Is There Really a "Special" Vise Just For Knifemaking?

redsquid2

redsquid2

Free-Range Cheese Baby
Knifemaker / Craftsman / Service Provider
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I think i saw a knife making-specific vise on the Web somewhere. I'm wondering, do any of you actually use something like that? What make and model? Does it give you any advantages vs. a regular bench vise?

Thanks.
 
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redsquid2 said:
Do you use one of those? Which one?
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I made a couple.
2-$300 each is just crazy.


something like this.
http://www.mountainhollow.net/vice knifemakers.htm

and like this.
http://www.usaknifemaker.com/images/large/Bench-and-swivel-knife-vises_LRG.jpg

redsquid2 said:
Does it give you any advantage vs. a regular bench vise?
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They get used for hand sanding-handles mostly

It allows you to hold the knife at any angle


also see Nick Wheeler's youtube videos on hand sanding blades for a style that let's you work the blade.
 
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I have one of the Chuck Ward vises,also a panavise,and a bench vise and use them all,
Ihave almost as many vices as vises:D
Stan
 
For hand sanding I use a flat bar of 1/8" x 1" steel with a hole in each end screwed to my bench with 2 drywall screws, cost about 10 cents. As far as vices go; use what works.(I have 3 different vices, but I don't use them for hand sanding)
Del
 
I had one given to me much the same as the first one Chuck sold. It's a fantastic tool as far as I'm concerned. Yes I have two other types as well. Frank
 
I bought the one from texasknife.com with the swivel attachment.. way overpriced.. heavy duty metal and cheap plastic knobs. The threaded brass inserts "slip" inside the plastic knobs, so I can't tighten the thing down enough for it to hold it's own weight on a 45 degree angle or lower.. just drops and can't be tightened. Gonna have to fashion my own tightening knobs.. but OTHER than that, and the price.. very handy tool for handling.
 
AVigil said:
I am going to check this out tomorrow. It just might be a good option as a knife vise. Be sure to watch the video
http://www.harborfreight.com/2-1-2-half-inch-table-swivel-vise-97160.html
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that is actually not a bad little vise. swivels about every direction you need. plus with the jaws that rotate it really comes in handy. I was surprised, it was better quality than I expected. the only downside is the little bars that are on the swivel bolts are not heavy enough, they bend a little. I use it for holding the knife doing filework, and things like that. i dont really do any gridning, peening, or anything else with that vise.
 
I like to use a knife board for sanding on. It supports the entire blade, which I like as I bear down pretty hard when rough sanding. It's just a piece of 2x2 or something profiled to a rounded point, sometimes with leather contact cemented to the surface, that I can lay a blade on and then clamp the tang to it. The board is in turn held in a bench vise. I find it much more sturdy than merely clamping the tang in a vise.

I use mostly post vises, heavy drill press vises, and woodworkers - style bench clamp/vises. I don't have a knife vise per se; the closest I've come is a bench vise in a vertical adapter. That can be handy.

I would truly love though, to have an engraver's ball. That's a specialty vise that's hard to substitute for. Of course, they're spendy.
 
I picked up one of these the other day and it has been very helpful. It isn't made the greatest, and I have already had to take it apart and locktite the vise to the ball joint. It is just so much easier to loosen the swivel and rotate the knife to what ever angle I need. I have only used it for shaping a guard so far, but I can see it being handy when I am finishing the handle.
 
I got mine from K&G about 15 years ago. use it mostly for handles. if i was doing much file work I would use it for that.
TJ
 
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