Help picking a Vise

[Nick_of_time]

Hey Folks,

I've been chasing for a couple of years, but tendonitis is driving me to a powered system. Thinking about getting a pulsegraver, and I'll need a vise, but they range from $85 to $1000 and come in a lot of different sizes (weights?). I'm engraving parts for muzzle loading firearms, and putting the parts in holders, which I then hold in just a standard bench vise. I'm only doing brass and steel. I have been moving around the vise as I cut. Larger parts like barrels I just put in a bench vise and make do so that won't change. But how I do most parts will change once I get a powered system. The work will be in one of the ball vices and I'll rotate the vice as I cut. So if my holder with part is, say, 2 to 3 pounds, how big a vice do I need to be stable?

Would the Lindsay 12 lb vise do it? The GRS Standard Block (20 lbs)? Something smaller? And in terms of price, I'm assuming that the $100-$200 vices on Amazon are a waste of money, but hey please correct me if I'm wrong.

Thanks,
-Nick

 

[monk]

i' d go with a 20. or even larger. you'll likely be asked to do a few things where a heavier vise would be better. the heavier one will not likely cause a problem on smaller items. jmho as for the "knockoffs", they generally aren't worth the money. a used victor will serve well. then too, you can check here on the classified section of the forum. there's usually a vise or two there for sale.

 

[Gunsmith]

Hey Folks,

I've been chasing for a couple of years, but tendonitis is driving me to a powered system. Thinking about getting a pulsegraver, and I'll need a vise, but they range from $85 to $1000 and come in a lot of different sizes (weights?). I'm engraving parts for muzzle loading firearms, and putting the parts in holders, which I then hold in just a standard bench vise. I'm only doing brass and steel. I have been moving around the vise as I cut. Larger parts like barrels I just put in a bench vise and make do so that won't change. But how I do most parts will change once I get a powered system. The work will be in one of the ball vices and I'll rotate the vice as I cut. So if my holder with part is, say, 2 to 3 pounds, how big a vice do I need to be stable?

Would the Lindsay 12 lb vise do it? The GRS Standard Block (20 lbs)? Something smaller? And in terms of price, I'm assuming that the $100-$200 vices on Amazon are a waste of money, but hey please correct me if I'm wrong.

Thanks,
-Nick

I engrave parts for muzzle loaders and find the Grs positioning vice is great and heavy enough for everything I do , I have made jigs for holding barrels and cylinders and also is great for under a microscope

 

[Nick_of_time]

I engrave parts for muzzle loaders and find the Grs positioning vice is great and heavy enough for everything I do , I have made jigs for holding barrels and cylinders and also is great for under a microscope

Thanks for your help gentlemen! I'll look for something on the heavier side.

 

[DaveAtWeirs]

Id also recommend a heavier vice. I'm fond of the low profile grs one in combination with the rotary table. It weighs a little over 20lbs and works great for pretty much everything I've had a go at. The vice itself can handle everything from swords and golfclubs (we can't do guns here), to tiny lapel pins held in thermolock. Anything bigger than the vice can hold I jus sit directly onto the rotary table itself (or my lap, lol)

 

[papart1]

I'd personally stick with the Lindsay products for the reason: accessories are a big plus, service......again service is top notched. His will allow many grs things to be used also, not true the other way.

 

[papart1]

I have an original standard grs vise........................which now I would have went with Steve's vise/s

 

[wild willie]

Hey Folks,

I've been chasing for a couple of years, but tendonitis is driving me to a powered system. Thinking about getting a pulsegraver, and I'll need a vise, but they range from $85 to $1000 and come in a lot of different sizes (weights?). I'm engraving parts for muzzle loading firearms, and putting the parts in holders, which I then hold in just a standard bench vise. I'm only doing brass and steel. I have been moving around the vise as I cut. Larger parts like barrels I just put in a bench vise and make do so that won't change. But how I do most parts will change once I get a powered system. The work will be in one of the ball vices and I'll rotate the vice as I cut. So if my holder with part is, say, 2 to 3 pounds, how big a vice do I need to be stable?

Would the Lindsay 12 lb vise do it? The GRS Standard Block (20 lbs)? Something smaller? And in terms of price, I'm assuming that the $100-$200 vices on Amazon are a waste of money, but hey please correct me if I'm wrong.

Thanks,
-Nick

i have a 55 yr old victor [ 16 lbs] that is starting to ware a little so i got lindsays palm control true center vice, its about 14 lbs. i do jewelry and its great for that and knifes but for what u do i would go bigger , the bigger the better. 30 lbs or more. rebound and stability are the reasons. if hammer and chisel its even more important. i have never used the pulsegraver but have used grs for about 35 yrs and i have tried lindsay classic, both are great. there is less rebound with air assist than hammer and chisel and i would expect the pulse to be the same as the air. i would suggest the grs positioning vice or the lindsay goliath positioning vice or larger. any good positioning vice [ not from china, bad reviews] will serve u well and last

 

[Nick_of_time]

i have a 55 yr old victor [ 16 lbs] that is starting to ware a little so i got lindsays palm control true center vice, its about 14 lbs. i do jewelry and its great for that and knifes but for what u do i would go bigger , the bigger the better. 30 lbs or more. rebound and stability are the reasons. if hammer and chisel its even more important. i have never used the pulsegraver but have used grs for about 35 yrs and i have tried lindsay classic, both are great. there is less rebound with air assist than hammer and chisel and i would expect the pulse to be the same as the air. i would suggest the grs positioning vice or the lindsay goliath positioning vice or larger. any good positioning vice [ not from china, bad reviews] will serve u well and last

Thanks Willie - I'll see if I can find something used to start with that's the right size.

 

[ByrnBucks]

Messed up and got one of them amazon vises starting out, was stuck with it for a while. When trying to tighten on anything just before it would be snug one side would kick up just enough to be a headache. Game changer to have a properly made one, worth every penny. Have a great weekend. BB

 

[Nick_of_time]

Messed up and got one of them amazon vises starting out, was stuck with it for a while. When trying to tighten on anything just before it would be snug one side would kick up just enough to be a headache. Game changer to have a properly made one, worth every penny. Have a great weekend. BB

You talked me out of it

 

[ByrnBucks]

Glad to hear, that vise is still peeking at me from the side of my bench. If it saves one person the hassle then it was worth it haha.