General discussion > Gun Building

Opinions on this engraving vise

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kutter:
My home made vise I mentioned above is built on a bowling ball as well.

Cut off with a band saw, yes they are rough on the blade!.
Then the core chiseled out to make room for a mix of lead shot and epoxy for added weight and to anchor the
home-built vise that sits atop it.
The vise made from scrap dimensional steel bar and plate.

It all sits in a simple shallow 3 edged box for stability on a potters wheel type set up.
I engrave primarily while sitting. About the only thing I do standing is barrels. I just plant the entire vise in a separate upright post at the other end of a bench with a similar 'box' for it to sit in.
The box allows for the vise inspite of it's just under 50# weight, to be tilted quite easily when working.
No vibrations.
It's worked for me for all the time I was full time and I still use it.
A lot of gunsmithing work gets done on it too.

A couple messy bench pics (the normal look) You can see the vise , kind of, partially,, in the pics.

Not pretty, but it does the job!

Jim Kibler:
If you are just doing hammer and chisel, it's perfectly acceptable to hold your work in a vise.  I'm sure this is done more than any other method and is what I do.  Look at all the Belgian engravers.

c deperro:
I have one like that . its the one reogrande carries . I got it from an estate sale. I barely ever use it. its probably great if your using a power engraving system like the lindsey or grs . I like the swivel vice better probably because I learned to engrave hammer and graver moving around the object being engraved.

WestBranchSusquehanna:
As for holding onto your parts for engraving.......I use Thermolock from GRS.  Just use a heat gun to soften and secure and remove parts.  Works great and reusable.             https://grs.com/product/thermo-loc-starter-kit/

Waksupi:
I found a simple pin vise, and mounted it to a bowling ball from a thrift store. Set it in an old wheelbarrow tire, and it worked fine for me. Well under $100 invested. For doing the small amount of engraving an amateur does, why spend a fortune?

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