Filing Vise

[ShopShoe]

As soon as I started this hobby I realized that holding parts for finishing and other tasks was starting to be a PITA with always juggling padding materials to use my swiveling mechanic's vise. I found a 6-inch drill press vise at Harbor Freight that they were selling cheap because it was really roughly cast and warped so bad it would not lay flat on the table. I milled the base parallel to the base of the jaw area (term is??) with a fly cutter. Then I cleaned up the mounting slots and the jaw castings by side-milling with 5/8 and 3/4 end mills. I made new jaw pads from 3/4 x 1 inch 6061 and drilled through the jaws so the bolts holding these jaw pads are accessible outside the jaws.

I turned four of these "bullet" pins to install on my bench:

So that I can turn a clamped part around for easier work:

I actually made this before I saw the post on the bowling-ball positioner by Rolland.

http://www.homemodelenginemachinist.com/index.php?topic=8621.0

I had a bowling ball in the back of my garage for 10 years until I got rid of it about 6 years ago because "I couldn't possibly make anything from THAT!" ;D

----Off Topic: I've been kinda leery about logging on with all the warning notices. Thanks to all those who sorted it out. I'm using my Mac for and I am on the OPERA browser for now. Let's see if posting is working OK.

 

[tel]

A handy arrangement. I use an el-cheapo swivel milling vice clamped to the bench.

Do you clamp that down or just rely on the four locating dowels?

 

[ShopShoe]

Tel,

I just use the dowels as I switch the work around many times and often lift off the vise with the work to do something else.