Reply To: Tool Request
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I use a second face vise at the end of my bench, where a tail vise would be. I wouldn’t be without it for multiple reasons. I often find two things happening at once and want a second vise to keep from disturbing what’s in the first vise, even if it’s as simple as putting a strop in the second vise. Sven-Olof has noted the advantages of having having a different orientation for sawing. I use the second vise for planing *all* the time, but not via dogs. I put a block of wood in the vise and use it as a planing stop. The work rests on the bench top and just pushes into the stop. Since the stop is a foot wide, I don’t need to worry about things torquing around, but at the same time, since the work is not clamped or in a vise, I can flip it around in the blink of an eye or flip it over to test for wind via the bench top. The block of wood that I use as a planing stop is also the block I use for testing and setting my plane. I go to it over and over again during my work.
Here’s a critical thing: I’m left handed. My bench is set up for what most would call a right handed person, i.e., when facing the bench my main vise is to the left of center and the second vise (mounted where a tail vise would be) is to my right. This is why it works as a planing stop, since I’m left handed. So, think carefully about your bench setup because this trick as a planing stop wouldn’t work for a righty. You could put a stop at the end of the bench to the left of the main vise if you’re a righty and mount your vise in the standard position, but you’ll have that vise in your way for most planing. I’m not sure why rightys put the main vise where they do. I think it comes from using a crotch and holdfasts.
I’m tempted to try a real tail vise but so far haven’t remade my bench top and can’t install one in my current junk bench. I’m not sure I’d want to give up the stuff I just described. If the only gain is dogging and the mid-bench vise grip, it wouldn’t be worth it.
I’d post a photo, but my bench is buried under a 7 foot long cabinet at the moment. I can in a day or two, if desired.