Carving vise?

[BeckyN]

I am looking for a vise, to hold my carving so I can gouge etc, without stabbing myself all the time. Any ideas? Links?
right now holding the piece with ond hand and trying to use my gouges results in blood lol. Especially when they are always round pieces.

[Nebraska]

Becky,

I am a big proponent for carving vises for a number of reasons safety is just one. I also belief the allow you to be a better carver working with less mechanical stress and fatigue. I’m going to recommend the Wilton pow-r-arm Junior. It is the model I use in my traveling setup working well on smaller pieces. These are best picked up on eBay.
https://www.wiltontools.com/us/en/c/...SAAEgIPe_D_BwE

If you can afford the 301 or 303 go for it they will last you a life time. Good vises are not cheap until you compare them a visit to the ER.

I also have a Elli Vise and while a bit less flexible than the Wiltons another fine choice. https://littlehousewoodcarving.com/vise.html

[pallin]

One of the "discoveries" that many of us have come to when using gouges is that nearly every cut should have a stop. When we were using only a knife that stop may have been our thumb if we used a paring cut, but that is not possible with a gouge. So I strongly advise you to find a carving vise or other method of securing your work piece, and plan each cut as to where and how it stops.

[BeckyN]

I don't want to put holes in my pieces, it would need to gently squeeze it in place, holding this piece as an example, while I gouge the braid

[joepaulbutler]

Becky, I have a vice, but I haven't used it in ????. I'm a belly carver, I attached a think piece of leather to my apron and I hold my carving with a heavy leather glove and a leather thumb guard on my knife-hand. I know this isn't what you are looking for, but it is my 2¢.

[mpounders]

I don't want to put holes in my pieces, it would need to gently squeeze it in place, holding this piece as an example, while I gouge the braid

You don't say how big your pieces are, but I am guessing they are less than 6 inches tall? A lot of holding devices require one or more screws into the bottom of the work piece. That is usually not a problem on larger carvings, but can be undesirable for smaller carvings. Vises don't require a hole, but they must be tightened down to hold the work piece, and can leave marks on the wood. Not sure if "gently" is workable or desirable for vise holding a carving. But there are some other options that could allow you to carve safer. You might try a lap vice, that is used by some stick carvers or spoon carvers. Basically it is a board that will fit across your lap. Drill a hole near the middle that a piece of rope will fit through. Run the rope through from the top and tie a knot on the bottom. For a small carving, you will need another hole maybe an inch from the first one. The other end of the rope goes through that hole with your carving placed under the loop of rope on top. With the rope hanging underneath, make a large loop that your foot can go through. So when you put your weight down on that loop, it tightens up on top and holds round carving in place. You can work safely on it with two hands, and just lift your foot up to loosen it and reposition. Some carvers use a standing version on their workbench that works in a similar fashion. Even simply laying the piece down on a table gives better support and something for the gouge to stab besides your hand. I usually hold small pieces in my hand, but I wear a good glove and always try to point my gouges at things I don't want to cut. Which means I have to make sure my tools aren't dull and that i have good control over my tools, taking smaller cuts, to avoid slips off the wood in the direction of my flesh. I think you might find the lap vise useful.

[Nebraska]

I don't want to put holes in my pieces, it would need to gently squeeze it in place, holding this piece as an example, while I gouge the braid

Becky,

You glue a piece of one by on the project and the screws go into that.

[BeckyN]

Going to Google that Mike, thanks!

[Claude]

Becky; for some smaller carvings, say 7-10 inches or more, I sometimes use an F clamp to clamp it to my workbench. I place a piece of that "net-like" drawer liner between workbench and carving to prevent movement from the force of a mallet or push on gouge. You can see the clamp and drawer liner here: https://forum.woodcarvingillustrated...ambalaya-spoon

If you eventually decide to work on larger carvings, as Mike P said - a vise is a worthwhile investment. I have an Eli vise: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lQi3dBMsoxc I put a piece of 1 inch thick wood between the carving and the steel of the vise, so my gouge won't accidentally hit the steel as I work on the lower part of the carving. I use 2.5 inch drywall screws to go through the spacer wood and into the bottom of the carving. The first two photos here show it in use. https://forum.woodcarvingillustrated...on-santa-class

Claude

[JerseyGirl]

Becky I only work with small figures and I like to carve with a wooden vegetable bin protecting my lap so I can be with my family while watching TV. I wasn’t exactly sure what would work best but I took a chance on this Panavise 350 from Amazon that I can swivel around to any angle. It is heavy enough to stay stable in my box and gives me a lot of options. Of course you can bolt it to a work table as well. Not as cheap as a clamp but it works for my needs. Hope this helps!


781B8258-67F9-446B-A05A-F12F97580398.jpeg

[BeckyN]

Becky I only work with small figures and I like to carve with a wooden vegetable bin protecting my lap so I can be with my family while watching TV. I wasn’t exactly sure what would work best but I took a chance on this Panavise 350 from Amazon that I can swivel around to any angle. It is heavy enough to stay stable in my box and gives me a lot of options. Of course you can bolt it to a work table as well. Not as cheap as a clamp but it works for my needs. Hope this helps!


781B8258-67F9-446B-A05A-F12F97580398.jpeg

I just purchased it, thank you! I will look into the other Wilson to get for in the garage, as I will be moving into there on the hot days to carve and oil! Thank you so much everyone! I did manage to almost finish the piece, with only one stab!

[BeckyN]

[JerseyGirl]

I just purchased it, thank you! I will look into the other Wilson to get for in the garage, as I will be moving into there on the hot days to carve and oil! Thank you so much everyone! I did manage to almost finish the piece, with only one stab!

Let me know how you like it. I like Amazon bc it’s easy to return stuff if it doesn’t work out (if you have Prime). Beautiful piece BTW. I want to try a braid soon.

[woodburner807]

Great alternative idea, Mike. I like "basics"

[BeckyN]

I am going to try all, for different carvings I want more choices!
with Amazon here, returning isn't a option, but I can modify it if needed. I am going to love my own work bench he has to build now lol!
my desk isn't big enough
thank you so much everyone! Absolutely love this forum!