Holding small items

[Hi_Ho_Sliver]

I posted this for Bob of Tn so thought maybe I would put it here for others. This is for holding those little carvings that cramp your hand holding them and make it easy to cut yourself!

"
Hey Bob....cut the head off a drywall screw and drill a hole in a piece of dowel and put the cut end in the dowel and glue...makes it really easy to hold those little carvings!"
Dave

[Bob_in_TN]

Very good tip, but you should have added that you have to remember to use them. :>) I've had some of the "handles" like you suggested for years, but in this case just forgot to use them. I usually use them for painting, but there's no reason they can't be used for carving. Again, a very good tip!

[mark yundt]

I am a big fan of holding any type of carving.Here is a simple swivel vise that is handy for 360 degree carving. I bolted it to a board that I can just clamp to my bench,,keeping it clear.I have also bolted it to the end of a board to have it project further out away from the bench.I;ve also made various jigs to hold small items,down to the size of a quarter,stuck it to a scrap piece of wood, and fastened it to the vise.Also , depending on the piece, I'd keep the "parent" piece long,,do the carving while being held in the vise, then cut it free when done and clean up the final parting cut,,there are many ways to overcome holding pieces,,this is only one.

[Kenny_S]

A good device Mark, Several of us have a home made version of yours. I know ALA and Myself and I believe several others as well. ALA, several years ago, gave us a copy of his design and we made the device. However, I do not use mine very much. Just can't seem to enjoy the carving. But have it to use.

Dave, I posted in the same thread about a paint device holder I made with the screw,dowell and a 2 x 4 x 4" base. Now I do use that all the time for painting and for the ornaments I usually put in the eye screws first, then paint then I made a rack out of a 8 x 4 x 1 inch with uprights of 1 x 1/2 x 10 " with a 1/4" dowell going across and wire hingers to hold the ornaments by the eye screws. I can have six ornaments drying at a time.
Thank you both for your tips.