Hamilton/Roberts Designs Woodworking : Fine Wood Boxes : Wall Shelves

Here’s a quick and easy way to make your steel or cast iron mechanic’s vise wood-friendly. The usual way to cover those jaws is with some slip-over affair or double-stick tape or other awkward scheme. Instead simply cut two pieces of wood to match the size of the jaw faces. I use my supply of ever-present and ever-handy Baltic Birch ply – in this case about 3/8″. Drill two holes with a 3/8″ Forstner bit and carefully press in 3/8″ (about 1/4″ thick?) rare earth magnet discs with the vise. Presto, easily removable protectors. You could of course use larger magnets for stronger grip, these 3/8″ ones were just handy. Next time I will use thinner but larger diameter magnets so I can use thinner ply – I can use all the capacity I can get.

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