Rockwell is one of those companies that apparently loves to come up with new power tools and workshop accessories. Not all of their tools are winners, but we’ve been fairly impressed with the ones we’ve tested, especially the Jawhorse SheetMaster.
We’re suckers for vises and work-holding equipment, which probably explains why we’re so excited about the upcoming Rockwell BenchJaw, a new hands-free bench vise.
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It now seems laughable, but we’ve been worried that Rockwell’s designers had ran out of steam. Their Jawhorse has been popular for years, and while the SheetMaster is a nice upgrade, there’s a lot of competition from Craftsman, Triton, and Ridgid, whose less expensive portable clamps offer similar functionality. So what did Rockwell do? They created a bench-mountable version of the Jawhorse. Brilliant.
BenchJaw Features
The BenchJaw is designed to be a hands-free add-on for your workbench. This means that you can stabilize workpieces with both hands and adjust the clamp with your foot, similar to what you could do with a Jawhorse.
The BenchJaw, model RK9006, has a 16-inch clamping range and can apply up to 2200 pounds of clamping pressure. It can support up to 220-pounds of weight, and so your workbench had better be sturdy.
It looks like the BenchJaw can be separated from its workbench mounting for repositioning or storage. If so, maybe Rockwell will eventually sell the mounting brackets separately.
Accessories
Several optional accessories will soon be available:
- RW9207, an extended jaw that creates a 24-inch clamping range
- RW9208 aligning jaw with clamping posts, a multi-purpose self-aligning clamp for holding tapered and round objects
The self-aligning jaws actually look pretty versatile and can probably be left on the vise all the time.
The BenchJaw will be priced at $130, and the two accessories $50 each. We don’t know when Rockwell will be releasing the new vise, but preorder options just popped up on Amazon with a 2-5 week ETA.
Buy Now(via Amazon)
Extension Jaw
Multi-Purpose Jaws
jesse
I like it. It looks like a winner if it is as good as it looks.
Blair
This might be good mounted (as in the first two photos), to the side of the bench, but I would think it might pose a tripping hazard if mounted so that the foot pedal was facing the front.
Dale
mounts 2 ways 6-12 oclock 3-9 on same bracket slick just mounted knob on back threads into nut
AndrewC
A great idea- this BenchJaw would probably more useful than a standard bench vise for most hobbyists. The jawhorse is great but it would be nice to not have to drag it out everytime you need to hold something unweldy. The only issue I see with this is the extra $50 cost for the attachment that increases clamping capacity to 24″ from 16″. Thats a lot of extra $$- if the base unit came with the 24″ range I might consider this.
Allen
Most bench vises are at bench top height, seems this might raise the work up a little high. Might be a good thing on occation, not so good other times.
Dan Richards
Take my money.
Joe Hurst
We just received a sample at Woodcraft Magazine for our own shop test….The 220-lb. reference relates not to the workbench, but to the maximum amount of weight that can/should be applied to the pedal mechanism. (I think they’re trying to discourage folks from jumping on the pedal for EXTRA clamping pressure.)
One nice detail–something that’s not clearly shown by the photos above–is the bench mounting bracket. This bracket allows the vise to be positioned to the front or side of your benchtop.
Stuart
Are you sure? The product info says holds and supports up to 220-pounds, suggesting they’re talking about work loads. In either case I would agree that jumping/slamming on the pedal mechanism is ill advised and probably wouldn’t translate into any added clamping power.
Most work tables *should* be able to support 220 lbs, but I’ve seen some weak work tables and stands that are only rated for very little weight say 150 lbs.
Dan Richards
Rockwell has a great sale on this at their ebay store right now. http://www.ebay.com/itm/190893629417
Huck
I have the full meal deal bench jaw and love it, it moves from 12 0clock to 6 0clock out of way as atv parks in front of it. Rockwell have came out with some great ideas as have most of them great for working alone and reasonable.