Which Carving Vise is Best?

here is one homemade one
you must have all the parts for it
in any size you like

http://www.cliftonsears.ca/woodcarving/vise.html

-- david - only thru kindness can this world be whole . If we don't succeed we run the risk of failure. Dan Quayle

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.

-- Mike P., Arkansas, http://mpounders1.blogspot.com

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.

-- If a man does not keep pace with his companions, perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer. Let him step to the music which he hears, however measured or far away. Henry David Thoreau

with your ‘castle of junk’

you should be able to make one from 6” pipe
strong enough to carve a whole tree on lol

-- david - only thru kindness can this world be whole . If we don't succeed we run the risk of failure. Dan Quayle

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. ;-)

-- If a man does not keep pace with his companions, perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer. Let him step to the music which he hears, however measured or far away. Henry David Thoreau

and just sharpening
the knives would take a forklift lol

just buy one and enjoy
you can mount it siting down

-- david - only thru kindness can this world be whole . If we don't succeed we run the risk of failure. Dan Quayle

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

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.

-- The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched. They must be felt with the heart. "Helen Keller"

Here are a couple of pictures.

http://www.woodcarvingillustrated.com/forum/f52/home-made-carving-vice-19423/

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-- Lew- Time traveler. Purveyor of the world's finest custom rolling pins!