Blacksmith/Leg Vise Stand - What are you using?

[TexasDeuce]

I just bought an old leg vise and am wondering what you are using as a stand and shoe?

How or where do you have your vise mounted?

Let's see some pics...

Here is a pic of my vise as it sits on my work bench for now while I figure out where to mount it. I also added a pic of one on a big-o log.

[lazyassforge]

The first picture is one of my "portable" post vises. I have three set up this way around my shop. for most use up to light twisting, they are adequate. When I twist large stock or really have to drive something sideways in the vise, I use one of my vises mounted on a bench welded to the building frame or mounted to a post set in concrete outside the shop.

The second vise is my short vise for use upsetting with a sledge hammer and when I am carving some of the animal heads I make, that lets me get the head low enough to see straight on and get the tools in and work.

Hope this helps! Bill D.

[john k]

Some of the guys I blacksmith with attach their vise to barrels, 50 gallons of water sort of keeps it from moving around.  One fellow built a steel saw horse, leg vise bolted to one end, anvil sitting on the other.   Lift them off and its easily loadable.  My home vise is bolted to a plank work bench.   Two and a half inch thick plank top, with 4x6 in. legs.    I hate it when benches move when getting serious with a hammer or a saw. 

[1930]

The first picture is one of my "portable" post vises. I have three set up this way around my shop. for most use up to light twisting, they are adequate. When I twist large stock or really have to drive something sideways in the vise, I use one of my vises mounted on a bench welded to the building frame or mounted to a post set in concrete outside the shop.

The second vise is my short vise for use upsetting with a sledge hammer and when I am carving some of the animal heads I make, that lets me get the head low enough to see straight on and get the tools in and work.

Hope this helps! Bill D.

I would like to see these animal heads

[lazyassforge]

I'm at work right now and these two are all I have pictures of this morning. The bear head with the mouth open is the hardest. The bobcat is less work to make. They were made during the class I took with Darryl Nelson a few years ago. Most of the ones I have been making are the cathead.

Thanks for your interest!

Bill D.

[Branson]

That's some really nice work!

[mikeswrenches]

Here is a great site on vises, anvils, and anything blacksmithing.  Also some pictures of leg vise mounts.

Good luck!!

http://www.anvilfire.com/FAQs/blacksmith-vise.php

Mike

[1930]

I'm at work right now and these two are all I have pictures of this morning. The bear head with the mouth open is the hardest. The bobcat is less work to make. They were made during the class I took with Darryl Nelson a few years ago. Most of the ones I have been making are the cathead.

Thanks for your interest!

Bill D.

I do not know what what these are, what these are made from or how you make these but Wow, I like the second one, he looks VERY realistic. I would like to buy it if it is for sale and it is affordable for me.

Now I just need to know what the heck are these are used for or are they decoration?

[lazyassforge]

1930: Thanks for the compliment on the heads, I don't have any right now that I would want to sell. As far as their use, I have been making them just to try and learn how to make them! I have used a head on the end of a cane(for my old age :-) but I know Darryl has incorporated the animal heads into iron work for businesses and high in iron work in some houses.

TexasDeuce: I appoligize for hijacking the thread!

I believe you should have multiple vises for various uses!

On mounting the vise, it is hard to beat a good solid post(wood or steel) mounted solid in the ground. It gives you access to the vise from different angles and bending parts is not obstructed by the bench top. The end of the leg needs to be mounted fairly solid but not as solid as some believe. I have two vises mounted outside my shop on steel pipes that I use when bending long pieces of metal, the area around each of them is relatively clear of obstructions so a long piece can be manuvered freely. Probably the most important thing about mounting the vise is that the mounting plate be bolted down tight, the wedges securing the vise to the mount be tight and there is no slop in the mount. Chasing your parts when filing or hammering is a waste of energy and very frustrating!

One thing which I have been told and I believe it is probably correct concerning the leg on the blacksmith vise. Most people say it is to absorb the blows from hammering on the vise(and I agree it does this to an extent). I think it is to stabilize the vise and help it resist "rotating" from side forces applied to it while twisting and hammering off center. Even just tightening the vise is a pain on a vise that doesn't have the end of the leg secured!

Didn't intend to write this much!
Hope some of it helps!

Bill D.

[TexasDeuce]

Great info!. Thanks for the advice!

Bill, No need for apologies. I'd like to see more of your craftsmanship as well. I appreciate your input and look forward to learning more from you all the other experienced forum members.