Accessories

the do-it-all

Patternmaker's Vise

Add versatility to your workbench with this top-of-the-line vise.

T Holds Tapers.

The front jaw swivels up to 5° to grip a tapered workpiece.

At the turn of the 20th century, Emmert Manufacturing produced a bench vise to help patternmakers make wood parts for castings used in manufacturing.

Unlike typical vises, the Emmert vise could twist and turn in several directions and angles. This allowed patternmakers to adjust a workpiece to a comfortable position without having to loosen the

vise, adjust the workpiece, and tighten it down again. Simply flip a lever here or a knob there, and position the vise (and the work-piece) right where it needs to be.

While the company no longer exists, the Emmert is still a highly sought-after vise, commanding prices up to $800. Fortunately, other companies now make similar vises (see Sources on page 51.)

■ Versatility. In the "nor-HH mal" position, this vise works just like any bench vise. Spinning the handle opens and closes the front jaw to hold a workpiece. Unfortunately, the jaws of a standard bench vise can't get a good grip on a tapered workpiece, such as a table leg.

However, by adjusting the collar on the face of this vise, you can swivel the front,iaw up to5° Jr> grip the workpiece (far left photo). For workpieces with steeper tapers, you can add an accessory to hold the workpiece (see box on next page).

Tilting. But what really sets this vise apart from a typical woodworking vise is the tilt feature. You can see what I'm talking about in the photo on the left.

■m Tilts Horizontal. This vise can tilt a full 90°, and its jaws can open as much as a foot wide.

ShopNotes No. 88