The Do-It-All Patternmaker’s Vise
If you’re looking to add versatility to your workbench, a patternmaker’s vise is a good way to do it.
At the turn of the 20th-century, Emmert Manufacturing produced a bench vise to help patternmakers make wood parts for castings used in manufacturing. Unlike typical vises, the Emmert vise could twist and turn in several directions and angles. This allowed patternmakers to adjust a workpiece to a comfortable position without having to loosen the vise, adjust the workpiece, and tighten it down again. Simply flip a lever here or a knob there, and position the vise (and the workpiece) right where it needs to be. While the company no longer exists, the Emmert is still a highly sought-after vise, commanding prices up to $800. Fortunately, other companies now make similar vises.
The vise shown at right is available from Highland Hardware (stock #168040). Similar vises are available from a number of manufacturer’s.
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