We may receive a commission when you use our affiliate links. However, this does not impact our recommendations.
Over a year ago I had to clamp three tapered table legs in a vise for planing. Anyone who has had to clamp tapered parts in a vise knows that you must support the part with a wedge that matches the part’s angle. In most cases one uses a scrap wedge, perhaps a leftover from the initial shaping of the part on the band saw, etc. Dealing with wedges, I began to think about the possibility of making a universal wedge support that could accommodate a variety of angles. My inspiration came from a Wilton woodworking vise that has an adjustable jaw which can pivot right or left to match the workpiece exact angle in perfect fit.
Picture 1: Wilton’s adjustable vise and the tapered table leg
I started sketching different elaborate contraptions made from wood, metal or even plastic. I figured that this new jig could be an after-market item that you (or I ) can buy and install on our vise’s jaw to transform a parallel movement vise into an adjustable angle vise.
Here are some of my sketches…
Sketch 1: A proposed aluminum or cast iron jaw that can be affixed to an axillary jaw wood and be placed in between the vises parallel jaws.
Sketch 2: Here the new after market jaw receives a dedicated socket base that allows it to pivot. By connecting the socket base to one of the vise’s parallel jaws we ensure that the adjustable jaw will stay in its center location while we operate the vise.
Sketch 3: And here a rubber band secures the adjustable jaw.
Next time I will show the jig I built and used.
Here are some supplies and tools we find essential in our everyday work around the shop. We may receive a commission from sales referred by our links; however, we have carefully selected these products for their usefulness and quality.
