Adding a vice to a workmate?

[Fab5Freddy]

Just bought a cheap B&D workmate pro and looked at making a few little tweaks to it . such as a shelf at the bottom.

Looked on YouTube and there's quite a few bits and pieces that could be modified to make it even more useful. However, in looking at those videos I saw a few people putting a removable vice on there and thought 'wow, great!'...only then to think, but the whole idea of the workmate is that it's a big vice already isn't it?

Am I missing something or would a removable vice be a useful addition on there? Has anyone here done that? And if so is worth the hassle (I do have a spare one sitting around, so, no outlay in £'s)

And while i am at it, has anyone done any other useful mods to a workmate?

 

[ETAF]

I have used a small vice on a workmate
Holds small objects for filling cutting
Like bolts various bits and bobs

Difficult to hold a 6mm bolt in the workmate vice

Some small pieces of plastic to shape and get a 60 degree angle on
Again difficult in workmate vice

The vice fits on any bench with a plate and screw on the bottom so easy to just turn the bolt and remove

This sort of thing

Amazon.co.uk

 

[Fab5Freddy]

I have used a small vice on a workmate
Holds small objects for filling cutting
Like bolts various bits and bobs

Difficult to hold a 6mm bolt in the workmate vice

Some small pieces of plastic to shape and get a 60 degree angle on
Again difficult in workmate vice

The vice fits on any bench with a plate and screw on the bottom so easy to just turn the bolt and remove

This sort of thing

Amazon.co.uk

Ah, I see, for smaller detailed work.

Does your vice hold firm enough with that kind of bolt and plate fitting?

 

[ETAF]

Yep pretty much
Used for a log dremel work to
I also have the dremel vice also clamp to workmate

 

[Fab5Freddy]

Yep pretty much
Used for a log dremel work to
I also have the dremel vice also clamp to workmate

Thanks. I appreciate the link too

Just looking at the Dremmel clamp , looks to be very good quality. I have a Dremmel , so it appeals to me

 

[ETAF]

I have only recently ,about a month ago, got the dremel clamp along with the dremel when it was all on offer , stand ,router plunge base
Used it a couple of times already
The vice Seems to work well

The metal vice I linked an example of, I have had for around 30 years odd I think
I think it was at some sort of market or garden show
Can’t remember now
I have over the years Used that vice a lot
Holding lawn mower blades to sharpen
Various tools to sharpen
Bolt cutting
Etc etc

But I am just a diyer

 

[freddiemercurystwin]

Or another hack is to utilise say a 200mm length of say 50x50 steel angle, a standard metal vice is bolted to the top (flat) flange and then you just clamp the vertical flange in the workmate.

 

[ETAF]

then you just clamp the vertical flange in the workmate.

Forgot about tvat
I made up a container for log cutting that I clamp into the workmate vice itself
2 bits of wood at 90 degrees to other than a vertical bit down for the workmate vice so that those bits of wood are 45 degree from the workmate top
I the drop a log into that tie and cut with chainsaw

 

[Fab5Freddy]

Or another hack is to utilise say a 200mm length of say 50x50 steel angle, a standard metal vice is bolted to the top (flat) flange and then you just clamp the vertical flange in the workmate.

That's a good one!

 

[JohnD]

I have seen a pipe vice bolted to a piece of wooden joist, which was carried around and could be gripped in the jaws of a workmate

I do not think a workmate is suitable for a substantial engineers vice if you are going to be hammering or twisting. it is too insubstantial, and not fixed in place.

 

[freddiemercurystwin]

Seems pretty clear that the sentiment of the thread is not to imitate a vice bolted to a substantial work bench but to provide a suitable vice for more intricate materials for occasional use.