vise choice

[Pathpounder]

Not wanting to hijack the above thread I am looking at an economical vise to clamp to my workbench. I have found these 2 and wondered if anyone had comments or further suggestions. Both look like they would handle small projects okay.

4" Vise & Drill Clamp at Menards

http://www.amazon.com/Dremel-2500-01.../dp/B000P4W3LU

Thanks in advance from a newbie.

[TexasSteve]

I have never used a clamp with my carvings, however, the Dremel one looks like it would be real handy, especially while painting my carvings.

[cut up]

IMHO, I would go with the dremel vise simply because I would be afraid the metal vise would damage the carving.

[Pathpounder]

The Dremel is the one I was leaning towards. I just wanted to have something handy to help along sometimes. I lost part of a finger about a year ago and have a difficult time hanging on to some things sometime. Texas Steve, I think your right it might be handy for painting too.
Thanks for the advice folks.

[mpounders]

You might take a look at this do it yourself one Woodcarving Illustrated - How To Magazine for Carvers - Shopmade Work Positioner

Here is what I use mostly though for bigger stuff, based on the poor man's vise WCI Portable Carving Bench - by mpounders @ LumberJocks.com ~ woodworking community
I worry about some of the smaller ones that you are looking at, but they might serve your purposes.

[Pathpounder]

I like poor man's. That fits me perfectly. I may try something like this too. I am so cramped in my shop though I might have to make some adjustments.

[Dull Knife]

Originally Posted by cut up

IMHO, I would go with the dremel vise simply because I would be afraid the metal vise would damage the carving.

to prevent damage to your carving, wrap a piece of card board around it. I use the card board that comes in the cereal boxes that I eat for break fast every day . works for me!!

[mpounders]

Here is a link that I used when I built mine. The BLOG of Jerry Hartzell | Woodcarving on a Budget - Jerry's Carving Vise | The BLOG of Jerry Hartzell

I didn't use the fancy handle that he did to tighten it up! I have since embedded a nut in a large plywood wheel that makes tightening/loosening mostly a one-hand operation now. You can use it like I did or mount it to a board that can be clamped down. I used it that way for a while and it is quite portable. Something I have also considered is using a longer pipe on the base and mounting it to an iron base so that it is somewhat free standing.

[gtech]

I have one like the metal one, and it has rubber jaws.

Gilles