Workbench functions
The tasks in the workshop are varied. When processing wood, you must be able to process your workpieces in three layers on the workbench: on the surface, on the edges and on the ends. Your workbench should enable this processing with appropriate functions and clamping devices.
What clamping devices does a workbench offer?
Two clamps, the front and rear clamps, together with the bench hooks and bench hook holes in the bench top and on the edge, enable different workbench functions. With most workbenches, workpieces can either be clamped directly between the jaws of the clamps or fixed to the work surface with the help of bench hooks or hold-down clamps. If the workbench also has bench hook holes on the edge of the workbench plate or in the base frame, further clamping situations can be realised.
Fig.: Most workbenches have a front clamp and a rear clamp
How do I clamp workpieces when processing the surfaces?
Activities: e.g. dressing and plastering with a planer, routing with a router
Position: Flat on the work surface
Clamping device: Rear clamp with bench hook
The rear clamp is used on the classic planing bench for surface processing, for example when planing and plastering the surface or for mechanical work with the router. The workpiece can be clamped flat on the workbench between bench hooks that are inserted into holes in the plate of the workbench and the rear clamp. On most workbenches, the rear tongs are shaped in such a way that part of the bench plate can be moved. In the English-speaking world, the so-called "wagon vice" is also used, in which a small block moves in the workbench plate. In home-made workbenches, a front clamp mechanism is often used. However, care must then be taken to ensure that the mechanism does not warp due to one-sided clamping (see below).
If the workbench does not have back tongs, the workpiece can be held securely during planing, for example, with the help of a hold-down device and a V-shaped cut-out board (so-called "doe's foot") as a stop. You can quickly build such a board yourself in your own workshop. We show exactly how clamping works with it in our video Clamping special cases. If there are corresponding round holes for bench hooks in the front clamp and the bench plate, oval and round workpieces can also be clamped securely to the plate.
Fig.: Many workpieces can be securely clamped with an auxiliary stop and a hold-down device
Which clamping device for processing the edge?
Activities: e.g. joining board edges, working with moulding planes
Position: Lying on the front edge
Clamping device: Front clamp
When working on edges, for example when joining two pieces of wood or profiling, the workpiece is usually clamped in the front pliers. Wider workpieces are fixed in the right-hand part of the pliers so that the pliers mechanism is not in the way. To prevent the tongs mechanism from warping, a block of the same material thickness as the workpiece can be clamped. A fan made of thin sheet material (or a so-called "vice rack stop"), which you can adjust to different material thicknesses, is very flexible. Some planing benches have a built-in adjusting screw for this purpose, which can also be retrofitted. Plier mechanisms with a double spindle are less vulnerable to one-sided loads and do not warp as easily.
Fig.: Such a fan is quickly built and prevents the collet from warping
The same applies to so-called "leg vices", as these are not as wide and the stable spindle is positioned significantly lower. Wider workpieces can also be clamped in them above the spindle. If the workpiece is long and narrow, you can clamp a short bar in the back clamp for support. The workpiece then rests firmly on this bar and cannot spring away. For long and wide workpieces, the free end is supported with a so-called bench clamp. Some workbenches have a row of holes in the right front leg for this purpose, into which pins, bench hooks or hold-down devices can be inserted at the appropriate height.
Fig.: This traditional clamping device ("leg vice") is ideal for self-built workbenches
How to clamp when working on the end faces?
Activities: e.g. sawing in tines, milling flat dowels
Position: Standing upright at the edge
Clamping device: Front clamp or top clamp
The workpiece must be clamped on edge for the production of carcass corner joints, for example for tining or for routing fasteners such as flat dowels. If the workpieces are not too wide, they are clamped in the front collet. If the collet is loaded on one side, you can avoid warping again with a block or the aforementioned fan. Moxon vices are often used for the tine. These are clamped to the front edge of the bench top and often have two spindles at a sufficient distance so that you can also clamp wide cabinet sides and lids in between.
Fig.: You can also clamp wide parts in this type of top clamp
Summary of workbench functions and clamping devices
Planing benches with two clamps not only offer optimum clamping devices for processing surfaces, edges and end faces, but also a secure stand and a comfortable working height. A whole range of accessories and mechanisms made of wood and metal in various designs are available for building your own workbench or planing bench and for supplementing existing workbenches and planing benches. You can find an overview in our online shop.
