New Engraving Vise.

[J Shingler]

Here is a new Engraving Vice station that I made up yesterday. Using my standard vice gunsmithing vice for engraving with an optiviser just killed my back right between the shoulder blades. I am hoping by raising the work up to where I can stand up straight it will relieve the back tension. I started with a couple square tubes from the scrap yard that fit inside each other with a 5/8" thick disc welded on top. A couple tabs to lag to a heavy assembly table made it plenty stable. With the two 1/2 jamb bolts It can be as low as table top or as high as chin high on me, and I am 6'5. For the little bit of time I played with it it is very comfortable. I added a Fox vice from Grizzly to finish it off. It was a nice choice for this, as the jaws are flat and it can spin a full 360 deg. Not as smooth as a engravers ball but about $650 cheaper than the one I looked at! I also have the tilt adapter if I choose to use that. Hooked to that assembly table I can get to 270 deg of access. Now if I just had the skills to go along with it!   

[Brian Jordan]

I like that setup, I was looking for a way to raise the height of the vise for different projects.
I made this swivel that would fit nicely on that mount you made.

[J Shingler]

Wow that would be a great addition. I really like the ability to raise the vise. I have a tilt adapter I can use but not near as handy or as versatile as your ball. Grat idea!
Jeff

[G. Elsenbeck]

Wow, both items are nice and are just what I'd like to do.  Great job guys.
Gary

[Darrin McDonal]

That would be a sweet combination. How did you make the ball & socket setup or did you have to buy that?
Thanks

[Brian Jordan]

That would be a sweet combination. How did you make the ball & socket setup or did you have to buy that?
Thanks

I made the ball & socket at work.

[smart dog]

This is the rig I use.  It cost about $100 to make and can be taken down and put away in 5 minutes.  The marble is glued to a wood disk which sits on top of a pipe.  The pipe has a closed end with a screw inserted in the end cap that rotates on a block of oak and can be locked in place by a screw.  The vise is a simple Panavisa with a suction base that clamps on to the marble and can be positioned as desired. My set up works pretty well but as I do more engraving, I am appreciating an engraver's ball all the more.

dave

[G. Elsenbeck]

That is a nice rig.  And I like your workbench with all the drawers!  Thats something I'm going to have to do this year.  My workshop is getting way too cluttered.
Gary

[J Shingler]

Dave,
That looks like a really nice engraving setup.  I can see you are doing much better work than I am capable of doing right now. Is that one of those Lindsay gravers I see laying there? I first saw those at Dixons last year! Sweet!

How do you like the Panavise? I was always afraid those were light duty? I have found I use my set up for light duty detail filing as well. Like trigger guards and thimbles. I really like the adjustable height.

[Brian Jordan]

Are those Rubber jaws on that panavise?

[smart dog]

Hi Everyone,
I like the drawers too.  I don't have much space so I have to try and keep organized.  I spend a lot of time cleaning up clutter as I move from one job to the next.  The Panavise is OK.  A nice machined set up like melsdad showed would be better.  The Panavise is strong enough but the ball is not machined perfectly round so it sticks a little when I try to cock it at different angles.  The table however turns very smoothly for scroll work and by moving the vise on the marble top I can always keep my work centered.  I keep the ball greased for smoother action.  I show rubber inserts on the vise which has steel jaws.  I use a Lindsay airgraver.  I cannot say enough good things about it.  It is fabulous compared to my old hammer and chisel.  I also use Steve Lindsay's sharpening system, which it fantastic as well.  In my opinion Steve Lindsay is a genius.  I spent my dole on the graver, which is why I went cheap on the vise set up.

Take care,

dave

[Acer Saccharum]

I made some of these vises for a group of woodcarvers..... carousel horses. No reason why you couldn't take the ball hitch plate and mount a vise on it.



Melsdad, your version of the swivel is very tidy. I am jealous. Even tho' Mine is less nifty, it needs no wrench to lock/unlock.

[Brian]

Dang!  You guys are ingenious!  Acer, if I understand your rig correctly the level moves the one end in and out thus applying or releiving pressure on the hitch ball - so you can move it or lock it as you wish?  Clever.

[Beaverman]

I have one of the gimbel basis that Melsdad makes, works very well! just a 1/4 turn on one of the outside collar screws and it free to move, is very handy when doing pistols!