The_Woodworker_and_Woodturner_-_October_2019

Drill vice/clamp PROJECT

http://www.getwoodworking.com October 2019 The Woodworker & Good Woodworking 51

• 230 × 90mm – 1 off – body


• 54 × 90mm – 2 off – adjustable jaw


• 42 × 90mm – 2 off – handle support


• 30 × 90mm – 2 off – moveable jaw


• 25 × 90mm – 1 off – body part ‘A’


• 180 × 30mm – 2 off – body part ‘B’


• 75 × 25mm – 2 off – handle


• 50 × 30mm – 1 off – body insert


• 230 × 25 × 7mm – 2 off – base pieces

Marking out & assembling the body
The first task is to glue and clamp the adjustable
jaws, handle support and moveable jaw pieces
together. Mark out the body piece as shown in
Fig.3. Cut out the hatched section using a circular
saw/bandsaw and use a coping saw to cut the
small 30mm section. You can now glue the 50
× 30mm body insert in place (Fig.5). While this
is drying, mark out the positions for the 10mm
holes in one of the 180 × 30mm body part ‘B’s’
as per Fig.4. When the body insert is dry, turn to
the underside of the body, and mark out and drill
the nail holes as in Fig.5.
You can now nail and glue the 180 × 30mm
body part ‘B’s’ to the body. You will note that
the nails have been positioned so as not to
foul up the holes, which will be drilled later.
You are now ready to drill the 10mm holes.
Centre punch the positions you marked out
previously. If you have a drill bit specifically
sharpened for use on wood, you can go ahead
and drill the holes as it will have a sharp centre
point to locate in the punched holes. If you don’t
have this type of drill bit, you’ll have to drill a

couple of pilot holes. I suggest a 3mm and

a 7mm, then the 10mm.

I made myself a jig to mark out the holes

on the other side of the body. Photo 5 shows

the completed jig. Its dimensions are 90 × x 30

× 27mm. The 10mm metal rod is approximately

40mm long and is placed 15mm (centre) from one

end. The position of the nail is 60mm from the

centre of the rod. Drill a hole for the nail to ensure

accuracy. This jig is used to mark out the position

of the second hole on the moveable jaw so that

it will fit into the body. The aim of this is to ensure

that all holes are exactly the same distance apart,

otherwise the vice/clamp won’t work as desired

and will require some of the holes to be drilled

larger. Next, place the jig into the pre-drilled

hole, use a tri-square to position the jig and then

give it a light tap with a small hammer or your

hand. This will leave an indent from the nail in

the other side. Drill the 10mm holes now. Photo 7

shows the jig being used. Photos 4 and 6 show

the results of the marking out using this method.

If you don’t wish to use the jig you can mark both

sides out as in photo 2 and drill all holes at the

same time. This requires precision in your marking

out as all the holes must be exactly 60mm apart.

Fig.5 Holes marked out for nail positions when attaching 180 × 30mm pieces

Fig.4 Positions marked out for 10mm holes

Fig.3 The hatched section of the body has to be removed

2 Body marked out for the 10mm hole

3 10mm holes drilled in the body

4 Hole positions marked for jig to be used (photo 6)