View Full Version : Homemade Vise


ProfessorM
06-11-2007, 03:32 PM
I am a frugal Yankee, cheap as my wife says, and can't justify spending the kind of money they get for rotary vises. I have the means to do it so I built my own. I studied Slips vise and looked at the Renzetti catalog and built one similar to the 600 plus dollar one they offer. Mine is made completely out of Titanium scraps I have been saving over the years from previous jobs. I did break down and buy the jaws as I didn't want to take the time to make them. Some things are better off bought. It will be a pleasure to use and I can't wait to retire my PIA 18 dollar one. Paul

teezer
06-11-2007, 04:56 PM
Very impressive!! Great job!:kewl:

Backbeach Jake
06-11-2007, 04:59 PM
Prof, you slay me, you had me at swivels...Nice work!

eastendlu
06-11-2007, 05:14 PM
Excellent craftsmaship Paul!! Were is mine?:rotflmao:

Bazza
06-11-2007, 07:55 PM
Nice job, that looks like one from the store, even better a custom made one.

justplugit
06-11-2007, 08:37 PM
WOW P., cutting edge space age technology. AWESOME!!!!

ThrowingTimber
06-12-2007, 12:24 PM
Wow Prof. I knew you were good but WOW!!! How many plugs do you want for it?

tynan19
06-12-2007, 12:34 PM
Seriously that is insane.

ProfessorM
06-12-2007, 01:05 PM
Thanks guys. One of the only perks you get when you are a machinist, you can make crap that you are too cheap to buy or you figure you can make better. It was a fun project as I got to take my time and pick away at it in my spare time at work. Vic figuring the aluminum one is 600 plus bucks and titanium at 65 a lb now I'd say and even 1000 and its yours:rotf2: .

striperman36
06-12-2007, 01:22 PM
WOW!!!!

baldwin
06-12-2007, 04:46 PM
Beautiful job!

Slipknot
06-12-2007, 07:40 PM
Outstanding Paul :btu:
That is friggin perfect:uhuh:

eastendlu
06-12-2007, 09:00 PM
Only a 1000 i have a 1000 shekles i can mail you.

fishsmith
06-13-2007, 10:34 AM
wow - thats a thing of beauty. I can only imagine how good the fly's will look.
well done. :kewl:

baldwin
06-13-2007, 07:32 PM
I remember making one out of a clothespin and a rubber band, but it didn't look nearly as good as that one!

Raven
06-14-2007, 06:40 AM
Outstanding Paul :btu:
That is friggin perfect:uhuh:


i couldn't have said it better


now you need to make one of those striper weather vanes
for your roof :uhuh:

Rick Ackley
06-14-2007, 04:44 PM
I've tried to tie flies with the hook in a pair of forcepts stuck between my knees. That thing is awesome. Nice machine work, congrats.

saltydog
06-14-2007, 04:44 PM
VERY NICE!
GOOD LUCK GOOD TYIN

NEXT2NUN
06-14-2007, 09:05 PM
Outstanding, how many hours to make that Paul?

ProfessorM
06-15-2007, 08:13 AM
Actually a pretty simple project. Only challenge was the jaw holder aspect. I picked away at it for 2 weeks, few minute here and there. If I sat down and went right thru it probably 10 hours. Next one would be quicker because I have a plan now, but ones enough. I'd also do a few things differently. I picked titanium as it is a pleasure to work with compared to stainless.

Ed B
06-15-2007, 01:04 PM
Absolutely beautiful ProfessorM. Good machinists and toolmakers are a dying breed and I'm glad to see you're still at it.

pmueller
07-12-2007, 11:12 AM
Impressive.

saltfly
07-12-2007, 02:18 PM
THAT'S NOT BEING CHEAP!!! THAT'S BEING SMART.:heybaby:

Guyver
07-12-2007, 11:31 PM
Beautiful job!!! I was thinking of making something to hold 7/0 and 8/0 siwash hooks but my guess is it won't be that nice. Probably closer to Chinese vice grips welded to a rod welded to a base. :doh:

Thom
08-04-2007, 10:27 AM
Very nice work on the vise. Now if you really wanted to save some cash you need to learn how to tie with out using a vise. I saw an old film with Lee W. do it that way. Looked like a size ten or so. Very cool to watch. ThomT

striperondafly
08-05-2007, 11:27 AM
sweet work Paul

How big of a siwash will the jaws hold?

Reason I'm asking is I broke mine (Renzetti). :doh: :doh:

ProfessorM
08-05-2007, 07:40 PM
Hey Brian I think it should hold at least an 8/0 hook but maybe bigger. It is the saltwater vise jaws they sell. I got the saltwater ones as I figured I would never be doing anything too small.