Panavise accessory arbor

The Panavise base, shown here mounted on a bench hook*,

https://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/f...e/119215-1.jpg

has a very DIY-friendly clamping arrangement to hold the vise. The clamping cotters inside the green sphere are each equipped with half of a 5/8" hole. When the red knob is tightened, these cotters clamp the 5/8" rod on the base of the vise and lock the vise in both azimuth and elevation. No nasty proprietary threads or sizes, just a simple arrangement that works and works very well.

It didn't take me long to take advantage of this arrangement. A 5/8" rod attached to my matched sliding vises...

https://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/f...e/119215-2.jpg

made them much easier to use - especially so when soldering.

I've meant to further exploit the simple clamping in this very useful base and today I got an opportunity to make this...

https://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/f...e/119215-3.jpg

A 5/8" steel rod is threaded 12 x 1 mm on the left end and 3/8 x 24 on the right end. (That should provide a bit of confusion for my heirs when they discover it.)

The 12 x 1 allows me to mount any of the Unimat chucks, 3jaw, 4jaw, and drill...

https://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/f...e/119215-4.jpg

and the 3/8 x 24 accommodates the watchmaker's vise...

https://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/f...e/119215-5.jpg

If you have a Panavise, I heartily recommend getting the base...

https://www.amazon.com/PanaVise-305-...=panavise+base

and give some thought to which of your tools can be improved by mounting them thereto.

Damn, it's nice to have a shop and a lathe. I only thought of this part this morning in the shower. It's not made or sold anywhere but by this afternoon I have one in my hand.

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* The bench edge clamp supplied with the base puts the Panavise too close to the edge of the bench. There is no support for one's forearms so it's difficult to hold the hands steadily enough to do fine work. By moving the Panavise back from the edge by use of the bench hook, the forearms are supported and steadier work is the result.

Very nice! I'm curious, the other end of your bench hook has some additional stuff on it" I see the planing stop on the end (although it's a bit high for a traditional planing stop..but then all the bench hooks I've ever used were for wood working ), and kind of understand why a right angle corner would be useful, but there's that bit that looks bolted onto the outside.

That poor bench hook!

Great little set of ideas here. Panavises have been around forever and are a fantastic product. Well worth looking into for those that don’t have one yet.

I’ve often wondered about building one as a project. Like many things today though it is often cheaper to buy one. Accessories though are another thing and all it takes is some imagination.

Thanks Marv, you just "forced" me to buy two new low profile bases! I have have had the original Panavise with vacuum base for MANY years. The idea of using the base for other things never really came up. I checked the price here in Australia (Amazon) and at AU$31 was cheaper than buying from the US (with the conversion rate).
I have a small faceplate that I bought "for something", now I have "the something" to make. A fixturing plate for one of the new low profile bases.

Thank you Marv :-)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by bruce.desertrat

Very nice! I'm curious, the other end of your bench hook has some additional stuff on it" I see the planing stop on the end (although it's a bit high for a traditional planing stop..but then all the bench hooks I've ever used were for wood working ), and kind of understand why a right angle corner would be useful, but there's that bit that looks bolted onto the outside.

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I'm not a woodworker (actually hate working with the stuff) so my "design" isn't thusly influenced. Actually, the hook just sort of grew using scraps of the brown stuff that were in the bin.

I added the 90 degree corner to the backstop after a part with a rounded end kept slipping along the backstop and threatened to slide off the end. The small piece of wood bolted to the side is an auxiliary backstop. The big backstop may be too far away for small parts so the auxiliary is bolted to holes drilled in the plate. Three sets of holes allow it to be placed such that a part of any size is held at a comfortable working distance. When the auxiliary isn't in use it's convenient to store it and its securing bolts where they are in the picture. That way they don't get misplaced and are immediately available when needed.

When I can't accurately predict all the end uses of a given tool, I like to use an evolutionary design philosophy. Keep modifying the tool to do each job that arises. Eventually, the tool will work for all needed uses or become such a jumble as to be useless. In the latter case, it becomes a perfect icon for the design of the next generation of its species. Hey, it works for animal species, why not tools? Of course, sometimes you end up with an anteater or a giraffe and not a leopard or an eagle. Doesn't matter, anteaters still fit their environment.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Peter Sanders

Thanks Marv, you just "forced" me to buy two new low profile bases! I have have had the original Panavise with vacuum base for MANY years. The idea of using the base for other things never really came up. I checked the price here in Australia (Amazon) and at AU$31 was cheaper than buying from the US (with the conversion rate).
I have a small faceplate that I bought "for something", now I have "the something" to make. A fixturing plate for one of the new low profile bases.

Thank you Marv :-)

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The tool itself isn't much - a piece of steel with threads turned on each end. At first I was a bit reluctant to publish it. But I consoled myself with the thought that so often we miss the obvious conjunction of our tools to produce new tools or augmented capabilities. Your response highlights that, so thanks for helping me justify the post.

Now that you have two bases you can think about building a heavy-duty version of the common third hand. Make some "graspers" and mount them on each base, then fix the bases to a plywood base (perhaps a super-sized bench hook) in such a way that the graspers can almost reach each other.

mklotz,

What a useful tool!!! I have had no first hand experience with the PanaVise. I had always steered clear of the PanaVise as I thought it had light duty look to it. My opinion has now been changed forever! Thanks for posting! I am impressed.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by old_toolmaker

mklotz,

What a useful tool!!! I have had no first hand experience with the PanaVise. I had always steered clear of the PanaVise as I thought it had light duty look to it. My opinion has now been changed forever! Thanks for posting! I am impressed.

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Well, it's not a Kurt but, then, it was never meant to be. It's an amazingly handy device with a wealth of useful accessories including...

wide mouth head

https://www.amazon.com/PanaVise-396-...words=panavise

self-centering wide head

https://www.amazon.com/PanaVise-Self...words=panavise

circuit board holder

https://www.amazon.com/PanaVise-315-...words=panavise

miniature head

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000SQWPY0...539450771&sr=2

fixturing head

https://www.amazon.com/PanaVise-437-...words=panavise

All that plus the ability to easily accept homemade accessories makes it a good bit of kit. They don't make a fly-tying head for it yet but they should. That would be a good tool for the folks on this forum to develop. Something along the lines of this one...

THE COTTARELLI VIsE THE ULTIMATE FLY TYING TOOL FOR SALMON FLY TYER

mklotz,

Thanks for posting the links to the accessories, Marv! The vise does look very versatile. I will either build my own base or buy one. I am undecided at this point.
I have built a couple of simple fly tying vises. My first one was done over fifty years ago but no where near the quality of the Cotterelli. Now that would be a good project!

Hi Marv
Yes, that's a good idea. I was think about implementing your soldering gluing fixture...

http://www.homemadetools.net/forum/s...7314#post36845

...and adapting it (them if I make two) to the Panavise base.
I'm also think about the three small magnetic based dial indicator holders I bought, and using them (suitably modified) as adjustable graspers.

Peter Sanders,

The dial indicator holder idea is awesome. That is a ready made off the shelf solution.

<!-- BEGIN /var/www/html/homemadetools/protected/modules/zeus/views/tool/postUpdate.php -->
Thanks mklotz! We've added your Twin Sliding Vise Holder to our Vises category,
as well as to your builder page: mklotz's Homemade Tools. Your receipt:

<div id="blocks"> <div class="block b1 pngfix"> <div class="bimg"> <div> <a href="http://www.homemadetools.net/homemade-twin-sliding-vise-holder"> <img src="/uploads/218505/homemade-twin-sliding-vise-holder.jpeg"/> </a> </div> </div> <div class="head pngfix"></div> <div class="left pngfix"></div> <div class="right pngfix"></div> <div class="blockover b1 pngfix"> <div class="title"> <a href="http://www.homemadetools.net/homemade-twin-sliding-vise-holder">Twin Sliding Vise Holder</a> <span> by <a href="http://www.homemadetools.net/builder/mklotz">mklotz</a></span> </div> <div class="tags">tags: <a href='http://www.homemadetools.net/tag/vise'>vise</a>, <a href='http://www.homemadetools.net/tag/panavise'>PanaVise</a>, <a href='http://www.homemadetools.net/tag/holder'>holder</a> </div> </div> </div> </div>
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<!-- BEGIN /var/www/html/homemadetools/protected/modules/zeus/views/tool/postUpdate.php -->
Thanks mklotz! We've added your Panavise Accessory Arbor to our Workholding category,
as well as to your builder page: mklotz's Homemade Tools. Your receipt:

<div id="blocks"> <div class="block b1 pngfix"> <div class="bimg"> <div> <a href="http://www.homemadetools.net/homemade-panavise-accessory-arbor"> <img src="/uploads/218510/homemade-panavise-accessory-arbor.jpeg"/> </a> </div> </div> <div class="head pngfix"></div> <div class="left pngfix"></div> <div class="right pngfix"></div> <div class="blockover b1 pngfix"> <div class="title"> <a href="http://www.homemadetools.net/homemade-panavise-accessory-arbor">Panavise Accessory Arbor</a> <span> by <a href="http://www.homemadetools.net/builder/mklotz">mklotz</a></span> </div> <div class="tags">tags: <a href='http://www.homemadetools.net/tag/panavise'>PanaVise</a>, <a href='http://www.homemadetools.net/tag/mount'>mount</a> </div> </div> </div> </div>
<!-- END /var/www/html/homemadetools/protected/modules/zeus/views/tool/postUpdate.php -->

mklotz,

As you have quite a bit of experience with the PanaVise, would you recommend I buy the low profile base or the standard base?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by old_toolmaker

mklotz,

As you have quite a bit of experience with the PanaVise, would you recommend I buy the low profile base or the standard base?

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Not knowing the type of work you intend to use it for, I'm reluctant to make a recommendation. Instead, let me explain why I bought the low profile base.

When doing fine detail work, I like to be able to rest my forearms and the heels of my hands on the bench for maximum stability of the handheld tool. This is easier to accomplish with a low profile base.

Also, if I ever felt the need for a higher base mounting, a riser block made of wood would be easy to make.

I bought the table base clamp...

https://www.amazon.com/PanaVise-Benc...se+bench+clamp

(years ago when it was a lot cheaper) but, ever since mounting the base to the bench hook as pictured above, the table clamp has gone unused. Even if you don't want a bench hook, mounting the base to a board and clamping the board to the table with a C-clamp or small bar clamp will be a perfectly adequate substitute for the Panavise clamp.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by old_toolmaker

mklotz,

As you have quite a bit of experience with the PanaVise, would you recommend I buy the low profile base or the standard base?

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The easy answer is to get one of each!

We use these at work for electrical maintenance and the best reason to get the high unit is to afford yourself clearance. Depending upon the attachment this can be very beneficial. One of them is actually mounted on the Panavise cast iron sub-base. This will give you even more clearance to swing things around.

The biggest problem, as Marv pointed out, is that a high mounted vise can be uncomfortable in some situations. One the other hand if you have a padded rest for your arms a little height helps. In the end it is an individual thing.

mklotz

Thanks. Marv! Your guidance is well received. I will go for the low profile model as a beginning point. They are not that pricey that I can't get the other size later.

wizard69,

Thank you! I understand what you mean about working with larger items. Most of my work is smaller so the low profile base will be OK for me.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by old_toolmaker

mklotz

Thanks. Marv! Your guidance is well received. I will go for the low profile model as a beginning point. They are not that pricey that I can't get the other size later.

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Once you obtain your base, one of the most useful accessories you can make for it will be a means of holding your Dremel tool or Foredom handpiece in it.

You can get fancy and make form-fitting clamps but a hose clamp attached to a 5/8" rod will work well and has the benefit of being adaptable enough to hold other tools/objects.

Be careful to not obstruct the ventilation openings on the Dremel though.

mklotz,

Thanks Marv! I will consider making one as you described.
Speaking of the Dremel, I had purchased a Dremel (now obsolete) about 20 years ago. It quit working so I sent it back to Dremel for repair. They told me it was obsolete and sent me a refurbished model 3000 with a case full of accessories at "No Charge" to me. Now, there is a good company if there ever was one. I am a very pleased customer!

mklotz,

My Low Profile PanaVise Base arrived today. I am looking forward to trying it out soon! Thanks for the nudge in that direction, Marv!