vices

[john4645]

i did a search and did not find alot of info on this: are there vices out there to buy that are better for building a gun than just a regular bench vice?

 

Yes sir, Brownells sells the Multi-vise. It's a knock off of the old versi-vise. The versi ain't being made anymore. Check out Brownell's site. I think they are around $200.00. You bet they are worth the money. I have both and the versi-vise I have had for about 25 years. They are the handiest vise for gunbuilding that a fella can buy.

 

[TANSTAAFL]

i did a search and did not find alot of info on this: are there vices out there to buy that are better for building a gun than just a regular bench vice?

For over 40 years the wife has been telling me that muzzleloaders are a vice. :winking:

 

[Larry Pletcher]

At a recent trip to Conner Prairie (Noblesville IN) I photographed students in a Stock Carving class. They were using a vice made by Conner Prairie staff. The vice swiveled around about any direction.
The vice is mounted on a ball from a hitch. The ball is clamped between two plates. The bottom plate is bolted to the bench. The top plate is used to clamp the ball. A vice is fastened to the bolt end of the ball. Photo 2 shows the idea best. (Note that the top plate has a slot that allows the vice to rotate down torward the front 90 degrees. After seeing one there I plan to make one.

Regards,
Pletch

 

[davy]

I am curious .. you say they made them. When and where? It would be nice to have some clear closeup photos of such. :hmm: :thumbsup:

Davy

 

[Larry Pletcher]

Tomorrow I'll see if I can find a pic that gives a better idea. The vice mounted on top of the ball was medium sized with safe jaws. One of the nuts on the bolts that held the plates together had a bar welded to its side. Tension on the nuts was set so that a half turn or so released the ball. Then retightened when the vice was repositioned.

Regards,
Pletch

 

[john4645]

Any differences in the universal vice sold thru grizzly and the parrot sold thru woodcraft?

 

[Jim-Iowa]

One of the woodcarving catalogs a few yrs ago was listing a ball mount like mentioned, sorry I can't remember which one.
On the question of the parrot vs grizzley from what I can tell they are likely the same with different paint and name..
I almost bought a parrot at the woodsmith shop in Des Moines. They had none in the box and the display had a chipped anvil. I'll go back when they get more in( it's a curse having such a neat toy store a mile form work :grin: )..
I will mount it on the Pana vise series 400 base I have to replace the 3" walmart vice I now have on it. I also have a 6" Kobalt from Lowes I am very pleased with.
I know the Brownells Vise is a good one, and would normally endorse them highly(being from Iowa and considering their customer service very good). But one could buy a few Grizzly Parrot's for the same price. Someone on this site posted pictures of a rifle bench that used two vices on ball mounts and I intend to build one.

 

[BillinOregon]

It's vise. A vice is a very, very bad habit. Sorry.

 

[longshot47]

On the Conner Prarie link, go to 'Kit Assembly I' in the gallery. In the photos with Jim Chambers giving instructions you'll see an ideal vise for holding stocks or any irregular objects. Garrett-Wade used to sell them. Got mine from 'Japan Woodworker', where its called a carvers/sculptors vise. Close to a hundred bucks, -and worth every penny!
~Longshot

 

[renovato]

That Conner vise sounds a lot like the Panavise I use for light duty work. It swivels on a ball mount. Handiest thing I have in the shop.

 

[Mike Brooks]

At a recent trip to Conner Prairie (Noblesville IN) I photographed students in a Stock Carving class. They were using a vice made by Conner Prairie staff. The vice swiveled around about any direction.
The vice is mounted on a ball from a hitch. The ball is clamped between two plates. The bottom plate is bolted to the bench. The top plate is used to clamp the ball. A vice is fastened to the bolt end of the ball. Photo 2 shows the idea best. (Note that the top plate has a slot that allows the vice to rotate down torward the front 90 degrees. After seeing one there I plan to make one.

Regards,
Pletch

I havn't got back to you larry, but those were some great series of pictures you put together for the Conner Prairie workshop. They have quite a program there. I've wanted one of those swiveling ball vices since Jim brought them there a couple years ago. He's supposed to be coming up with one for me if he can get one. :thumbsup:
Here's the picture I like the best, JC and I discussing world hunger..... :haha:

[/img]

 

[Mike Brooks]

On the Conner Prarie link, go to 'Kit Assembly I' in the gallery. In the photos with Jim Chambers giving instructions you'll see an ideal vise for holding stocks or any irregular objects. Garrett-Wade used to sell them. Got mine from 'Japan Woodworker', where its called a carvers/sculptors vise. Close to a hundred bucks, -and worth every penny!
~Longshot

I curse those vices every year at Conner Prairie. :cursing: They are hard to tighten hard to loosen and seem to drop the gun at the least opportune moments!

 

[Mike Brooks]

I use a Brownell's multi vice, wouldn't have any other for most of my work.

 

Here's the one I'm currently using, It's from Grizzley. It will swivel, and you can get additional jaw inserts for it. Bill

 

[Mike Brooks]

That's a true "blue sky" gunshop you have there! :winking:

 

[Larry Pletcher]

The pics in the gallery were cropped to show the students. The photos below were cropped to show a better view of the vices. The first two show a purchased vice (perhaps the one that Mike mentioned that Jim Chambers brought.)

This last photo shows a vice that Conner Prairie staff made.

Mike,
I had a ball that day. Nathan talked about a 2 day hawk forging class in Feb. I want in that one to start.
Pletch

 

[longshot47]

I curse those vices every year at Conner Prairie. :cursing: They are hard to tighten hard to loosen and seem to drop the gun at the least opportune moments![/quote]

Mike-
Less curse, -more tight!

 

[Mike Brooks]

I curse those vices every year at Conner Prairie. :cursing: They are hard to tighten hard to loosen and seem to drop the gun at the least opportune moments!

Mike-
Less curse, -more tight![/quote]
Yes, probably so. Part of the problem is that I only use them once a year for a week. Probably get the hang of it if I used them every day.