Engineered Jewelers Vise.

[mattwheaton]

I am starting to do some engraving work and needed a vise with multi-axis rotation. My wife is in nursing school and a Magna-block vise was not in the budget. I had a piece of hydraulic cylinder shaft and some heavy wall pipe laying around. I took a small import vise and brazed the swivel base on the pipe. I then drilled 4 holes at 90` from each other and tapped the holes for 3/8-24 set screws. I made some small bronze discs to slide in the 4 holes followed by a fairly stiff spring to hold tension. The bronze discs act as a bearing surface on the shaft. It is no jewelers vise, but works well for now.

It is just something to throw out there. It may well work for scroll work on knife handles.

Matt

 

[blindhogg]

Nice idea, That is way better than a store bought tool anyday.
Chris

 

[Phil Dwyer]

Pretty cool Matt. Have you seen any of the bowling ball ones?

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showpost.php?p=6397268&postcount=55
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=326327
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showpost.php?p=2039331&postcount=5

 

[Keith_H]

Neat. You did a great job building that. All it needs now is a stand/bracket imo.

 

[mattwheaton]

Thanks, I have seen the Bowling ball vises. This material was readily available in my shop.

Matt