The top clamp from Benchcrafted

The design of the top vise is inspired by early French models (commonly referred to as "etau(x)" which simply means vise in French). Benchcrafted has further developed the historical model with some improvements and refinements. The body of the vise is more stable and compact due to the recessed jaw and the use of only one clamping screw to attach the vise to the workbench. The jaw moves smoothly and effortlessly thanks to the new "Shear 9" ("Crisscross Nine" – 9 inches long). The shear not only supports the weight of the movable clamping jaw but also creates a counterforce when clamping the workpiece, ensuring that the jaws remain parallel and the workpiece is securely clamped with minimal effort. The rolled trapezoidal threaded spindle has a very smooth surface (a side effect of the manufacturing process) and moves with low friction in the nut.

The vise key has a V-shaped groove in the middle. A spring-loaded pin in the center of the hub locks into this groove, holding the key securely. When the key is balanced in the hub this way, the vise can be adjusted quickly and easily. For most purposes, the clamping force that can be achieved in this position of the vise key is sufficient to securely clamp the workpiece. The preload of the spring that presses the pin against the key is adjustable, allowing the key to be easily disengaged when more leverage is needed for clamping. Leather discs at both ends of the vise key prevent the usual clattering and banging associated with metal vise keys. The two-part holder is finely machined at the inner cutout, allowing it to run smoothly in the groove of the hub. This ensures that the spindle can rotate easily. The hub and spindle are pre-assembled. The blued surface helps prevent rust and develops a beautiful patina with use.

Variants

Benchcrafted has designed the top vise to be attached to the workbench in various ways to meet different requirements. The simplest variant of the top vise has a bar that is attached to the back of the fixed jaw. This bar can be secured to your workbench with two clamps or two hold-downs. If your workbench has a sliding vise from Benchcrafted, you can equip the top vise with a hook that fits into the opening of the sliding vise and is held securely by it. Attaching your top vise is very quick, and it is ready for use in just a few seconds. The version with the clamping screw allows the top vise to be used on almost any tabletop. It can be attached just as well to a solid workbench as to the only 19mm thick top of a dining table.

You can also mount it, for example, on a low saw table to work on details while sitting or to quickly improvise a carving bench. The joint foot of the clamping screw has a high-friction surface. Together with the rubber cork under the upper clamping arm, this ensures that the top vise holds securely to the work surface. A fourth variant is so simple that Benchcrafted hasn't even listed it in the instructions. Build the top vise without the bar or the clamp and simply clamp it into the rear vise of a workbench. The advantage of this variant is that you can easily adjust the height of the top vise. This simple variant of the top vise can also be used directly on the work surface of your workbench as a large clamp.

Applications

The top vise is the kind of accessory for your workbench that you didn't know you needed until you tried it. This may sound a bit like exaggeration or marketing, so it should be noted here that Benchcrafted uses all the products they manufacture daily in their workshops. Additionally, they have a close network of professional woodworkers and ambitious hobbyists who regularly test their products during development. The application possibilities of the top vise are diverse. If you have a vise whose jaws extend beyond the surface of the workbench unlike traditional workbench vises, you can clamp all sorts of workpieces that are shaped differently than flat boards. For example, you can easily clamp the curved parts of a chair and, more importantly, access them well to work on them with a hand plane. Another application is working on mortises or end grain. When the workpiece is at hip height, you can use your entire body weight while working very controlled.

Making small dovetail joints on drawer fronts can also be done very well with the top vise. It is also suitable for sculpting work, rasping, or filing. The flexibility that the clamping screw offers allows you to take a toolbox and the top vise to the park and work at a picnic table. You can also use the bed of your truck for working, or demonstrate your skills at a local club or fair. The top vise is always useful when traditional bench vises do not perfectly fit the task. It is not surprising that the French manufacturer of woodworking tools "At The Royal Forge" offered nine different variants of this vise in the 19th and early 20th centuries. They were sold to manufacturers of chairs, shoe lasts, armchairs, and many other items. There was even a version called the "Gentleman's Vise" which was intended for hobbyists of that time due to its universal usability.