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Well I was looking around to get myself a parrot vice because I was thinking that it's versatility would be just the shot for carving necks among other things.

I did find lots of places that sell the Asian copy of the original Versa Vice, like LMI and Jap Woodworker, and I would have been happy enough with one of these repo's. But once again, shipping to Australia would have meant paying for 2+ to get one, even via surface mail plus a 3 month wait for my troubles .

So I started to scout around and came across a Stihl chainsaw service vice on ebay. Now the description was a bit vague and the images were poor but it did look to be quite rigid, multi adjustable, and aside from some surface rust, in reasonable nic. So, thinking that this item had some potential, I put in a bid and won.

It took near a couple of weeks but it finally arrived from South Australia. I opened the box and knew right away I had done well. It is superbly made, and as was described in the listing, the vice clamps FIRMLY to any bench or utility tray.

It has one lockable shaft that allows a flange type head to turn through 360 deg on a vertical axis, and another locking shaft that allows the head to turn 360 deg on a horizontal axis. The head it self is mounted to a lockable ball joint which also rotates through 360 deg as well as pivoting through 90 deg.

The original tool, as mentioned was designed to enable easy servicing of chainsaw motors. One would simply unbolt the existing bar from the saw, and then bolt it on to a dummy bar which was held to the flange like vice head via a pair of fish-plate like fixtures.

Here is an image of the dummy bars that came with the vice.



Anyhow, for now I have only made up a simple cork faced flat caul that allows me to clamp my work piece quick and easy with quick grip clamps. I can however foresee a few more cauls being made up as it is just a matter of screwing the chosen caul to the flange via 4 x 1/4" machine thread screws.

The flange under the caul has a 4" x 2" x 3/8" rebate machined between the two raised surfaces into which the threaded holes are taped for the 1/4" machine screws. This surface is ideal as you can rebate the outside edge of the caul to let in it's centre into the rebate of the flange, this locks the caul rock solid.

I am now going to hunt around for a small 4" vice that will allow tall jaws to be fitted. I will then make an adaptor plate to fit the flange head...In case you have not guessed already, I reckon this is a cool tool









Cheers all

Kim

Kim, neat looking vise. I understand the versatility of this thing, but how do you get it to hold a neck?

Ron

_________________
OLD MAN formerly (and formally) known as:

Ron Wisdom

Somewhere in the middle of Arkansas......

Hey Ron,

For now I will just use standard clamps and a reverse caul, but later I will adapt a vice to the flange.

When you lock this sucker up, it is really solid, just like one big chunk of steel, those Swedes sure know how to build good tools.

Anyhow Ron, even if I never use it for a neck, I'll get my value just by standing there playing around with it, it's bloody fascinating

Cheers

Kim

It kind of looks like a carver's vise. Bolt on a chunk of wood, and you can move it to any position needed for easy access.

Looks sturdy enough mate, sure would love to own one and lock myself in it not to go on any further spending blitz!

you scored a good one my friend. i am going t keep an eye out for one as well.

Good luck Michael I hope you find one.

You may have to look around for a while but I think you have a better chance of success in your part of the world than mine. I must have just lucked out because when I was trying to workout how much I should bid, I googled a fair bit and came up blank. I doubt there would be to many around, but then again, were there's one there must be more.

Cheers

Kim

Some ball vises
Here's some exquisite vises for those of us who have vices such as Kim's TAS.

Dag nabbit! Now I have to go out and git my one chrome plated

Cheers

Kim

MONSTER BALL VISE This is an interesting, albeit huge, version of the ball vise. Check out the floor models!
Kim--I'm very envious of your find and would love to have one just like it.
Nelson

[quote=npalen]MONSTER BALL VISE[/quote]

HOLY CRAP BATMAN!!! What would you do with that! Rasp aircraft carriers?

A Hydralic lock? Can you say overkill? I knew you could!

_________________
Billy Dean Thomas
Covina, CA

"Multi famam, conscientiam, pauci verentur."
(Many fear their reputation, few their conscience)