The Hovarter Custom Wagon Vise features quick action and is designed to operated in a 3/4" wide slot in the bench top. The narrow slot provides good support for the work piece and allows the bench top to remain strong. The combination of 10-1/2" of travel and good support allows the bench dog holes to be much further apart than a conventional wagon vise. The vise is easy to install and just requires a slot in the bench top and an end cap securely fastened to the end of the bench. A hole in the end cap and two screws in the pillow block bearing secure it. The vise may be mounted on the left or right end of the bench and clamp handle rotation may be clockwise or counter – clockwise. The maximum travel of the vise is 10 – 1/2” and may be mounted a minimum of 2 – 9/16″ from the bench edge. The vise will operate in bench top thicknesses from a minimum of 2″ to a maximum of 4”.  To view a short video demonstration click here: Wagon Vise Demonstration

For smooth clamping operation the thrust load from clamping is transferred through a needle thrust bearing and into the bench end cap. The bench cap should be securely fastened to the bench top with bolts and barrel nuts or other similar means to handle the clamping forces. A wooden angle bracket may be mounted to the end cap to reinforce the mounting if needed. The other end of the clamp shaft may be secured with your choice of bearing mounts; Lag screwed through a wooden spacer block into the bottom of the bench top or bolted to a stretcher with a flange mount bearing. Either way, the heavy duty sealed bearing mount swivels so it is very forgiving and simple to install.

The wooden dog is screwed to an aluminum dog mounting plate which slides up and down on the dog block using dovetail ways. The dovetail provides a very strong method of securing the dog while allowing sliding motion. A small spring plunger located in the dog block holds the dog at any position desired and creates a detent to stop the dog from being pulled out.

The vise mechanism will come completely assembled to your specifications (left or right end of bench, clockwise or counter – clockwise rotation and bench thickness) so installation should be straightforward and reasonably quick. Included in the wagon vise hardware kit will be the vise housing and mechanism, dog mounting plate, dog block, dog block mounting plate, thrust bearing, pillow block bearing and maple clamp hub, handle and knobs. You fabricate and supply the end cap, dog and bench top.

• Solid maple clamp hub (no laminations)
• Solid maple clamp handle
• Solid maple knobs
• Wagon vise assembled to your specifications

*Wooden dog block not included.

Here is a review link for the wagon vise from the Southeast Michigan Woodworkers club: http://www.semiww.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=10272

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The wagon vise uses the same basic mechanism as the twin handle vise. In this application only one clamp shaft and housing are used and there is no transfer bar. The shaft is mounted to the bench top with a bearing on one end and through a hole on the other end and the housing is allowed to slide on the shaft. The shaft is restrained from sliding but is allowed to feely rotate. The housing has a metal plate mounted to it which in turn has a dog block fastened to it. The dog block protrudes up through a narrow slot in the bench top. When the vise is in the unclamped position the housing is allowed to freely slide on the clamp shaft and also slides against the bottom of the bench top. This allows the dog to be quickly positioned against the work piece. Once the dog is placed against the work piece the clamp handle is rotated and the clutch begins to grip the clamp shaft. Further rotation of the clamp handle causes the housing to apply more clamping pressure until the work piece is firmly gripped between the dogs. When the clamp handle is returned to the unclamped position the clutch releases the clamp shaft and the housing is free to move once again. The clamping action is provided by a wedge shaped “bridge” which simultaneously moves the clutch to grip the clamp shaft and moves it to provide the clamping force. The clutch grips the shaft by an off center force applied similar to the way the clutches on a pipe clamp grip the pipe.

The Hovarter Custom Wagon Vise is made in the USA using the finest materials and processes. The housing is cast from 65,000 PSI ductile iron for strength and then precision CNC machined. The clamp shaft is made from one inch cold drawn steel, machined, heat treated, straightened and then polished. The shaft travels in Acetal plain bearing for low friction and long wear (Acetal is an engineering plastic developed for high speed and high load uses in a wide range of industrial applications. It is known by the trade name “Delrin”).  All the other mechanism parts are made of steel and a key component, the bridge, is carbonitrided to prevent wear.  The dog block plate and dog block assembly are made from 6061-T6 aluminum and are precision CNC machined to provide smooth operation. The hub and handle are made from solid maple and the hub is fixture bored to ensure a good fit to the steel clamp shaft. The clamp shaft is held in a sealed ball bearing mounted in a spherical self aligning bracket on one end and the other end uses a hardened steel roller bearing to transfer the clamping load to the end cap. This vise is designed to be used by your Great Grandchildren.