My workbench is a 1950 kitchen cabinet with what appears to be particle board on top, How would you guys mount a vise on this? Can I just put bolts through this or should I add plywood?
thanks
thanks
CK5
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mounting vise on old particle board
- Thread starter fordsucks!
- Start date
Plywood or metal or something to run bolts through it to spread the load.
rampage
3/4 ton status
Definitely need to distribute the load underneath as said, maybe 2x4s or metal as suggested.
I'd put a metal plate underneath. or even sandwich it with a plate on top too. But that is probably overkill
Metal under both the vise & bench would work best,or plywood and fender washers--but be aware that particle board is rather weak,it can crack easily if you put something in the vise and hit it with a hammer,or try bending metal in it--it'll also crumble if it got wet..
The work bench at my friends shop is similar,and is about due to be replaced with something sturdier like multiple layers of 3/4" plywood--only thing thats kept it together is a lot of oil,spilled paint and grease sort of waterproofed it,but its coming apart in the middle..it was there when he rented the building over 10 years ago..
The work bench at my friends shop is similar,and is about due to be replaced with something sturdier like multiple layers of 3/4" plywood--only thing thats kept it together is a lot of oil,spilled paint and grease sort of waterproofed it,but its coming apart in the middle..it was there when he rented the building over 10 years ago..
I'd sandwich it, preferably with steel plate (doesn't need to be thick). I bet that particle board will crush when you tighten down that vise.
I would add a plywood on top of the whole bench and a steel plate on the bottom.
My bench I made with 3 layers of 5/8" plywood
I like sandwiches
Second vote for 3/4" plywood on top. Just re-skin the whole top. Will make the bench look better, and be stronger overall. Use lots of screws to fasten it down to the structure of the cabinet (not just the particle board on top).
thanks all, will cover with plywood and I'll post pictures once it's done
I only used screws, and bolts and nuts for the vise
bp71k5
3/4 ton status
If it’s that accessible, why not just remove the particle board and put a plywood top on. You’re already buying plywood right?
My friend's shop bench with similar particle board was missing a few good sized chunks yesterday when I visited him..
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He had to use a 5 lb sledge to get some stuck hubs apart and a few glancing blows took out the outer edges of it out....its kind of dried up inside and the wood flakes dont seem to have enough resin or glue to hold it together ..it's old too..
I have offered him a few steel two by eight foot "benches" I made from some thick metal housings that once hung flourecent lamp fixtures in a school,the things are the perfect shape to make a bench or table top when you flip them over,all I had to do was bolt on a pair of legs (2x4's like an "X") to them..but I have at least three of them and they just take up precious space in the garage (one has been outside for the past several months)..
But he's the kind of guy who wants to use up the existing bench to the last piece and not replace it so he can keep up with repairing cars for customers..someday he'll be using the vise to get something apart and the bench will fail the rest of the way,then everything will come to a halt till it gets fixed..
I'm the same way I'm afraid..
.He had to use a 5 lb sledge to get some stuck hubs apart and a few glancing blows took out the outer edges of it out....its kind of dried up inside and the wood flakes dont seem to have enough resin or glue to hold it together ..it's old too..
I have offered him a few steel two by eight foot "benches" I made from some thick metal housings that once hung flourecent lamp fixtures in a school,the things are the perfect shape to make a bench or table top when you flip them over,all I had to do was bolt on a pair of legs (2x4's like an "X") to them..but I have at least three of them and they just take up precious space in the garage (one has been outside for the past several months)..
But he's the kind of guy who wants to use up the existing bench to the last piece and not replace it so he can keep up with repairing cars for customers..someday he'll be using the vise to get something apart and the bench will fail the rest of the way,then everything will come to a halt till it gets fixed..
I'm the same way I'm afraid..
If you glue it: its never coming apart, ever. Strongest, but permanent.
If you only screw it down: it can be replaced in the future.
If you remove the existing particle board: you risk structural damage to ancient cabinets. And you now have a lot of particle board to get rid of.
Pick your poison. I would just use screws.
If you only screw it down: it can be replaced in the future.
If you remove the existing particle board: you risk structural damage to ancient cabinets. And you now have a lot of particle board to get rid of.
Pick your poison. I would just use screws.
bigred88
1/2 ton status
I second the steel plate for a top. Leave a lip, and you can clamp to it very well, plus bend metal with the edge. 1/4 is thick enough to thread for some accessories. Countersunk some bolts and used those through some 3/4" plywood.
Never had concern for the strength of the bench/vise. A solid mounted vise is pretty much a necessity for some things. Any movement and you lose force when you need it, like breaking things free.
I didn't pay much for a local metal place for the metal, nor to cut the plate to my dimensions.
Never had concern for the strength of the bench/vise. A solid mounted vise is pretty much a necessity for some things. Any movement and you lose force when you need it, like breaking things free.
I didn't pay much for a local metal place for the metal, nor to cut the plate to my dimensions.
Yeah, the bench I had was particle board. The bench was wobbly, I didn’t build it, that’s why the brackets to the wall. Anyway, put my vise on. Using it one day and ripped it off the bench. Steel plates on both sides helps because particle board is easily compressible and you can deform the top, bolts get loose.And the overkill award goes to...
You want something stout, I think this will work.
