How to Make a Workbench Vise

Purchase a vise at your local hardware store Place an order online if you require a specialty vise that is not available where you live.

Determine whether you want to install your vise on the right or left front corner of your workbench and how high you want your vise to sit. Attach your vise directly to the workbench if doing so will position your vise at the correct level (go to Step 6). However, if your vise would be easier to work on if it were higher than the top of your workbench, continue to Step 3.

Calculate how many pieces of plywood you need to elevate your vise by dividing the increase in height that is needed by 3/4-inch. Determine the length and width of the plywood pieces by measuring the length and width of the base of your vise and adding two inches to both the length and the width. Your vise will sit in the middle of the plywood, with a 1-inch border on each side. Use a measuring tape, pencil and straight edge to draw cutting lines on your plywood. Cut plywood with a circular saw.

Place one piece of the cut plywood on your workbench and place your vise in the exact center of the piece of wood. Use a pencil to outline the holes in the base of your vise where bolts will be inserted to attach the vise to your workbench. Remove the vise from the top of the wood and drill a hole through the wood and use this piece of wood to mark the location of where you will drill the other plywood.

Use clamps or duct tape to hold the piece of plywood that you have drilled on top of plywood pieces that need to be drilled, one at a time. Position your drill over each of the holes and drill four holes in each of the plywood pieces. Glue the pieces of plywood together, making sure the holes are lined up by temporarily inserting the four bolts.

Place your vise on top of the workbench or stack of plywood, if you have elevated your vise. Insert bolts through the base of your vise through the four holes that you drilled in your workbench. Underneath the workbench, place a 2-inch washer over the end of the bolt, add a lock washer and finish with a nut on the end of the bolt. Repeat for each bolt. Hand tighten nut, and then tighten firmly with a wrench. If you have elevated your vise, sand the sides of the stack of wood.