Main Spring Vise

[The Appalachian]

Needed one, for several reasons on this Tennessee build.

So, I made one.....

.

 

[2 shots]

very nice

 

[Sidney Smith]

Mainspring vices are a good investment. You can get away with using vice grips, but I don't recommend it. I had a mainspring get launched from a pair of vice grips when I set it down on my work bench and the grips popped open suddenly. That was the last time I used vice grips for the mainspring.

 

[ord sgt]

It's a great thing to be able to make your own tools, along with making your rifle. Most of us have to rely on others to manufacture the needed tools.

 

[david w]

Mainspring vices are a good investment. You can get away with using vice grips, but I don't recommend it. I had a mainspring get launched from a pair of vice grips when I set it down on my work bench and the grips popped open suddenly. That was the last time I used vice grips for the mainspring.

Vise grips are the last thing I would use for a spring. This is what I use. Compress a spring too much, and they can snap. It doesn't take much.
Mainspring Vise, to safely compress a mainspring - Track of the Wolf
Kudo's to The Appalachian for possessing the tools to make one.

 

[Rifleman1776]

Mainspring vices are a good investment.

Amen, Bro.

 

[1BadDart]

Needed one, for several reasons on this Tennessee build.

So, I made one.....
View attachment 127799.

Can you post some more photos? I need to make one too.

Thanks, Nustin

 

[The Appalachian]

Can you post some more photos? I need to make one too.

Thanks, Nustin

I just basically copied the one that's in the link posted above by david w at Track of the Wolf. I like it because it's reversible from left to right hand springs. Right now I'm working on a left hand lock. The one part also swivels nicely to match the profile of the spring so it's held solidly by 3 points of contact and can't slip.
I made the parts out of a 1/2" × 1" cold rolled mild steel bar, and used 1/4×28 socket head cap screws.
Really the one from Track is only $18 and if it had been in stock I would have just ordered one.

 

[The Appalachian]

Compress a spring too much, and they can snap. It doesn't take much.

Yes, basically you just snug up the clamp screw and carefully let the hammer down off of half-cock. You don't even really compress the spring with the vise, just hold it in position. That takes enough pressure off of the spring to remove to.
To reinstall it you just replace it on the lock plate, bring the hammer back to half-cock, and then un-snug the vise screw. Vise comes right off. Very simple to do.

 

[1BadDart]

Thank you sir. I haven’t seen one in stock, guess I’ll build it.

Did you mill a divot in the bottom of the lower jaw for the jack screw?

 

[Howard Pippin]

Thank you sir. I haven’t seen one in stock, guess I’ll build it.

Did you mill a divot in the bottom of the lower jaw for the jack screw?

Dixie muzzleloading has them on hand and so does Midway.

 

[david w]

You mean
MT0102 Mainspring Vise

 

[1BadDart]

Thanks guys.

 

[appalichian hunter]

I carry one made bye larry callahan, very nice vice. There out there but if you can make one thats a deal also.

 

[user 48702]

Bought one through Midway (Free Shipping Special) several months ago, it was advertised as Taylor's and Company. When I received it, it was in Pedersoli packaging, made in Italy, big plus, glad it wasn't made in China.

 

[The Appalachian]

Thank you sir. I haven’t seen one in stock, guess I’ll build it.

Did you mill a divot in the bottom of the lower jaw for the jack screw?

No, didn't figure a need for that. Just snug up the jack screw without actually compressing the spring, then carefully let the hammer down off of half-cock. Everything just holds its position.

 

[Coinneach]

Mainspring vices are a good investment. You can get away with using vice grips, but I don't recommend it. I had a mainspring get launched from a pair of vice grips when I set it down on my work bench and the grips popped open suddenly. That was the last time I used vice grips for the mainspring.

Agreed, a Mainspring Vice is an essential tool for any Flintlock / Percussion Lock ML.

 

[JCKelly]

I made this one to fit that rather small flint lock, which I had also made. US Gov't made the penny.

 

[ZUG]

Simple to make using hand tools and MUCH easier if you have a milling machine. They are also very reasonably priced. Every one should have at least one.