bench top vise

[b737tvc]

Im looking for a new vise to build my flintlocks, anybody have suggestions. The vise Im using moves, and not from the bench I can't lock it down on the swivel point tight enough.

trapper

 

[44-henry]

The old Versa Vise is pretty good, I have one purchased at Brownells some 20 years ago and it is still going strong. They are not a really heavy vise, but still work pretty nice. I also have a massive 8" antique vise with a fixed base that gets a lot of use for metal and some at the early stages of a stock job when the blank is still square.

Whatever you get just make sure it is good quality and won't move unless you want it to. Life is too short to spend valuable shop time fussing with a cheap vise.

 

[kurts]

I just bought one from woodcrafters, don't remember model but price was 135.99, it works out just fine for me. Found it patternmakers swiveling vise item 142768.

 

[b737tvc]

thanks

 

[dave_person]

Hi,
These vises work for me.

dave

 

[kaintuck]

Lowes.......89.00
The big one.....

 

[b737tvc]

nice vises where did you find those ?

 

[b737tvc]

dave I love that table did you make it? I also make furniture on the side. Would love to find a table like that.

 

[kaintuck]

Where's the wood shavings and clutter? :haha:

In wood....laminate top, dovetailed legs, hole for the dogs, and side clamps.....that table will be around when the rest of us are pushin up daisey's!!! :bow:


So will our rifles :hmm:

 

[dave_person]

Hi Beavertrapper,
I made the bench and built the shop as well. You can find the bench design online or in Chris Schwarz's book "Workbenches". Look up "Roubo" bench online. The metal vises are from Woodcraft I believe. They cost about $90 at the time (10 years ago). The rotating jaws are very useful. The leg vises on the bench are very handy and have tremendous holding power. They are lined with leather and are at the ideal height for me when inletting a barrel or drilling a ramrod hole. The bench is also fantastic for furniture work. The sliding deadman between the leg vises allows me to clamp and hold work on the side as well as the top. That way I can work on edges, cut dovetails and other joints etc, very easily. I added a few photos of the bench, the last one is in the finished shop.

Many experienced builders use a good mechanics vise mounted midway at the edge of a bench and then have two padded armrests on either side to support the stock at either end.

dave

 

[Birddog6]

I use a Parrot vice with padded jaws (WoodCrafts for ? 39 - 49 bucks on sale) Note it has a offset (Jerry Crawford ALR Forum) and it is set out off the bench so I can clamp something verticle & not be obstructed by the workbench.



And I use a 6" Wilton vice (Lowes ? $ 109.) I have a piece of leather connected to it for padding, easily flipped back so I have the good jaws easily avail. This vice is also out over the workbench. I have them about 28" apart on the workbench & 99% of the time I have the rifle in Both vices when I work on it. It makes the rifle more stable & I don't have to clamp it so hard to retain it stable if it is clamped at the muzzle & at the lock area.



I use the Wilton vice as well for unbreeching barrels.



See all that crap on my work bench ? :shocked2: I use... my workbench ! :idunno: And you can dang sure tell it. :rotf: :rotf: It gets cleaned up after every rifle is finished & about 2 days later it is a total disaster again. :redface: :slap: Oh well.... it is my disaster.

Keith Lisle

PS: That work bench of Dave's is undoubtedly one the nicest work benches I have seen. It even looks KeithProof, which says allot. I can tear up a iron anvil with a cotton ball , but his bench looks pretty stout. I would have to anchor it to the floor tho ! :rotf:

 

[MSW]

that's some great looking bench (i like the dog, too) ...

the only point I would make about a vise is to avoid the smaller mechanics vises which pivot but have only one tightening point. I struggled with one of these for years before I plonked down the cash at a local big-box (Home Depot, if I remember correctly) and got a vise which has two lock down screws ... this guy stays where you put it, and is much more substantial ...

good luck with your project!

 

[Bill Knapp]

That Gimbaled vise that Birddog6 showed is on sale at Garret-Wade. It's my main vise, and I find it can do everything I ask it to do.

Bill

 

[Lock Nut]

Say now, that looks alot like my bench. Everything right where I left it :wink:

 

[Billnpatti]

I, too, am a woodworker. I must use my garage as my shop and it gets pretty tight in there when I have all of my power tools rolled out where I can use them. Your shop and those benches make my mouth water. :thumbsup:

 

[Birddog6]

It will work on light duty stuff, like retaining a stock & etc. The Offset under mine is a Must for me. But the barrel breeching & tough stuff, the Parrot vice will not handle it........ just not enough mass & slips around too easy. I use the Wilton for that, it has two lockdown screws & it is staying put.
And if I need something larger than that, I have a BIG vice in the garage & you won't move or stress it. I do my heating & bending & etc on it, as it is KeithProof......

Keith Lisle

 

[dave_person]

Hi Keith,
Thanks to you and others for the compliments. I do like my bench. I bought a 4.5" Wilton Tradesman vise for metal work. It was on sale at a pretty good price. I've never had a good vise for metalwork and this one is a gem. Made in USA and built to last. Wilton makes good stuff.

dave

 

[tbarnes66]

The two vises mentioned above, in my opinion, are really both needed.

While it's still square, this one gets most of the work:
http://www.garrettwade.com/garrett-wades-ultimate-versatile-vise/p/05R10.10/

After you start rounding, you're really going to like this one:
http://www.woodcraft.com/Product/2...-Patternmaker's-or-Gunstock-Carving-Vise.aspx

I also use this one a lot for filing/sanding/polishing the hardware. You can move it to any direction:
http://www.mscdirect.com/product/5..._sJXegN7a0_PLA__15557577904_c_S&026=-99&025=c

I originally thought I could do everything with one, and you can, but I quickly found out it is so much more enjoyable working on something that is being held securely and at an angle that is comfortable.

 

[stuartg]

The wood vise that Keith has is selling at Woodcraft for $65. Garret Wade is selling a similar vise for $85 (but it comes with the additional base). I have also seen this parrot vise on ebay for around $54. I think they are all made in China, but I'm not sure if one is better than the other...

I've been throwing around picking one up, but can't seem to decide.

New info...Grizzly has the parrot vise for $45...

 

[kaintuck]

BENCHES, VICES, AND PLIERS :rotf:
You guys are not with a shop kat clowning around while your trying to inlet something....aren't livin yet!
and yup...Keith, i have 2nd vise...just need to get it out and mount it to the bench....i look FORWARD to having two vices....SO many times i cobble something to hold the forestock.... :youcrazy:
as you all have seen, my bench is small and the kat is big...but it works for me.....!