Face vise: why is the screw off center?

I believe this helps against racking.

-- David - Tucson, AZ

So you can stick a (relatively thin) board in there vertically and work on the end. At least that’s my understanding.

-- "hold fast to that which is good"

From the Lee Valley page for their front vise:

The larger vise has an offset center screw to allow vertical clamping without skewing.

-- "hold fast to that which is good"

Yeah, I don’t think it’s about placing a long thin board between the screw and bar, but if the screw is offset to the right, then you will have less racking/skewing when you place a vertical board on the right side of the vise. At least that’s my understanding.

-- David - Tucson, AZ

Maybe to emulate the old shoulder vises. One could make
a longer jaw on the right and perhaps with the screw
closer it would work better for vertical clamping of
boards for working on the end.

cool, learned something new

-- Chris Harrell - custom callmaker "Quacky Calls" Eastern NC. http://www.quackycalls.com

Loren hit it on the head. It is intended so that you can put on an asymmetric chop for through clamping.

-- Marty, Columbus, OH, learning every day....