WANTED!!!!!stand up vice for hammer & chisel work.asap.please help.mike tundratrekers@mtaonline.net 907-892-8073

mike ladan
12/11/2008 11:30:29 PM

Mike: I had a stand up vise stand made. i used a fly wheel from a peterbuilt for a base. very cheap if you know a locale deasel mechanic. and bought a 4" jaw machinist vise that has a spinning base and 2 lock downs. i found this one at a pwan shop but i have seen similar vises in MSC and J&L supply. I had a welder affix a 1/4" thick, 2" square iron post, with an adjustable height locking bolt threaded into the side, to the fly wheel and weld the vise to a base plate and onto another post that telescopes into the 2" square base post. it works great as i can also use it to hold the checkering cradle for very long stocks. the only problem is keeping the 2 gunsmiths i work with out of it so i can use it! good luck! TK

PS: i am rarely on line. if there are questions please call 406-285-3298

TK Gibson
12/24/2008 1:44:59 PM

thanks tk gibson,what do you do with the vice?if engraving,how do you deal with the huge swing due to the non-centering jaws,and the jaws being off center of the rotation?where are you located?i am in alaska.

mike ladan
12/25/2008 12:20:11 PM

did you have to put feet on the base to keep wobble down?and does the tubing work as good as solid stock ,as far as wobble and vibration goes.is this type supposed to be rock solid ?or is some vibration and wobble acceptable?i see that th belgian schools use a shaft(i dont know if solid or pipe)which is clamped with wood to the bench,which is used for stability and drag.then set in a hole on floor.i have built two stands already.this is getting frustrating and expensive.my cabin has a raised floor and has some flex,no slab.hope you and all out there are blessed this christmas,and this new year!!!!!!!

mike ladan
12/25/2008 12:31:05 PM

I USE IT FOR HAMMER AND CHISLE WORK FINISH DETAILS, SHADING, SOME TIMES INLAY ON LONG RECEIVERS LIKE REMINGTON 1100'S. AND AS I SAID FOR CHECKERING RIFLE STOCKS. WITH HAMMER &CHISEL I ROTATE MY BODY WITH THE CURVE RATHER THAN TURNING THE BLOCK WITH THE CURVE AS ONE DOES WITH THE AIR POWERED HANDLES, SO THE OFF CENTER ROTATION YOU MENTIONED I HAVEN'T NOTICE BEING A FACTOR. THE WIEGHT OF THE FLY WHEEL (+/- 90LBS) KEEPS IT FAIRLY SOLID. SINCE I AM NOT BEATING THE HELL OUT OF THE ENGRAVING THE WOBBLE ISN'T SUCH THAT I HAD NOTICED. WITH THE TYPE OF FLOOR BASE YOU HAVE I WOULD SUPPOSE YOU COULD LAG BOLT THE BASE THRU THE SHEETING INTO THE FLOOR JOICES BELOW. I HAVE BEEN SET UP ON CONCRETE AND CONCRETE WITH 1/2" SHEETING OVERLAY. THAT MAY BE THE WHY YOUR HAVENG TROUBLE WIHT WOBBLE
HAPPY NEW YEAR TO YOU ALSO AND HOPE THAT YOUR STAYING THAWED OUT OK.
TK

TK Gibson
12/31/2008 11:16:57 AM

TK,thanks a bunch,i have been having a heck of a time with this,seems most have gravitated towards power gravers,and dont seem to have this problem.mike

mike ladan
12/31/2008 11:52:29 AM

I STARTED OUT WITH HAMMER AND CHISEL, (TAUGHT BY MASTER JOHN BARRACLOUGH). AND IT WAS OVER A YEAR BEFORE I WAS ABLE TO PURCHASE A POWER TOOL. SO I HAD A GOOD CHUNK OF TIME IN WITH THE HAMMER. I HAD THE VISE MADE FOR CHECKERING AND IT JUST GRAVITATING INTO AREAS OF ENGRAVING!

TK Gibson
12/31/2008 12:42:43 PM