Question: Engraving vise

Sinterklaas

Elite Cafe Member
Joined
Dec 19, 2015
Messages
198
Location
Holland
Hello everybody,

I need your opinion on Engraving vises/blocks.

As I currently don't have one, I am looking to get myself a good one that will suit me for a while. Before the need arises to buy an extra one to hold things the first one cant.

What I want to do is engrave small objects/jewellery. So I don't need a big one. And I am not planning on doing knives or guns in the foreseeable future.

Right now I have my eye on a micro/small ball-vise that has a centring option. Like the one pictured here only smaller. http://www.grstools.com/images/products/003-541_2-1Wa.jpg

Are they a good choice or is it better to buy a "normal" one and a turntable/platform? If so why?

Also I am in Europe so shipping from the USA is quite costly for heavy items. There for I would prefer to buy it here.

Thank you
 

Sinterklaas

Elite Cafe Member
Joined
Dec 19, 2015
Messages
198
Location
Holland
Hi Mike,

Thanks for the reply!
Yes I have seen the link. The GRS dealer for my country is very close only 30-45min away by car.

If I know what is a good choice I will visit them. Brands like Linsay and other smaller USA made brands have no distributors.
They sell out off there shop, garage or house.

Which is fine for people in the USA but for people in other parts of the world shipping is too expensive.
 

rmgreen

Elite Cafe Member
Joined
Sep 3, 2009
Messages
338
Location
Washington
Yes, this is true when we in the USA buy from suppliers in Europe of European made goods/materials. This is the cost of doing business.
 

Andrew Biggs

Moderator
Joined
Nov 10, 2006
Messages
5,034
Location
Christchurch, New Zealand
The vise that would serve you well is the GRS Standard Vise http://www.grstools.com/workholding/vises-and-blocks/standard-block.html

or the GRS low profile vise http://www.grstools.com/workholding/vises-and-blocks/003-615.html

The micro block is a bit to small for engraving purposes. When you engrave you want a vise with bit of weight and mass so it actually holds the work in position.

You only need a turntable when you use a microscope. If you are using a loupe or optivisor or your naked eye........then you don't need a turntable.

Cheers
Andrew
 

Sinterklaas

Elite Cafe Member
Joined
Dec 19, 2015
Messages
198
Location
Holland
Hi Andrew,

Yes I do have a microscope. That's why I was looking at positioning vises. But the low profile vise looks also very attractive.

What you say about the weight is true. I have some limited experience with the small GRS vise used for stone-setting. Even when pushing prongs you must use 1 hand to keep it in place.

I will have to find some solution for a turntable. I have one for my soldering block. But its not gonna hold a heavy engravers vise I'm afraid :)
 

Andrew Biggs

Moderator
Joined
Nov 10, 2006
Messages
5,034
Location
Christchurch, New Zealand
I will have to find some solution for a turntable. I have one for my soldering block. But its not gonna hold a heavy engravers vise I'm afraid

Personally, I think that the turntable works much easier than an adjustable vise. With a turntable, once centred to the microscope, you simply push it into position. This becomes automatic very quickly and you don't even realise that you are doing it.

You can make your own turntable with a Lazy Susan bearing and some ply-wood. This is what I used for many years and it worked.............. I just got used to it being a bit wobbly :)

But I do have to say that when I brought the GRS turntable it made quite a big difference and cutting became easier.

As for resale value. I wouldn't worry about that. Unless you are planning on selling your tools in the immediate future. For most of us we will be six feet under and it'll be our kids selling the tools and by then they won't be worth much anyway. :)

Cheers
Andrew
 

Dave London

~ Elite 1000 Member ~
Joined
Nov 12, 2006
Messages
1,764
Location
Colorado
A lot of people use a shimpo pottery wheel, aka banding wheel. Should be available in Europe
 

Sinterklaas

Elite Cafe Member
Joined
Dec 19, 2015
Messages
198
Location
Holland
Andrew & Dave, thanks your your opinions.

I also found some ways of making a turntable online.

And I also came up with the idea to use the turning mechanism used for chairs on fishing boats etc. It's low and tuns 360degrees and very cheap.
I would only need to add some top and bottom plate.
 

BLW

Member
Joined
Jun 20, 2012
Messages
40
Location
NSW Australia
When I get time I'll make a turntable from an old car rotor, as for the vice get the best original branded vice you can afford I use a GRS micro ball and I have a knockoff standard vice which I regret getting as its total crap, it was branded GRS and thought it was genuine
 

speeedy6

Elite Cafe Member
Joined
Sep 16, 2013
Messages
271
Sinterklass,
Andrew is right on the spot. If you're a beginner ,a lazy suzan bearing and plywood is the way to go. Shmear lots of Vaseline in the bearings to smooth it out. Lots of threads on this forum about homemade turntables ,stands and vises. I use a homemade turntable and a cheap ,small machinist vise . The trick is to use lots of mass to steady everything. I robbed a couple of my sons free weights. Made of solid cast steel they're flat and round just right to sit on top of my turntable. As soon as I start making money off engraving the first dollars will go to upgrade tools .
 

Sinterklaas

Elite Cafe Member
Joined
Dec 19, 2015
Messages
198
Location
Holland
Brought a GRS vise

Last week I took the plunge and got a GRS engraving vise. With the holders and also a 901 hand-piece for my Gravermach G8. I got my Gravermach from Ebay but it came with a magnum hand-piece. That thing is very heavy!

About the vise, compared to the small vise. I have only worked with the someone else's small/mini vise before.
This regular size vise is nice and heavy, but turns very smooth and easy when you want to. But it won't move unlike the micro vise which moves too easy sometimes. There is even a holder for small coins. And the best thing is I for got to buy some Thermo-lock, guess what I found under the holder for the accessories. 4 Sample sticks of Thermo-lock!

For my turn-table I have ordered a lazy susan bearing from Ali-express. Less than $4. I will put some wood on top and on the bottom when it arrives. And I will have a turn-table.

Thanks everybody for the tips and advise.
 

Attachments

  • 2016-08-01-2952_1000x562.jpg
    2016-08-01-2952_1000x562.jpg
    70.3 KB · Views: 198
  • 2016-08-01-2950_1000x562.jpg
    2016-08-01-2950_1000x562.jpg
    71 KB · Views: 198
  • 2016-08-01-2949_1000x562.jpg
    2016-08-01-2949_1000x562.jpg
    58.7 KB · Views: 195
  • 2016-08-01-2947_1000x562.jpg
    2016-08-01-2947_1000x562.jpg
    62.8 KB · Views: 195
  • 2016-08-01-2945_1000x562.jpg
    2016-08-01-2945_1000x562.jpg
    46.5 KB · Views: 193

Sinterklaas

Elite Cafe Member
Joined
Dec 19, 2015
Messages
198
Location
Holland
Cheap homemade turntable

Hi guys and gals,

2 weeks ago I made a turntable.
It cost me next to noting! And made it in about 1hour and 5 minutes.
1 hour searching for 4 identical screws that where short enough to not come out the other side.
5 minutes screwing the thing together.

Got a lazy susan bearing from Aliexpress. $4
Got a wooden pizza plate thingy. $free
Some screws I had. $free

Only need to mount the bottom part to something so it wont tip over when putting the vise close to the edge.

It runs very smooth. These bearings are made for furniture. So weight is not a problem.

Search on Aliexpress for:
"Lazy Susan Dining Table Turntable Hotel Home"
 

Attachments

  • 2016-08-20-2981_749x421.jpg
    2016-08-20-2981_749x421.jpg
    45.5 KB · Views: 154
  • 2016-08-20-2982_749x421.jpg
    2016-08-20-2982_749x421.jpg
    50.4 KB · Views: 153
  • 2016-08-20-2984_749x421.jpg
    2016-08-20-2984_749x421.jpg
    25.6 KB · Views: 151
  • 2016-08-20-2985_749x421.jpg
    2016-08-20-2985_749x421.jpg
    44.1 KB · Views: 153
  • 2016-08-20-2986_749x421.jpg
    2016-08-20-2986_749x421.jpg
    39.9 KB · Views: 153

Dani Girl

~ Elite 1000 Member ~
Joined
May 6, 2012
Messages
1,110
Location
NSW, Australia.
Steve Lindsay sells a little low profile vise that doesn't actually spin but you don't need it to if you put a good turntable under it. I have been told it's a clever design that keeps your work centered under the microscope.

I used a microblock for years for all sorts of things and I loved it. I have gone to a larger one now and have lent the other to a student. I got too many 12" plus bowies to work on to use the little fella any more
 

Bigarmedmike

Member
Joined
May 23, 2012
Messages
33
Location
Wales, uk
hi, im setting my own micro setting bench up at the moment and im just wondering why would you need a turntable underneath the grs ball vice as i thought the vice spins so what purpose does the turntable provide? im probably missing something obvious here :) thanks in advance
 

Latest posts

Sponsors

Top