Mounting a Bench Vise

Bench vises are heavy to lift and awkward to move around. So installing one can be a real chore. I used to disassemble the vise or else tip the bench on edge or upside down to do the job. But I found an easier way.

I use a piece of scrap 2x4 about 36" long. On the 2x4, mark the distance between the floor and the bottom of the benchtop (less about 1/8"). Then clamp the 2x4 in the vise with the vise's mounting bracket lined up to this mark.

Now just lift the 2x4 up and balance the vise against the front edge of the bench. Then mark the position for the mounting screws on the bottom of the benchtop. After drilling pilot holes, raise the 2x4 again to hold the vise as you drive in the screws.

If you use two 2x4 scraps clamped in the vise rather than one, the vise will almost stand up by itself.