Mike Lee Vise

[borderdogs]

Hi Guys,
I have been researching vises lately and I know this is a subject that has been beaten to death previously but I have seen reference to Mike Sea vises and would be interested in seeing a picture of one. From what I found out they seem to look like the gun makers vise Woodcraft sells made by Wood River. Presently I have a pattern makers vise which I primarily used in the most recent rifle build I was working on I also have a machinist vise which works well too. But as I have been collecting parts for the next rifle I have been reconsidering the vises I have and thought to add another like the Wood River vise. In researching vises on the forum Mike Lea's name has come up a lot so I figured I would post a question on his vise.
Thanks,
Rob

 

[Ky-Flinter]

Here's a picture from Woodcraft.com of a vise like Mike Lea sells.  https://www.woodcraft.com/products/woodriver-universal-vise?via=573621f669702d06760016d6%2C576455f669702d2f2f0013a4%2C5764580569702d2f2f001456   Woodcraft puts these on sale from occassionally.

Mike also sells a pedestal for the vise which allows the vise to tilt and pivot.  A friend made one up for me.  Will post a picture later.

My vise as received from Woodcraft.





L shaped tilt pedestal my friend made.





I drilled and tapped the vise base and added a locking screw.  The factory tilt locking mechanism only works when the vise is clamped tight, so it's kinda of a pain to use.



-Ron

[rsells]

I am in process of installing an extension to my work bench and a new vice  I got from Wood Crafters.  I purchased this vice a while back because of the easy/fast way to clamp, and the jaws pivot to match the profile of the stock.  I wish the whole vice would pivot from front to back to allow me to roll the stock over a bit, but it is still better than the standard vice I have been using for 30 years.  The jaws have pads to protect the stock.  I purchased the vice for $99.  I have not used it yet, but should be starting work again tomorrow.  I have attached a photo.  It may be similar to the one you are now using, but thought I would show you the photo.
                                                                                                 Roger Sells

[WadePatton]

Roger I got one of those (with the pivoting jaws) a year or two ago and use it ALL the time now.  Sometimes it's a bit too tall, but I want another one and set it up lower or adjustable height. 

And they tend to go on sale in January-is when I got mine. 


Here is the vice Ron mentioned above, as similar to a Mike Lea vise.

[borderdogs]

Thanks for all the info I really appreciate it and the link and photos. The pattern maker type vise I have is Wood River's copy of an Emmert Pattern makers vise. Its not bad for rifle work and the jaws can be adjusted to shape. The machinist vise I have is about 60-70 years old and is a monster I have it on my bench but lately I have been thinking of putting it on its own stand and putting something like either of the two that you all showed in your posts.
Rob

[elkhorne]

borderdogs,
There is a good description of what I think you are looking for on the website americanlongrifles.com  under Gun Making/Tool Making/Modifying a Versa-Vise by Jerry Crawford. The Versa-Vises are pretty hard to come by except on eBay and then they are pricey. Several of us on this forum have taken the Woodcraft vise referenced above and modified it like Jerry did and this gives you a very versatile vise with rotation in all three axis as well as a swivel jaw for holding odd shaped items without parallel sides. I have two that I modified and a local machine shop did most of the machining for me and they work great. One caution, as far as I know, all these vises are made overseas and ar not cast out of very hard metal. They will work for most of our gun building tasks but not for heavy pounding on with metals. You need a good machinist vise for that. Hope this helps.
elkhorne

[rsells]

Wade Patton,
I too think it is taller than the one I have used for years, and I am making a couple bit higher movable supports to use  to support the forearm or butt while rasping and shaping the stock.  They will have a couple of pegs that anchor it in the top of the bench to make them stationary while doing work, but their location on the work bench can be moved to meet the need required for the specific rifle.  Hope all is going well.
                                                                                    Roger

[WadePatton]

Wade Patton,
I too think it is taller than the one I have used for years, and I am making a couple bit higher movable supports to use  to support the forearm or butt while rasping and shaping the stock.  They will have a couple of pegs that anchor it in the top of the bench to make them stationary while doing work, but their location on the work bench can be moved to meet the need required for the specific rifle.  Hope all is going well.
                                                                                    Roger

Doing fine Roger,
I've got traditional woodworking vise on the left end of my bench and clamp a support in it when using the PM-on the right end.  Before that I was using a support in the WW vise and clamping my forend support directly to the bench-which was a bit more cumbersome and less secure than the pivoting jaws allow.

When I need such, my WW vise holds a 3" machinist vise with aluminum jaws for light metalworking (which otherwise rests in the floor threatening toes with every step in that vicinity).  The design and flow will evolve some more when I get to put some real time in there.  Carry on Sir.

[smallpatch]

Roger,
I have both vises, I use the one you show exclusively.  I use the other just for filing small pieces.
I find the other one difficult at best.

Here’s my set up

[AZshot]

It looks like the old Colombian or Will-Burt Versa Vise.  Seems someone is still making them: http://www.willburtversavise.com/shop/kbwd9agpekwg9uyxn57iai6aflkso0

And this one is similar too: https://www.garrettwade.com/ultimate-versatile-vise.html#video 

[flatsguide]

Will-Burt vises used to sell for $9.95...Is that why they called it the good old days?
Cheers Richard

[elkhorne]

Problem with most of these, including the newWilburt Vers Vise, is as it states, it is made of “semi-steel!”  What is “semi-steel”? It is some form of pot metal that it would be interesting to see a meturilogical examination of it to find out what it really is! I do know from my own experience that it is pretty soft and can be moved with just the pressure of drilling a hole!
elkhorne