3 inch vise

[threesixesinarow]

This is my big vise. It’s mostly a smaller imitation of a Rhodes 5” shaper vise but it operates from either end and can be clamped in some different positions.

Like on the Rhodes the moving jaw swivels to hold irregular and tapered work, and the jaw turns backwards to hold shorter, narrower stuff. It can also hold small cylinders on end using a built in vee.

Members here on homemadetools.net have made better and more original versions of its features - Rossbotic’s round stock vise holds a much greater range of round stuff repeatably, Rick Sparber’s lock down shaper vise has a more robust connection between the jaw and nut, and Toolmaker51’s self-aligning clamping pad does much more than the swiveling jaw. I even planned to make a base to mount it on end like Tuomas’ fixed and improved drill press vise - either horizontally on my shaper instead of a table, or vertically on my mill instead of an angle plate but the extra thickness might be too much.

It works okay, though! The jaws are 3” wide and 7/8” tall, and open to 3-1/8” in three steps, which is about the same capacity as the 3” original vise for my Atlas horizontal mill. Its overall height is 1-3/4”.


As a milling vise


As a shaper vise


With 1-1/2” and 2” vises


Rhodes 5” vise, from their crank shaper brochure


Easy 1/4” handles


Easy 3/8” square sockets


Dimensions


Parts


Comparison with the Atlas shaper vise

[Stevohdee]

This is my big vise. It’s mostly a smaller imitation of a Rhodes 5” shaper vise but it operates from either end and can be clamped in some different positions.

Like on the Rhodes the moving jaw swivels to hold irregular and tapered work, and the jaw turns backwards to hold shorter, narrower stuff. It can also hold small cylinders on end using a built in vee.

Members here on homemadetools.net have made better and more original versions of its features - Rossbotic’s round stock vise holds a much greater range of round stuff repeatably, Rick Sparber’s lock down shaper vise has a more robust connection between the jaw and nut, and Toolmaker51’s self-aligning clamping pad does much more than the swiveling jaw. I even planned to make a base to mount it on end like Tuomas’ fixed and improved drill press vise - either horizontally on my shaper instead of a table, or vertically on my mill instead of an angle plate but the extra thickness might be too much.

It works okay, though! The jaws are 3” wide and 7/8” tall, and open to 3-1/8” in three steps, which is about the same capacity as the 3” original vise for my Atlas horizontal mill. Its overall height is 1-3/4”.


As a milling vise


As a shaper vise


With 1-1/2” and 2” vises


Rhodes 5” vise, from their crank shaper brochure


Easy 1/4” handles


Easy 3/8” square sockets


Dimensions


Parts


Comparison with the Atlas shaper vise

Nice work!!

[old_toolmaker]

threesixesinarow,

That is a very nice job on the vise. I really appreciate the hand scraping as a finishing touch. I always like seeing your work!

[DIYer]

Thanks threesixesinarow! We've added your Vise to our Vises category,
as well as to your builder page: threesixesinarow's Homemade Tools. Your receipt:

Vise by threesixesinarow

tags: vise

[threesixesinarow]

Thanks, Stevohdee, and thanks, Dick, I appreciate it.

You two might recognize what the gears are in the second picture.

⁃ Clark

[Saltfever]

It goes without saying the appreciation for the pics of your vise. But I want to go beyond that to say a big Thank You for pulling all the relevant links together in your write up. Your intent was clearly to make life easier for others who may want more background with the possibly of even more design improvements.

It is a common theme in this wonderful, world-wide, community.

[wizard69]

Nice work!

So why this pattern instead of a screwless vise? Was easy access to the leadscrew a primary motivation?

[Stevohdee]

Ummm... Mini lathe speed selection gears?? One is made from some sort of fibre material?

[rossbotics]

Great job
I really like the ability to angle the jaw for taper work, thanks for sharing and your comments

Doug

[threesixesinarow]

Thanks, Saltfever - yes, and I hope I haven’t missed anyone!