Suggestions for a vice/clamp for working on my upcoming rifle...

[Daveboone]

Apart from clearing a dedicated work bench for my Colonial rifle (I know it shouldnt take all that long, but I am planning on stretching it out...I rush and I get sloppy), I am figuring out what I will need for a vice /clamp to hold the stock and barrel when I am working on them. I have regular iron utilty vices, but they are mounted where everything plows into them. I was considering a Black and Decker benchtop Workmate....Any suggestions? Thanks

 

[rich pierce]

I built my first longrifles from blanks on a Black and Decker workmate on the kitchen floor. But I was in my 20s. I prefer this vise. WoodRiver - Patternmaker's or Gunstock Carving Vise

 

[Daveboone]

Interesting. Also the same outfits universal vice looks like it has potential. Thanks

 

[billraby]

Go with Rich Pierce's suggestion.

 

[waarp8nt]

I agree with the fellows above, they inspired me to get one. Mine came from grizzly and was on sale at the time. On sale now too.
https://www.grizzly.com/products/grizzly-pattern-maker-s-carving-vise/t30398

 

[Sam squanch]

If you are short on cash, there are many plans and ideas for homemade vises and clamps on the web. I’ve made some, and am impressed with the gentle holding power of them.

 

[Sidney Smith]

I've got an old wood workers vice that I padded the jaws with using a piece of old carpet. This vice has flat jaws with more surface area than a standard vice like the kind you are going to clamp metal into to file on etc. To support the barrel, I just use an old bar stool with sand bags resting on top. I add or subtract bags depending upon the work position I need. This isn't the best way to do things, but it has worked well for me.

 

[SOLANCO]

You might also check Lee Valley Tools. They have a number of vises.

 

[Peregrine]

https://www.woodcraft.com/product_i...2cb0e776f6f6e6b000a78/detail.jpg?c=1547881230

This was just on sale....

 

[Sc0-]

Just built a rifle without a vice, but did use furniture clamps and full ammo crates with a bar stool.

Did purchase an old "made in USA" Gyro Vise off of eBay, received it pretty much after I needed it. (Gyro, Versa, or the modern Chinesium made Parrot vise.)

 

[Reno]

I have come to really like one of those Black and Decker bench vise systems, They have two handles for tightening, spaced about a foot or more apart depending on the model you get. You can put the stock in there at about any angle you like, Plus you can tighten it up with different angles. I still use a traditional bench type vise for a lot of work but these other type vises do have their place for a lot of work.

 

[brazosland]

Has anyone ever seen a Vice like the one pictured below? The ball mount is the unified part. Local gunsmith has one, but can’t find another...I want one too.

 

[Reno]

Stock makers vice for mostly checkering?

 

[LAD]

Apart from clearing a dedicated work bench for my Colonial rifle (I know it shouldnt take all that long, but I am planning

on stretching it out...I rush and I get sloppy), I am figuring out what I will need for a vice /clamp to hold the stock and barrel when I am working on them. I have regular iron utilty vices, but they are mounted where everything plows into them. I was considering a Black and Decker benchtop Workmate....Any suggestions? Thanks

One old gunsmithing bench must do is make a couple of what we called spare hands to work with your vise and bench. Take a 2x4 cut a couple pieces 8 inches long and form a "+" on one end and a "T" on
the other.The + on the bottom holds up the prop. Pad the top T with a strip of leather or carpet. Use the spare hand to prop up your stock/barrel/whatever. It allows the stock maker to use less pressure on the vise jaws and makes for a solid hold when doing heavy or delicate cuts or rasp and file work. Many a stock maker has made the fatal mistake of to much pressure on a finally shaped forend and split the stock full length under the barrel.
whatever vise you settle on make a set of plywood jaws, plywood with leather face, brass face for different clamping situations. enjoy

 

[Sam squanch]

I found an old adjustable camera tripod and made a leather covered block to place on top. I now have a adjustable spare hand, great for the shop, and it makes a good shooting rest as well.