After showing you in my last post a few ways for clamping workpieces to the Bench Bull (F-style clamps, Veritas Fast-Action Hold-Downs and 3/4” pony #56 pipe clamps), I want to introduce one last way: a regular 1/2″ or 3/4″ pipe clamp that will make your Bull even more handy – practically transforming it into a miniature workbench or portable vise.
Which Pipe Diameter to Use?
It mainly depends on the size of the Bull and the clamps you have around or can buy. In preparation for this post I bought three different pipe clamps. Two of them, Jorgensen and Irwin, accept a 3/4” black pipe, while the Bessey is riding on a 1/2” pipe (Bessey also makes a 3/4” version). If you like to have a long, tall and wide Bull with a stronger vise, install two or more 3/4” pipe clamps along the Bull. But for a small and short Bench Bull, a 1/2” pipe clamp will suffice.
There are a few ways for installing a pipe clamp as a vise. I evaluated the mounting possibility and concluded that the most practical way for me is to secure the rear head to the back of the Bull with screws. This prevents the clamp from rolling over, because its center of gravity is higher than the pipe’s center. It also allows me to have a few exchangeable vise jaw patterns that can be inserted on the pipes with ease.
After mounting the rear heads with screws, I though about another way to do it that would facilitate a rapid remove of the rear heads. If you embed a rare-earth magnet in the Bull’s inner face, it will attract the cast iron head and prevent it from rolling over. If you embed another magnet in the vise’s moving jaw, it will enhance the stability of your pipe vise even more.
Below is a drawing with critical measurements for mounting a 1/2” Bessey pipe clamp.
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I’ve been looking at various Moxon vise home builds, and most of them are somewhat complicated, or require a lot of effort to build. This bench bull is exactly what I need for my workbench. I’m going to make one right away. Thaks for sharing this awesome design.
Working on my bench bull this week. Making it of 3 1/2″ square laminated white oak stair newel post I bought at my local millwork shop. Finished bench bull will be 24″ long x 3 1/4″ thick x 12″ high. Similar in style to bench bull#1 posting. Hogged out motises with 1 1/2″ Forster bit and finishing up with chisels, tough stuff even with sharp chisels. Cut tenon using tenon in jig at max setting.
I love that you are using those antique cam clamps. I have a pair of those, as well. Cool tools.
The portable bench bull looks like a really great idea and is simple enough to make. I particularly like the freehand sketches, they look like something that I would do, no CAD just pure thinking. Now what I’m waiting for is someone to go crazy and build an 8′ long “portable” bench bull out of mahogany.
Awesome stuff!! For what it’s worth, I just discovered your part of these blogs, yesterday, and already decided that I’ll be starting at your first blog posting, here, and reading all of them. Lots of great info!