Versatile Gun Building Vise

[TommyG]

Just thought I would share my set up with you guys.  I know everyone has their preferences, but after several builds, I was looking for versatility in a work/vice set up.  At first, I was considering a Wilton Power arm or similar set up, Jim Kibler’s shot put ball looked pretty interesting as well.  But I wanted to be able to rotate my work 360 degrees(to be able to walk around the gun), tilt fore and aft, and be able to adjust my height to allow work from a sitting as well as standing position.  After a few months of snooping around, I found this unit online.  The company is Howards Total Vise out of Montana.  Basically it is a vise stand that when partnered with my versa vise, meets all the requirements I mentioned above.  What I had to do was fabricate a mount to employ the versa vise.  I simply machined some bar stock to fit in the stand, welded a piece of angle iron along it’s length, then welded a 1 ½ “ piece of barstock perpendicular to mount the versa vise.  I waited to start this thread as I wanted to test this unit first to make sure it is rigid enough for stock shaping.  No problems there.  There might be a little bit of flex, but I believe it is from the versa vice and not the vise stand.  This thing is rock solid, very well made and the versatility makes some aspects of the build a lot more pleasant.  Can't wait to try carving and engraving as being able to freely move around the gun should be a real help.  Thanks for looking.

This is my previous set up.  Fixed pedestal I got at a yard sale for 5 bucks, with my versa vise mounted to it.  Most of my carving and inletting tools scattered on the bench


The next 4 pics are of the new vise pedestal with the mount I fabricated to accept the versa vise








Can turn the vise to work vertical as well.  You will see on the left I put together caddie on casters to store all the tools previously on my bench, this was done so I can scatter more tools on my bench


Makes this painful job a little less painful, still painful though


Great for squaring up vertically to drill the bottom buttplate screw


Able to tilt to shape the upper & lower forearms

[FALout]

I like the vice setup you have, only thing I’d do different is move the bench so there’s room to get between it and the rifle, and maybe have another bench (with space also) on the other side.  More room for tools and parts to sit ready at hand.

I’ve never have had a shop that clean, doesn’t seem right!

[TommyG]

Thanks Bob.  Yes you are right.  That behemoth bench does get in the way, but I do use it occasionally on other projects.  Eventually once my son gets set up in a home, I will give it to him and probably do something along the lines you mentioned.  I do make dirt, just like to give it a sweep when I'm done.

[P.W.Berkuta]

My assembly bench looks like yours but not as big. My work bench gets the heavy duty vise and all the pounding. You have a nice shop and a lot of room for your machines. Truth be told -- you did clean up your shop before you took those pictures - maybe a weeks worth of cleaning !!!

[jerrywh]

TommyG. That's as good as I have ever seen. Where did you get the stand??

[Randall Steffy]

I can't answer for TommyG, but I did find this on Ebay.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Telescoping-Pedestal-for-the-workshop-Height-is-adjustable-from-33-to-50/362896075488?hash=item547e4aaae0:g:fKQAAOSwArteL4dK

[TommyG]

Thanks Jerry.  The link to his website is below. 

https://www.totalvise.com/shop