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Which Carving Vise is Best?

12K views 9 replies 6 participants last post by  lew 
#1 · (Edited by Moderator)
Besides a little whittling that I did in the mountains back in November I haven't carved anything for maybe two years. It's not that I don't like to carve it's just that I've always had a hard time scraping up the time. Besides carving a few Santas and little guys, and maybe a sign or two, I'm pretty much a beginner but I really do want to learn how to carve well enough to decorate some of the things that I make. This weekend I carved for eight hours or so total and I really enjoyed it. I was really too tired and sore to do anything else. Well, it backfired on me. The only thing that I have to hold my workpiece is my regular woodworking vise on my workbench. So I pretty much spent 8 hours (not all at once) carving in an uncomfortable bent over position. Now my back is a little out of whack on top of everything else.

What I need is one of those work holding vises that you can raise the part up and down, tilt it, and rotate it to whatever position you want. I have a bad back and two bad knees from past injuries that I have to be careful with because I can't afford to miss work for any reason.

What work holding device is the best and most ridgid? I need one bad.

If I can't find one that is good but affordable I will have to make one.
 
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#3 ·
You can find my version of the one Patron gave a link to in my projects and I can vouch that it works great! I have used mine mounted to a board as shown when I traveled, but I have changed it up some since. I had an iron base for a patio umbrella, so I attached a 4×4 post to it and mounted the vise to the top of it, since I do a lot of carving standing. I may come up with version three by putting some "knuckle joints" in the 4×4 so I can move it up and down and also use it while sittling.
 
#4 ·
Thanks, David and Mike. This looks pretty easy to build and I appreciate it. I may build one like it. However, when I came into work this morning I did a little scraping and scrounging and have come up with some parts that might make one that is a little more heavy duty. I don't know whether or not I want to fool with it so I may just use this design. After all, Mike, you seem to carve a lot from the looks of your projects and also have a carving business so who am I to argue with success? If the design works for you then I'm sure that it will work for me.
 
#6 ·
Well, actually I might could, David; however, it might be counter productive. While carrying it from my shelf to my workbench and back again, sooner or later I would probably drop it on my left foot and then my left foot would match my right foot. ;-)
 
#8 ·
here is another versio or two :)

http://www.wkfinetools.com/contrib/jThompson/carving/carvingDevices/carvDevices.asp

I have seen a device made so you can use it while you sit in the best armchair
and skim the footballbowl while working :)
its on a post with a litle table in the mitle and the wice at the top
and the bottom of the post is made like T opside down and you place it under your leggs
between the chair and you but I can´t remember the site at the moment or blog if its on L J
I have seen it

take care
Dennis
 
#9 ·
Helluvawreck, the vises that Patron and Mike have recommended are more than adequate
to carve with and can take the punishment that mallet/chisels deliver.I purchased one
from woodcrafters and just last week,I had to take it too my welder and have him beef up the steel
walls.But then again I block out with heavy sculpting chisels.I've desinigrated carving arms,turned
solid oak,maple,mallets into mush.Most people block out with band saws and grinders which eliminates
the heavy work.Like Patron said if you need something heavier just increase the dia. of parts.
Have a great time creating carvings.Look forward to seeing your projects.
 
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