Wood for vice

[koba]

What kind of wood do you use for the pads on your saw vice? Tried cedar but seems to be a little to soft. The plywood that came with it was very hard and made it hard to grip the rock. Any advice will be appreciated.   KOBA

[hulagrub]

Koba, seems like maple is a standard. But a lot of times, I will slip a piece of pine in with rough, to get a better grip. Also use wedges, some thin shims and an occassional 2x4 cut at 45*, for different shapes.

[koba]

I'm talking about the wood you bolt to the vice,I have used shims for different shaped rocks. Do I want a soft wood or hard wood as the vice facing?  Thanks  KOBA

[hulagrub]

Maple. I believe? Sorry that my mind wandered.

[hulagrub]

Have thought about replacing the wood on my 20 incher with plywood, but figure it wouldn't last very long.

[bobby1]

So far plywood is working great for me.
Bob

[Rockoteer]

Mine have some hardboard (manufactured).   Both are Lortones.

TOG

[johnjsgems]

Plywood would work and be cheap to replace.  The hardwood jaws on my old HP are so hard I usually also use pine scraps to grip rocks as mentioned. 

[socalagatehound]

I bought some scrap 3/4" hardwood plywood at Home Depot that works great.  It was more expensive than regular plywood, but I got enough scraps to make vice jaws for about 10 years.  Didn't realize it would last as long as it has.  I have a 20" Covington and saw a lot.  I flip the wood and use both sides.  Complete change about once a year.