct

Hobby Lobby or Michaels is best to find cork roll. As to the spacer for the vise I made one piece that is stepped thicknesses , like stair steps.

Thank you.