Truck mounted vise

[fields_mj]

I've tried several methods of holding my saw while I touch the chains up with a file out in the woods. So far the stump vise had been the best method by far, but it is still a far cry from having an actual bench vise to work with. Well, I happened to have a 6" bench vise that was being held onto flimsy bench in my shop with a single C clamp so I decided to come up with a way that I could mount it to the truck when needed, and then take it back off and put it back on that same bench, or my welding bench once its finished. I looked at putting something in the reciever, but that was going to make the vise way too low, or the mounting bracket was going to be big and combersome. I wanted something that I could quickly bolt to my tailgate. This is what I came up with.

The vise is mounted to an 8x8x3/8 piece of aluminum that I had laying around. I used 3/8" flat heads and counter sunk the plate from the bottom side. The mounting holes for the vice would have allowed me to use 1/2" bolts, but the plate is too thin to accomodate the contersink that would be required for a 1/2" flathead. The plate has 4 half inch holes in it to be used to mount the plate to the bench, tailgate, or what ever. I need to open the holes up a little as I am using 1/2-13 bolts, which a 19mm scrench fits very well. I ended up taking a cut off wheel in my grinder and putting a slot in the bolts so that I can just use a screw driver. It's quicker, and for mounting it to the truck, it works fine.

For the tailgate I made a frame to bolt the vise to. The outsides are 3/4" angle. They are connected with some 1 1/2 x 3/16 flat stock that I had laying around. I had a small pice of 1/2" stock laying around, so I cut some pieces and drilled/tapped for 1/2-13, then welded those to the frame for the mounting bolts to screw into. I used self tapping screws to mount the frame to the tailgate. I laid the frame on the tailgate and marked where I wanted the screws to go, then drilled clearence holes for them in the frame. I used a bunch One thing to note on this. I've noticed that the self tapping screws that we have here at work are pretty good, but these that I bought at TSC are junk. The cutting tip on the end is almost as big as the threades themselves. I've looked around, and all the screws that I've seen elsewhere are junk. I make it a point not to take anything from work, but if I ever need self tapping screws again, I will take them from work because I can't find them anywhere else.

The only difficult thing about this project was getting the threaded pcs attached to the frame so that the holes would line up with the holes in the aluminum plate. Other than that, it was a piece of cake, and it works great.

Just thought I would share.

Mark

 

[branchbuzzer]

I likes it, but doesn't that 500 lb vise reduce your hauling capacity? It's as big as an anvil.

 

[OLD MAN GRINDER]

I have an identical vise bolted onto the front corner of my trlr on the tube rails, it
works great for use in the field, now i have to buy another one for the work bench
as i stole it to put on the trlr LOL...

Bob..

 

[greendohn]

Looks like a good set up. I had mounted a small vise on my truck several years ago for touching up my chain while in the field. That vise really came in handy. I've always struggled with hand filing. I know, I know,,practice makes perfect. I love gadgets so I bought a grinder and just keep a bunch of sharp chains in the truck and don't really need a vise any more. One of these days I'll slow down and ,hopefully, take the time to learn how to hand file properly. Looks like some good fab work there, also.

 

[fields_mj]

Thanks guys! For me, this was the vise that was available, but A) I still wanted to be able to use it on my welding bench once I get it made, and B) I only want it on the tailgate when I need it. I don't want it there when I'm hauling the wood, just while I'm cutting/loading. I also don't want it there every day because this is my daily driver. This gives me the flexibility that I want, and it is more than functional enough. The vise is just a normal harbor freight 6" bench vise that I bought on clearance about 10 years ago. It might weigh 30 lbs, so it's not hard to move around, back and forth and such. Next up will be a way to mount it on the ATV. I have to beef up the box that I have on the rear rack first though so that it will handel the extra weight and leverage.

Thanks,
Mark

 

[fields_mj]

I likes it, but doesn't that 500 lb vise reduce your hauling capacity? It's as big as an anvil.

Naw, the truck had nearly a cord of green hickory on it when I took the pics. I had just built 17 1/2" side rails for the bed, and I wanted to test them out Hauled the load out of the woods and 5 miles back to the house just fine. Then again, it's a '93 F250 4x4 ext cab with a 7.3L diesel and a full float rear axle. I'm not sure what the rear springs were, but the load finally made the rear end squat I'm sure I was pushing my weight limit a bit, but it drove just fine.

 

[jasult]

this also works great for truck hitch
Hitch Mount Vise Plate

 

[REJ2]

Unlike your method, mine will not win me a ribbon at the fair. I just place my saw on the tailgate with an appropriate sized chunk of wood under the bar tip and hand file away! Are you using a filing jig or just hand filing? As much as i already bring to the woods, i dont want to loose any more space. Nice work by the way!

 

[branchbuzzer]

Naw, the truck had nearly a cord of green hickory on it when I took the pics. I had just built 17 1/2" side rails for the bed, and I wanted to test them out Hauled the load out of the woods and 5 miles back to the house just fine. Then again, it's a '93 F250 4x4 ext cab with a 7.3L diesel and a full float rear axle. I'm not sure what the rear springs were, but the load finally made the rear end squat I'm sure I was pushing my weight limit a bit, but it drove just fine.

I just thought you might have gotten by with a tad smaller vise for the field, but use what ya got. You can use it for a boat anchor if ya go in the drink by mistake :msp_thumbup:

 

[lmbrman]

good job !

 

[fields_mj]

Unlike your method, mine will not win me a ribbon at the fair. I just place my saw on the tailgate with an appropriate sized chunk of wood under the bar tip and hand file away! Are you using a filing jig or just hand filing? As much as i already bring to the woods, i dont want to loose any more space. Nice work by the way!

I use a Stihl file guide, but that's about it. I've tried your method as well. The stump vise was better for me I bought a 24" tool box at Menards. It carries all kinds of stuff in it. I can fit some extra bars in it if I want, but normally it has 3 or 4 chains, files with guides, extra bar nuts, old paint brush, stump vise, tape measure, lumber crayon, screnches, spare rims, drive bearings, and e-clips, and a small can of starter fluid. Before that box I used a small 6x6x12 box that could carry 2 chains, files, screnches, and a few odds and ends of spare parts. It was enough, but then I got more saws and needed to carry different chains. Since I'm never far from the truck/atv, the size of the tool box no longer matters. Now that I have side rails for the bed, there's always room when I'm done to put the saws, oil, fuel, tool box, axes, and mauls in the truck bed


I've tried to use 4" vises before, but I don't care for them. They are normally of the drill press, or clamp on variety, and they have a very short little handle on the vise. I have a hard time getting them tight enough to hold my 036 still, let alone my 064. I thought about buying a used 5" bench vise off craigslist, but with this set up, I'm not actually loosing a vise. I'm just making it more flexable so that I can use it on the bench, truck, or ATV.

 

[REJ2]

I use a Stihl file guide, but that's about it. I've tried your method as well. The stump vise was better for me I bought a 24" tool box at Menards. It carries all kinds of stuff in it. I can fit some extra bars in it if I want, but normally it has 3 or 4 chains, files with guides, extra bar nuts, old paint brush, stump vise, tape measure, lumber crayon, screnches, spare rims, drive bearings, and e-clips, and a small can of starter fluid. Before that box I used a small 6x6x12 box that could carry 2 chains, files, screnches, and a few odds and ends of spare parts. It was enough, but then I got more saws and needed to carry different chains. Since I'm never far from the truck/atv, the size of the tool box no longer matters. Now that I have side rails for the bed, there's always room when I'm done to put the saws, oil, fuel, tool box, axes, and mauls in the truck bed


I've tried to use 4" vises before, but I don't care for them. They are normally of the drill press, or clamp on variety, and they have a very short little handle on the vise. I have a hard time getting them tight enough to hold my 036 still, let alone my 064. I thought about buying a used 5" bench vise off craigslist, but with this set up, I'm not actually loosing a vise. I'm just making it more flexable so that I can use it on the bench, truck, or ATV.

My shortbed truck is my first problem, i use an old Plano tackle box for my spare parts, files, etc. Stack it under the rear seat in cab. Im in total agreeance with the old paint brush, great for keeping tanks clean at refueling time.

 

[whis]

I took a piece of pipe that would fit between bed and tailgate, welded a piece of plate and then welded a c clamp to the plate, works pretty good

 

[fields_mj]

My shortbed truck is my first problem, i use an old Plano tackle box for my spare parts, files, etc. Stack it under the rear seat in cab. Im in total agreeance with the old paint brush, great for keeping tanks clean at refueling time.

Yup! I keep a plastic bristled brush from one of those el cheapo 3 brush sets (plastic, bronze, stainless) too. It works well to get between the cap for the oil, and the housing where a lot of dust and chips like to gather on my saw. Also does a little better job of cleaning out the little groves on the cap. Anything to keep that junk out of the tank is a good thing.

I also bought a small box of 1" deck screws that use a Torx bit. I bought them from Lowes. I needed some 3" and some 2", but the box for the 1" size was just right to keep a small qty of small parts in like spare rims, e-clips, bar nuts, drive bearings and such, and it stays closed really well. I didn't really need the screws, but I spent the $6 for the box just to get the box... LOL

 

[tooold]

I made this receiver hitch vise about 10 years ago. It's nice to have a vise out in the field while working on farm machinery.