I inherited this Toles No. 20 vise from my grandfather and am trying to figure out the best options for mounting to my yet-to-be completed bench.
The bench top is 3.5 inch thick laminated southern yellow pine 2x4's. I plan on mortising the rear plate into the benchtop front, but there are only two screw holes in the rear plate which are countersunk on its outer face (see photo 1)suggesting they are to be used to secure the rear face directly into the table top. This don't seem hospitable to facing it with a hardwood (see the photos). Is it OK to leave the rear plate without a wood cover with it mortised flush with the table top front?
IMG_2285.JPGIMG_2282.jpgIMG_2287.jpg
Thanks for any suggestions.