Tips, Tricks of the trade, etc.?

Thank you! That set up looks as good, and as functional, as the two or three other types I've seen.

Guys: WAL MART sells a line of compartmented plastic boxes made by Shimano. They're less than $4 each, and have radiused compartments-so those tiny screws can't hide from my fat fingertips! And, the compartments are perfectly sized for knifemaking.
The hinges and latches are good and secure-I have all my folder goodies in a box-screws, pivots, taps, drills, balls, etc.

They're in the fishing department. Buy 2-you will like them.

RJ Martin

Got one a while back, I agree with your assessment. Thanks.

Are those swivel/pivot vises really useful. They're tempting, but I jsut use the TIPPS knife vise for horizontal hold and a Wilson 4" model for vertical....

Anyone out there having fun with, or not having fun, with a swivel model?

I have a swivel one made for me by a knife maker friend. I find it super !!! I did have a set up as was just pictured before that, and I even think my vise was the same make. At least it was a wood working vise of the same color.. The one made for me was done with a pieceof 4" square tubing. A 1/4" plate was welded on the back and has a threaded 3/8" hole. An upside down "T" made up of 1/4" plate is used to used to support the square tubing with a 3/8" bolt with a cross bar for a handle to tighten the tube in any position of 360 degrees. To two short legs are of course bolted to a bench. At the front two opposite sides of the tubing which is about 10" long have been cut as "U"s about 5" deep into the tubing lenghth and have walls about 1/2" high. On one side a piece of oak about 6"x3 3/4'x3/4" with a thick piece of leather glued to it has been attached with two screws. On the other side a piece of leather has been glued to a piece 6"x 3 1/2" x1/4" mild steal. A hole is drilled and taped to take a 1/4" bolt about 2" from the front of the tubing. A bolt is placed in this with a cross bar attatched to it's head for a handle. An oversized diameter hole is drilled part way into the steal plate to help with positioning when the plate is lined up with the front of the tube, below where the 1/4" bolt comes through. This is what has to be called the real cat's whiskers!! Well if you are near as old as me you might call it that. At first you think" well yes I guess it could be helpfull." A short while later it is something you wonder how you got along without. Sure wish I could have sent you a picture . It is a plain jane but a real working one. Of course I have passed this along to several other makers and they have all been super pleased with its use. Frank Niro

Frank,
Can you post a picture of your vise? Thanks
Tom

Bone handles in WalMart pet dept.

Now that's an example of using your resources. Seen any elephant ivory in those aisles?

Thanks!

Hey Tom at this very minute I would have to say no, but perhaps I will give it a try later tonight. I believe I will have to get my new scanner connected and then see what I might be able to do. I sure would like to send a picture or two out also, but getting back to the vise, it's so simple to make only requiring a couple of welds and as I said just works super, super. I believe I could send a scratching or two that would be all that is needed to follow through. I will head for the showers and then see if I can figure out how to get through. Frank Niro

Sorry Tom I'm sooo illiterate on computors. I just haven't been able to get this scan to go.I imagine I will have to see if my neighbours boy will bail me out. Frank Niro

Thanks, you guys, for all your efforts. Sometimes it's just hard.....

Hi Tom No I can't send you anything yet but I'm still trying. I believe my scanner has a short some place. I am going to contiue chasing whatever it is .Frank Niro

We're patient. Thanks for the efforts.

Well hey I returned the darn thing today and got another one which I hope to get operational in the next day or so---I hope, and then I have to find out what is needed to get it to the forum. This is an awfull like the knife making thing--- you just keep trying to do your best by trying to learn more. Frank Niro

When transferring patterns to steel for cutting out, how do you do it?

I draw the knife design on white paper, cut it out within 1/16" of the outline, then spray some aerosol glue, W-Mart has it, on the back and slap it onto a piece of plastic. When set, saw it out then grind it to the line, just barely removing the line, or perhaps grinding 1/2 of the line away. Then you can trace the pattern with a carbide scribe into the blank and there it is. Helps to carefully drill holes for marking screw, thong tube and guard/boloster holes too.