vice of lovelyness

[pete23]

what a cracking little blacksmiths vice.

i got hold of it years ago and forgot id got it until a recent shed sortout, ive cleaned it up and was going to make a stand for it using a fordson wheel wieght as the base.

but i think its that nice to look at i might make a poker and ashpan holder with it so i can look at it, without damaging it that is!!

it stands 16" high and has 3" jaws, bet theres not many folk left out there that could make something like this!!!

what do you lads think??

 

[stuvy]

the pics are decieving as it only looks small, what plans have you got for it?

 

[pete23]

the pics are decieving as it only looks small, what plans have you got for it?

it is small 16"s high.

 

[pedrobedro]

it is small 16"s high.

Somebody must have cut the leg down (it's called a leg vice), I have a full size one in the shed and the idea is that the leg reaches the floor to take the shock of hitting stuff as blacksmiths tend to do a lot of that kind of thing.

 

[rtbcomp]

I'd say it's been cut short too. On mine there is a flange forged into the leg near the bottom. The leg should sit in a cup which spreads the load on the floor when you're hitting it.

It's my understanding that these are forged rather than cast, and were designed to take a hammering.

I got mine off Freecycle, but they appear on Ebay from time to time for not much money.

 

[Shox Dr]

'appen, for cloutin' stuf wiva BFH

 

[ps_bond]

I've seen some cut short so the top ends up down at anvil height - but I'd be loath to do that to any of mine (I've got 3 of varying sizes; one painted, the other 2 au naturel).

There's 2 parts to the construction that're important - the first, as already mentioned is that most of the force goes through the leg; the second - none of it acts on the screw. Both considerable differences from a machinist's vice.

Wonderful tools - also act quite well as a holder for hardy tools if you're careful.

 

[ouchmyfinger]

its lovely, ive just shown it to my dad hes 87 and loves old school tools, he said do you want to sell it, dont ask me what he.d do with it though.......

 

[julianthegypsy]

I have one too, also a bit short, at around anvil height, but made that way as it still has its foot. Grand tools they are and take a hell of a belting!

 

[pete23]

its lovely, ive just shown it to my dad hes 87 and loves old school tools, he said do you want to sell it, dont ask me what he.d do with it though.......

cheers fo the offer of buying, but im going to keep it and use it as a feature to keep my pokers on next to my fire.

 

[hareng]

Dont think thats been cut down.

This form of clamping was used many years ago and still hand made today in specialist establishments. First job for a trainee apprentice, make your own tools, if cant shown the door.

Leg braces are used by gunsmiths and stockers to set the stocks over. Top jaws are 5 to 6" wide. They dont reach the floor and are about 32" long overall quite flimsy compared to a bolted down vice. Lower part of leg is screwed to an upright wooden bench leg.

 

[bill_gj]

One of the metalwork teachers in my secondary school was nicknamed Leg Vice. That was a long time ago.