Simple Solution - poor man's vice

[BeaverDon]

The Poor Man's Vise (WCI #5) has been frustrating me. I love the flexibililty, simplicity and low cost of this design, but there's a problem. I might have found myself a solution... at least for now.

[GaryMc]

Hey Don, that sound like a great Idea! I might have to post a link to that on my blog if you don't mind. Maybe get you some more traffic on your site!
GaryMc

[BeaverDon]

I have no problem with that, Gary.

[jimmy joe]

I keep saying I am going to build one of these and never get around to it . Maybe this will inspire me !

[mpounders]

I had problems with that type of eye-bolt when I first built mine. That type needs to have the eye welded shut or if you look a bit, you can find the solid cast eye-bolts ( I think I found it at Lowes around the rope and stuff). I like the up and down adjustment and I am actually planning on removing the bottom flange and using a longer pipe to make the whole thing adjust up and down. Mine is mounted on top of a 4x4 post that is bolted to an iron patio umbrella stand, so that I can use it standing up. I'd like to use it both standing and sitting, so I'm thinking about having a longer pip slide up and down in the 4x4. But I don't really use a mallet much.

[BeaverDon]

I like it. Maybe in the nicer months have another 4X4 in the yard somewhere so you could carve outside!

[BeaverDon]

I also worked with the limits of available pipe and eye bolt sizes at Home Depot. You need a 3/8" eye bolt. 1/4" 0r even 5/16" aren't beefy enough.

[bpitts]

Hello everyone. I've been lurking around the forum for a while and thought I would post my solution to this problem.

I have just recently started learning how to carve and began a piece that is just too large for me to carve safely while holding it so I decided to give the poor-man's vice a try. I used a round file on the face of the vice to create teeth that the supporting pipe could rest between. It just took a few minutes for each pair of grooves (I did 4 pairs 0/180deg, 45deg left/right, 90deg).

Now, I haven't tried to use a mallet on it yet but it doesn't take too much pressure to hold it in place for the small carving I'm working on. I'll post picutures soon if anybody would care to see it.

I bought the pipe from a local plumbing store (it seems to be a higher grade than what was available at the big-box stores). I did howerver use a 5/16" eyebolt from the local big-box hardware store and so far it hasn't been an issue. I did buy some good sized fender (0.14" thick hardened steel) washers online and one of those has done the trick so far.

I haven't met a lot of carvers in my area yet so it has been nice to see everybody's work; it inspires me to keep trying.

[graphicgranny]

Originally Posted by bpitts

Hello everyone. I've been lurking around the forum for a while and thought I would post my solution to this problem.

I have just recently started learning how to carve and began a piece that is just too large for me to carve safely while holding it so I decided to give the poor-man's vice a try. I used a round file on the face of the vice to create teeth that the supporting pipe could rest between. It just took a few minutes for each pair of grooves (I did 4 pairs 0/180deg, 45deg left/right, 90deg).

Now, I haven't tried to use a mallet on it yet but it doesn't take too much pressure to hold it in place for the small carving I'm working on. I'll post picutures soon if anybody would care to see it.


I bought the pipe from a local plumbing store (it seems to be a higher grade than what was available at the big-box stores). I did howerver use a 5/16" eyebolt from the local big-box hardware store and so far it hasn't been an issue. I did buy some good sized fender (0.14" thick hardened steel) washers online and one of those has done the trick so far.

I haven't met a lot of carvers in my area yet so it has been nice to see everybody's work; it inspires me to keep trying.

I would love to see your pictures and possiblyy a drawing so I could make one.
Thanks loads,
Nancy

[wDonkey]

Originally Posted by bpitts

Hello everyone. I've been lurking around the forum for a while and thought I would post my solution to this problem.

I have just recently started learning how to carve and began a piece that is just too large for me to carve safely while holding it so I decided to give the poor-man's vice a try. I used a round file on the face of the vice to create teeth that the supporting pipe could rest between. It just took a few minutes for each pair of grooves (I did 4 pairs 0/180deg, 45deg left/right, 90deg).

Now, I haven't tried to use a mallet on it yet but it doesn't take too much pressure to hold it in place for the small carving I'm working on. I'll post picutures soon if anybody would care to see it.

I bought the pipe from a local plumbing store (it seems to be a higher grade than what was available at the big-box stores). I did howerver use a 5/16" eyebolt from the local big-box hardware store and so far it hasn't been an issue. I did buy some good sized fender (0.14" thick hardened steel) washers online and one of those has done the trick so far.

I haven't met a lot of carvers in my area yet so it has been nice to see everybody's work; it inspires me to keep trying.

thanks for the tip bpitts!