Vise Plans?

[Guest Close Samson]

Does anyone have a plan or description to build a two or three knuckle carving vise?  Or where to buy one?  It doesn't look too difficult.  In case you are wondering what this is, it's like the one Jeff Phares uses.  You secure your piece with a carver's screw.

I just perused this site-lots of valuable information here!

[Guest Close Guest]

Re: Vise Plans?

I guess you are talking about a carvers arm. the easiest way I know of is to laminate 3 equal lengths of board for each 'section' between knuckles. leave the middle board protruding and this leaves a gap at the far end for the screw or to recieve the protruding board from the next section to make the knuckle. round off the corners so they will pivot and drill a hole to take a bolt antd star knob or some such fastener. Hope this helps.

Dave

[Guest Close the_moonraker]

Re: Vise Plans?

I just sent the plans for a 'Positioning Jig' to Vic Kirkman at <wildfowlart.com/forum/> to post on his site. It may be up by now, so check it out. It should be in 'Tools and Equipment' under the Main Discussion forum.

Good Luck........

[Guest Close samson]

Re: Vise Plans?

Thank you both! I just got back from Home Depot, so I can put the carving arm together tonight. I'll be ordering carving screws, too. Moonraker- your positioning jig sounds like the poor man's vice from WoodCarving Illustrated. I may try that, too. I'm just nervous having a metal device around a beginner (me) and my nice, new Pfeil knives.

Thanks again.

[Guest Close Skratch]

Re: Vise Plans?

The poor man's vise works well for me.  I made one a little while back.  The only problem was the eye bolt couldn't be tightened to much or it would become enlongated.  I went back to the hardware store and got a 5/16' FORGED eye bolt and I had to grind it a little for the 3/8 pipe to slide thru.  Now it can be tightened enough to keep it from moving when it's not suppose too.

Skratch  

[Guest Close Guest]

Re: Vise Plans?

I use a poor man's vice as well but a beefed up version. I just opened a picture trail account and posted some pics if you want to take a look at it.

www.picturetrail.com/thumbgouger

the pipe fittings are 3/4 inch and the bolt is 5/8 and the stem piece is is 1/2 inch. I tapped the mounting plate to thread in the 1/2 stem and tighten up another nut against it to lock it in place. I also bored the threads out of a 5/8 nut and drilled a 1/2 inch hole through two sides to give a better bearing surface for the stem. The 1/2 inch stem goes through both the nut and the tightening bolt. I hope the picture shows what I mean. I used a wrench to tighten it for a long time but finally decided to weld a chunk of pipe on the nut to clear the threads and added a handle. This is my traveling vice so it is mounted with a pipe clamp but I have an identical one monted to my bench with a flange. I have made similar ones with !/2 inch pipe fittings and smaller everything else but with this one I can mount a good chunk of wood and nothing stretches or bends :P

Hope this helps e-mail me if I tripped on my tounge to much.

Dave