Opinions on this engraving vise

[Brian Jordan]

As the title says. Looking for thoughts and opinions on this vise for engraving gun parts. I plan to attach the parts to wood with bondo or the hot glue method, and clamp the wood in the vise.

https://www.amazon.com/Pepetools-Engraving-Vice-Stainless-143-90A/dp/B0CZMBVGK6/ref=sr_1_10?crid=3RLJBSMSZ9OWM&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.n9Y5KNnX46fWfJ545Nzoe_D87pJqfSViSvX91Bqd_2YFY68TLUuoJddRucMZA8i1cKIHCi0hCsAlCgnhp7ZKBf5DroAqlcCtnmojU9l60bSIZKdqzjkU0plmSi9Ga4ydGTty55Zyy2RLDrg9iksgtKdgWJ2enh-JSSYa_6k_TXs9Xjr7wJKVwYJWLe5gDHWz_o8hyhEC7tJyCZaJbZIt0zbxvCDZ4ISLAJEqmxvyVaO5U_D-vwfpYbEh5xMXeK7eRXlAXwhdPZ-Bfk5OA_yrjr3xREtF0ilPE4CmbL1aduNCBMoaW7zS3Bze5qB2gAKJLWOWw6nnO98ITQ03-1PX1nHT3YYprFPee_VStk8OxCI.lJKm8gCa3qFAZM51h-FGzhPRxi0DQLNjarcBukcp2Bc&dib_tag=se&keywords=engraving+vice&qid=1737738372&s=hi&sprefix=engraving+%2Ctools%2C111&sr=1-10

[Mattox Forge]

I don’t know about that particular one, but I have an extra GRS one with all the clamp accessories I can sell you for $250.


Mike

[tallbear]

Brian

You did'nt mention what type of engraving you do.If it's hammer and chisel these vices are going to be too light.You will need something heavier.I use a Lindsay Goliath but the Lindsay Titan would be even better.Be warned they are not cheap.

Mitch

[Brian Jordan]

Mike I sent you a message.

Mitch I plan on hammer and chisel, as that's all I have.

You are correct, the Lindsey equipment is very expensive but also high quality. As much as I would love to buy a classic air graver, and a quality Lindsey vise I just can't justify it right now.

[smart dog]

Hi,
It is too light as Mitch wrote.  Also the maximum jaw opening is pretty small for large gun work.  You would hav to anchor it down for any hammer and chisel work.

dave

[Mattox Forge]

The GRS vise I have is a 25 pound one. I bought a nice antique vise from the forum here, so mine is surplus.


Mike

[kutter]

It's about the size ans weight of what we used to call a Jewelers Engraving Vise.
Small capacity. The light weight was/is fine as most all  the engraving work that was done in that profession was by use of a 'Graver'. Meaning a hand pushed graver tool,,very little hammer and chisel work.

I used a GRS for about 25yrs. Hammer & Chisel being the primary cutting method.
Even then I found it a bit light weight for the task.
So around '92/93 I made a vise for myself and still use it.
It weights just under 50lbs.
Used it for 30+ yrs as a full time engraver and restoration gunsmith.

[t.caster]

That one is too light and too expensive. Ebay and Amazon have a big variety of them. You would do better with a 20+ pounder like Mattox Forge showed above, that's what I use, at half the price.

I might add: don't buy from a dealer who ships it from CHINA, you will have a very long wait. Quality is Ok though, unless you are a professional, then you want to spend bocoo bucks to impress everyone.

[T*O*F]

If you click on the first url given, you will also see a milling machine vise with a swivel base.  If you are only doing flatwork glued to a block of wood, it will serve your purpose better than an engraver's ball.  Firmness and stability are of paramount importance during engraving.  One of those vises, screwed to the corner of your workbench will provide that.  You will have 270 degree access to your work and 360 degree access by rotating the swiel base.  Since H&C engraving is best done while standing, affixing it to a heavy log or an upright post screwed to the floor will provide 360 degree accessibility.  Many master engravers use such a set-up for H&C engraving.  If you later progress to pnuematic engraving, then is the time to progress to an expensive engraver's vise.

[Scota4570]

The machinist vice is a great idea.  I did  something similar.  I cast about 50# of lead in a round bottom salad bowl.  I made a wood doughnut and fastened that to a lazy susan.  That attached to a wood base.  I mounted a drill press vice on it.  It allows me to swivel the work smoothly with no effort.  I can also tilt it to a degree.  The mass resists the impact of the tool. 


I do use a pneumatic engraver.  For my  skill level it seems to work good. 

[Bill Raby]

I would love to get the 90 pound Lindsey ball vise and a bunch of attachments. That thing has a scary price tag.

[Kevin Houlihan]

 I do only hammer and chisel engraving.  After seeing pics of these I decided to make one.  I bought the heaviest bowling ball they had at Goodwill for $5.  The machinist vise was $25 new.  The solid rubber tire came with a wheel attached from HF for pretty cheap.  I cut about 1/4 of the ball away on my bandsaw, and attached the vise with lag screws.  I attach engraving pieces to scrap wood w/ Bondo and clamp them in the vise.  The pic shows the setup on my bench, but when I'm engraving, it sits on a steel pedestal.  This setup doesn't move or vibrate when I'm engraving. 
Kevin
   

[JTR]

If I were looking, I'd buy the one Mattox Forge is offering for $250. That is an excellent vise, sells for much more than that amount new, and will never have to be replaced.

[rich pierce]

Is that a bowling ball?

[Kevin Houlihan]

Is that a bowling ball?

Rich - yup!  I changed my original post to say heaviest “bowling ball”, not heaviest vise. 🤪. In addition to using it for engraving, it’s really handy for building pistols. Once the barrel is inlet, I put the pistol upside down in the vise holding it by the barrel.  Cutting the bowling ball is tough on a bandsaw blade.
Kevin

[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?