I'm planning to buy a carving vise, like the Grizzly Patternmaker's Carving Vise, but I currently don't have a workbench. I just moved to the US and will only be here for about a year, so I want to avoid spending too much on a bench that I'd have to struggle to take back home. Would a cheap workbench with dog holes work for what I need? I think it needs to be heavy enough, but is there anything else I should consider beyond just picking up something sturdy from Home Depot? Or am I overlooking a better option?
2 Answers
I totally get your situation! For my bench, I went with a basic utility table that has steel legs and a formica top. I positioned the top so the legs are flush on one side and anchored them to the wall for stability. It's rock solid! I also added some dog holes and use a bench hook to keep things firm while I work. Might be worth considering something like that!
What size wood do you usually work with? If you're mostly carving small pieces, a multi-angle vise like the Stanley might be a good fit since it's reasonably priced and can attach to almost any surface without much hassle. Just keep in mind the opening size; it might not handle bigger projects well. But for smaller stuff, it's pretty practical!