Contour Vise

Patrice Lemée

Patrice Lemée

Joined
Aug 13, 2002
Messages
5,703
Not my idea of course just something I saw in Jantz Catalog last night. Pretty easy to make. It is not completely finished, some minor tweaking to do but I like it.

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Anyone sees ways to improve it fell free. I left the chains a little long until I figure out what length is best.
 
Nice. Find some way to attach the ends of the roller chain to the base, lace the leather onto the chain, and you'll have one very nice contour vice.
 
Sure looks cool, but I must confess I'm drawing a blank (not unusual) as to application. For instance, what would you be doing on a guard held in place like that, engraving, carving or texturing maybe?
 
Cool tool Patrice I can see one of these in my future, thanks. Phil, I think the guard is just for the photo. Sometimes it is hard to hold odd shaped pieces in a normal machinist vise and if they slip while you are machining them only bad things happen
 
it looks cool, Patrice! I like just about anything with bolts and roller chain, though!
 
Thats awesome. I have to make myself one of those.

As for application, this may be one of many possibilities, but I'm re-scaleing a nice kitchen knife that my father got years ago and had to redrill holes for pins since I wanted something a bit bigger than the existing ones but due to the shape of the handle it was a pain getting it set up in my drill. In the end I was using a block of micarta, a small c-clamp, two pairs of vise grips, all clamped together in my drill press vise. If only I had one of these.
 
I am glad that you guys find it useful.

Phil, yes engraving was the main use I have in mind but Jim's idea for using it in the mill might work especialy with Mark idea of a copper strip (thanks Mark). I will have to see if clamping power is suitable for that type of work.
 
Tractor Supply sells rubber conveyor belting that would be a good substitute for the leather. It'll last longer and grip better, imo. I use that stuff around the shop for a thousand things!
 
Oh, that stuff makes sense for sure.

Do you hand tap those holes or does your mill go slow enough and reverse so you can use it?
 
Thanks for the tip Vaughn.

Phil, I did it by hand. I would just make a mess of things on the mill. I do however found some video on youtube of taping using a butterfly air wrench. Very cool. I will buy one as soon as the funds allow.
 
VaughnT said:
Tractor Supply sells rubber conveyor belting that would be a good substitute for the leather. It'll last longer and grip better, imo. I use that stuff around the shop for a thousand things!
Click to expand...

Finally, another TSC nut. :D

If you go with the rubber belting, I suggest you get a very good pair of shears. This stuff is meant to be used in round balers and is very tough. Also, they sell it by the foot, so its fairly cheap and is usually available in store.

Hmmm... weird thought. I wonder how it would work as sheath material?
 
Ya know, now that you mention it, I bet it would make a great "utility" sheath. It sure wouldn't be pretty, but a few rivets would preclude the need for a welt.....

Lemme go see just how much I have on hand!

Patrice, if you want to try some, but don't have a TSC near you, holler and I'll mail some out your way.
 
Thanks for the offer Vaughn, very nice of you. Let me look around and if I don't find anything I'll take you up on that.
 
I would suggest timing chain out of an engine instead of roller chain. I have thrown out allot of timing chains, and sadly don't have a single one around at the moment. You should be able to get some scraps from a local engine re builder. Something that looks like this: http://mizumoauto.com/upload/products/400_image1.jpg

For tapping I want to convert an old small bench top drill press with a burned out motor, to have a hand crank on top of the spindle. I'm also stealing the pulleys off of the thing for a 1x42 belt grinder I am building lol.
 
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