Making a Bench Vise/Clamp Thingy with This Old Tony

Metalworking Workshop

Gareth Branwyn is a freelance writer and the former Editorial Director of Maker Media. He is the author or editor of over a dozen books on technology, DIY, and geek culture. He is currently a contributor to Boing Boing, Wink Books, and Wink Fun. His free weekly-ish maker tips newsletter can be found at garstipsandtools.com.

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September 4th, 2018September 4th, 2018

YouTube machinist and project video comic, This Old Tony, is at it again. In this video, he uses some steel stock, rod, and ball bearings to machine a beautiful little hand vise, bench clamp. He’s not sure what to call it. But you don’t have to know what it’s called to know how it could be useful in your show. I just finally got a hobby vise set up on my workbench and I cannot believe I went so many years without one.

As always with This Old Tony videos there are a number of great shop tips peppered throughout and a few goofball belly laughs to be had. His trick for splitting steel with swelling wood is worth the price of admission. Ancient! Ingenious! Funny! And wait until you see how he makes his own 4140 rod and ball bearings. Meow.