when to buy a carving vice

[Ed Miller]

I generally carve roughouts 10 to 15 inches tall holding the carving in my hand. I would like to know at how large a carving would it be necessary to use a wood caring vice. When do you think using a vice is necessary.
Ed Miller

[RUssL.]

I went to using some form of vise or holding device fairly early in my carving hobby. I think it was when I went to mostly using full size (or "mallett") tools.

I still do some whittling with the carved object in a double-gloved holding hand and chip carving is often done on my leather-apron-covered lap...but everything else is held by some device regardless of its size.

Russ

[Dicky]

I learned to carve without a vise and usually do it that way but I am always amazed at how much easier it goes when your piece is held securely and you can put both hands on the tools.

[OkieHunter&Three]

I don't know what I would do with one myself

[Gulf Coast Handyman]

For me I like to sit and carve, so a vise would not really work, plus I do mostly carictures less then 12 ".

Dave

[big dave]

why buy one make one, click on search at the top of page and type in carving vise

[Dan S]

I have a carving vise and I use it regularly. They can be really useful. If you want to try one for not much money have a look at the poormans carving vise. The plans are in the artical archives. You can make one for under 30.00 and it actually is a a sturdy tool. I did some modifications to mine that seemed to help as well.

Dan

[Mudbone]

Hello Ed, Being that I mostly power carve, its a no brainer that I use a vice. My favorite is this one that cost exactly 30 beans-http://www.amazon.com/Stanley-MaxSteel-83-069-Multi-Angle-Vise/dp/B000UOJF66/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=hi&qid=1243694573&sr=8-3
However you are limited on the size of your carving. For larger peices I screw a small lag screw through a peice of 2x4 and clamp the 2x4 into vice. The bottom of the carving screws onto the lag. For even larger I have an outside stand using the same princible, but instead of a vice its just a 2x8 with legs kind of like a small table with lags coming up through for the carvings. This works for me. But I cant say enough about that little Stanley vice. Thats one of my best freinds in the shop!
Tom.

[Ed Miller]

Thanks a lot for the replies. I have a much better idea what i want to do . Read and enjoy all the comments on carving. I have picked up a lot of helpful tips from the members of the board.
Ed Miller

[doris]

though i dont have a vice, i do fix all my carvings, even very small ones like just 2'' high. fixing the carving gives you much more control, since you can concentrate on the cuts, and not on holding the carving and worry about your fingers near the cutting edge...there is always a way to fix a carving easily, be it by 2-sided tape, screws, or clamps...