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Okay, go ahead and laugh...

I needed a jeweler's coping saw; I found one offered with a tiny vice. I realized that I could really use a vise to shape nuts and saddles. I've been using the larger bench top vise, but it leaves a lot to be desired. So I searched mini vises on ebay and ran across this hobby vise, which has the advantage of a suction bottom.

I paid my $6 and got it in the mail today. The one glaring flaw was that it had a bolt riding directly through threaded plastic, which was rather loose. I picked up a 5/16" bolt and matching rounded base brad hole tee nut, and threw them at my handy husband. He inserted a small plastic grommet on the fixed side, so the bolt would ride smoothly and snugly, then installed the threaded tee nut on the movable jaw. As an added touch, he soldiered a little cross bar to the end of the bolt, so I can easily adjust it easily. Now it grips the bone very securely and I have access to the to and both ends to properly shape it.

Here are closeups of the mini vice holding the nut that I have to shape for the classical guitar that I'm in the process of rebuilding:

Looks as though it will be very handy, and the price was certainly right!

I've got one of these. Lots of companies sell them, for relatively low cost given the precision that it has (this one lists on Amazon for about $52.) It's very precise and accurate but somewhat fiddly to tighten and loosen, and it needs to be held down with clamps. For holding saddles and nuts though, assuming the sides are parallel, it does very well.

Yeah lots of little vices some of them hold things too Love your ingenuity

MaineGeezer wrote:Looks as though it will be very handy, and the price was certainly right!

I've got one of these. Lots of companies sell them, for relatively low cost given the precision that it has (this one lists on Amazon for about $52.) It's very precise and accurate but somewhat fiddly to tighten and loosen, and it needs to be held down with clamps. For holding saddles and nuts though, assuming the sides are parallel, it does very well.

I saw several of these and they're certainly higher quality. Since I really have no true workshop, I work anywhere between my 3rd floor sewing room, to the front porch, dining room, or basement. I don't always have a good clamping surface, so I like suction bases.

Besides, I'm a sucker for taking what is essentially a $6 piece of trash, and transforming it into something that's really useful. I did however, have to pay an additional $1.90 for parts.

Diane Kauffmds wrote:
I saw several of these and they're certainly higher quality. Since I really have no true workshop, I work anywhere between my 3rd floor sewing room, to the front porch, dining room, or basement. I don't always have a good clamping surface, so I like suction bases.

Besides, I'm a sucker for taking what is essentially a $6 piece of trash, and transforming it into something that's really useful. I did however, have to pay an additional $1.90 for parts.

That used to be called Yankee ingenuity. Fancy tools are nice as are jury-rigged tools. I, too, run a 'distributed' workshop; I am just waiting for the shackles to be put on and the confinement to begin. :-)

Danl8 wrote: That used to be called Yankee ingenuity. Fancy tools are nice as are jury-rigged tools. I, too, run a 'distributed' workshop; I am just waiting for the shackles to be put on and the confinement to begin. :-)

I think they call that, "building a guitar".

Very cool. I am a bit jealous. I think I'll buy one like yours someday that will clamp in my bench mounted vise.

I peruse eBay as do a lot of us I'm sure and your little vice got me looking and I found these little guys and got the pair for about $11. I mounted them to a hardwood block and clamp that in my parrot vise for nut and saddle work.

I think your vices are probably a lot better made than mine John J. It was a good find.