My new VISE!
Posted: Thu Feb 04, 2016 6:05 pm
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:
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: