Big Ball Vise

[brianh]

I built this ball vise for doing my chainsaw carvings, I had been screwing the logs down to a piece of plywood and clamping it to my sawhorses but it becomes a problem sometimes getting around the whole carving.

So that is where the bowling ball vise comes in, I had this in mind for a while and I wish I had built it then it is so convenient to tilt and spin a carving right around. It has a quick release lever so changing position of the carving takes seconds.
The ball is a bowling ball I epoxied a 3/4 inch piece of threaded rod into a finger hole so I can mount any type of platform to it.

Pictures work better than I can describe it, I do want to design adjustable height legs for it then it will really be nice.

[brianh]

I built this ball vise for doing my chainsaw carvings, I had been screwing the logs down to a piece of plywood and clamping it to my sawhorses but it becomes a problem sometimes getting around the whole carving.

So that is where the bowling ball vise comes in, I had this in mind for a while and I wish I had built it then it is so convenient to tilt and spin a carving right around. It has a quick release lever so changing position of the carving takes seconds.
The ball is a bowling ball I epoxied a 3/4 inch piece of threaded rod into a finger hole so I can mount any type of platform to it.

Pictures work better than I can describe it, I do want to design adjustable height legs for it then it will really be nice.

I cant seem to get the pictures here but I have them at the tips thread.
http://www.woodcarvingillustrated.co...ll-vise-13380/

[sbirkes]

Ingenious design. Looks like something I need. Uh, er, want? I guess I have no need for one since I've yet to carve anything over 12 in. tall and skinny. BUT you never know when the urge will strike (bowling ball, strike, pun? nevermind) and I happen to have bought a bowling ball at a garage sale. Now I know why I bought it.

[Hi_Ho_Sliver]

Looks like a good design!

[btree50]

Looks like a real nice setup. You did a good job in designing it. Congratulations.Cheers

[twoclones]

Has the Wood Carving Illustrated editor begged you for an instructional article on how to build this? If not, they should!

What do you figgure it cost you to build?

Butch

[BobD]

Brian,
That would be a great submission for our Tips and Techniques column! E-mail me your instructions at duncan@foxchapelpublishing.com

Bob

[brianh]

Bob that sounds great I will get some pictures together with it disassembled
and a description of the parts and process.

Brian

[brianh]

I put up a video of the vice for a visual on operation
You can see it here.
The bench it is clamped to is a little rickety

[jartzh]

Great design.

I have a design too that I just got BobD to move to this forum.

I mounted mine to a workmate and attached wheels to the bottom so I can lock it when I want. But it works so well I get too big of a piece there sometimes and it tilts. I plan on loading the base of the workmate up with concrete so make it stouter.

I like your instant locking design. I have 2 threaded rods connect the 8 x 8 blocks that hold my ball. I tighten the nuts and mount my wood then loosen the nuts until the piece can be moved with minimal effort. And of course as the piece gets smaller then I have to re adjust the tightening nuts. And when I am roughing I want it stout and when I am detailing I want it loose . I wonder how I could get the adjustment and locking feature?

I got the bowling ball for $1. had a 8x8 treated block. used 2 threaded rods, old workmate. So I get it cost about $3 with the rods. Best thing I every did.