How to Support Long Boards in a Face Vise for Hand Planing
Hand planing the edge of a board is a great way to remove saw marks and create a smooth, straight surface. But when you're working with a long board, keeping it steady can be a challenge. Even with one end secured in a workbench face vise, the unsupported end can shift or drop under the downward pressure of the plane.
Traditional woodworking benches often include a sliding deadman or board jack to support long workpieces. But if your bench doesn't have one, there's a simple solution that uses a tool you may already have in your shop — a wooden handscrew clamp.
In this quick lesson from Handscrew University, we'll show you how to turn an ordinary handscrew into a handy support for long boards.
Why Long Boards Need Extra Support When Hand Planing
A woodworking face vise does an excellent job of holding a board securely at one end. However, when a long board extends well beyond the vise, the free end may not have enough support.
As you push a hand plane along the edge, the downward pressure can cause the board to flex or shift. This makes it more difficult to maintain consistent contact with the workpiece and produce a smooth, straight edge.
A sliding deadman or board jack solves this problem by providing additional support along the front of the workbench. Fortunately, you can accomplish much the same thing with a handscrew clamp.
Use a Handscrew Clamp as a Workbench Board Support
Handscrew clamps may look a little old-fashioned, but their adjustable wooden jaws make them useful for much more than ordinary clamping.
For this trick, secure one end of the long board in your face vise as usual. Then attach a wooden handscrew clamp near the unsupported end of the board.
Position the clamp so its lower jaw extends beneath the workpiece and rests against the workbench overhang. This creates a temporary support that helps prevent the free end of the board from dropping as you plane.
Adjust the handscrew until it grips the board securely, and make sure the clamp is properly supported by the bench before you begin working.
A Simple Alternative to a Sliding Deadman
With the handscrew in place, the long board has support at both ends. The face vise holds the workpiece securely, while the handscrew helps resist the downward pressure applied during planing.
This makes it easier to concentrate on guiding the hand plane rather than worrying about the board shifting.
The best part is that you don't need to modify your workbench or install additional hardware. When you're finished, simply remove the handscrew and put it back with your other clamps.
For occasional hand planing or other workholding tasks involving long boards, this quick setup can be a convenient alternative to a dedicated sliding deadman.
Get More Use From Your Handscrew Clamps
A good handscrew clamp is one of the most versatile workholding accessories you can keep in your woodworking shop. Its adjustable jaws and solid wooden construction make it useful for gripping irregular shapes, holding small parts, and solving workholding problems that ordinary clamps can't easily handle.
Supporting a long board in a face vise is just one example.
The next time you're hand planing a long workpiece, reach for a handscrew clamp. It's a quick, practical way to add support without building a new jig or modifying your workbench.
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