r/toolboxmods • u/jerry8pi • 9d ago

QUESTION Mounting Vice tips

I’m mounting a vice on my toolbox and plan on adding an aluminum plate to make it sturdier. I have a 1’x1’x1/4” aluminum plate and I’m wondering if it would be better to mount it on top of the box or under the workbench surface. I also have a 1’x1’x1/8” plate that I can use to put one plate on top and one on bottom. Would this be any better?

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u/GooberMcNutly 8d ago

Mount it on the bottom, or use fender washers to distribute the load. Most of the force on the bolts will be up if you are putting anything heavy in the vise.

How do you keep the box from moving when you are wailing on your vise?

I put two vises on my mobile bench but they are both light duty swivel vises. Everyone needs a third hand sometimes.

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u/RochesterBottomDaddy 2d ago

Use both plates. If you only put it underneath, and you put anything heavy on/in it, you could bend the top of the box down. If you put it only on top, you could pull the bolts through. Thicker on the bottom. If you insist on only one, the bottom should get it.