Question: Harp mini vise

[Takoyaki]

Hi there,

I am searching for a vise for setting and smaller engravings.

Does anybody has experience with the Harp mini ball vise for setting & engraving?

link:
http://www.gosho-tool.com/shopdetail/010002000002/010/002/X/page2/order/

also what ringholder do You use/can recomend ?
Any opinion on this model?
Link:
http://www.gosho-tool.com/shopdetail/010002000004/010/002/X/page1/order/

Searched for the harp vise, thought it is an american tool company, but didn`t find anything about at the forum & on the net ...

Glad to get some opinions!

Thanks in advance!

Takoyaki

 

[Ron Spokovich]

I checked various sites, and cannot find information on the Harp vise, as shown. It appears quite small, and with the ring holders shown, it appears to be just right for outside ring work. I'm thinking it's European, or Asian, made. As for other holders, you may want to google in phrases such as, "GRS Tools", "Ring Genie", and "inside ring engraving holders". Once there, you'll see the array of ring tooling, and there should be some videos to view, as well. I hope this is of help to you. There are quite a few things available, depending upon your budget.

 

[Chujybear]

Or a setters vise

 

[JJ Roberts]

Takoyaki,GRS sell's a small vise called the Mico Block weight 4lb. J.J.

 

[Takoyaki]

Hi there!

Thanks alot for Your input!

I went today to the shop to check out that vise! Looked great in the catalogue ...!
Guess it`s chinese or indian made, cast iron, not well chromed, lots of pits n pores! It doesn`t have a bearing, so even in the "loose" position, it not really moves!

Size & weight of that vise was just good! 10cm / about 4" and 5Kg / 11lbs.

The GRS micro block is for setting nice I guess, though looks a bit small & light (4lbs/2Kg)for engraving!
Does it have a bearing ?
what is about the Lindsay PC-vise (does it have a bearing?)or the Ringenie Vise (nothing mentioned about the size/weight of it!?!)
http://www.airgraver.com/Engraving_Blocks.htm
http://www.ringenie.com/products.php#Vise
Does somebody of You have one of these and use it regulary ? Any experiences on these?


Thanks for Your kind help!

There seam to be 2 different GRS Ringholder.
which one You use? which one is the better one & why?
One is made from plastic(?) other from steel ?!

https://contenti.com/grs-id-ring-holder
https://www.riogrande.com/Product/grs-inside-ring-holder-set-for-vises/118124

The ringenie looks very nice, but the price ...!
Is it so much better than the GRS ringholders? How about the space when working from side of the ring?

Glad for some opinions! Thanks in advance!

Greetings, Takoyaki

 

[quickcut07]

The Lindsay Vise Palm Control is 4" diameter weight 12-lbs. Jaw opening 2.4" on your link it is the third from the bottom. Had to look at mine again can't say if it has a bearing I believe so. The base and mid section are separate topped with 1.75" jaws. Very nice vise I use it for all small work. Fits your hand.

Eric

 

[Dave London]

The Lindsay palm vise does have a bearing turns smooth as glass MTC

 

[Andrew Biggs]

Whatever you do............buy a good quality vise.

It's a very important piece of kit and going the cheap way will cause nothing but frustration and tears. And then you will eventually end up buying a good vise. So going the cheap way will be an expensive exercise.

Cheers
Andrew

You have a dealer in Tokyo that may be able to help you.
Suzuho Co. Ltd.
Tokyo Head Office/201, 3-14-34
Kamioosaki, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo 141-0021
Phone: (81) 3-6859-0085
E-Mail: toshinobu@suzuho.com

 

[Takoyaki]

Hi again all,

Great!
Thanks alot to take Your time to share Your insights with a beginner!

Andrew, Thanks!
Exactly that I`d like to do!
I am not an engraver, so I am a little (though, not just a little!) tapping in the dark!


what makes a graver vise a good quality vise? what works well and what not?!

and, what makes a setter vise a good vise, as for setting it seams people prefer a smaller vise today,
but for engraving a bigger/heavier one.


what to look for on an vise!
The nice look isn`t important for me, function, I am searching for a tool I can do good work with, many years!

There are so much low quality tools in the market, even for expensive prices, so if someone has no clue/experience what to look for, difficult to pick the right one!


I`d like to find a good vise for both tasks, setting & engraving!
one for both! is that possible?
Or are that opposite tasks and I`ll end up buying 2 different one ?

The GRS micro vise I did try, movement was great, very handy, but felt it might be too small/light for engraving.
The standard vise I felt could be a bit more handy (for setting), something in the midway between the 2 !
But maybe I think in the wrong way ?
I am a bench-jeweler not an engraver.



I would be glad to get some light in my dark!


what is about the Ringenie vise? It has a bearing and the positioning function, made from stainless ...
don`t know anything about the size & weight, as it isn`t stated at the Ringenie page. It looks small.

Somebody here who has and use the Ringenie vise regular? How is it ?
Size is same as the GRS micro ball or a little bigger?

Then there is the enset -vise. Any opinions on that one?
http://www.engraver.com/setters-envise/
http://www.tecnijoy.net/product_inf...cts_id=1543&osCsid=ifb0tt3t7ckb7o1nh261es6sa6
(is it cheaper in Europe ?)

Jura has also a nice setter ball vise, but they use the GRS microball as base, so it will be good for setting, but for engraving maybe too lightweight?!


@ Eric & Dave
Do You use the Lindsay PC-vise for setting or engraving? You might have other vises too, so with the posibility of vise-choice, what is the "special" task You use the PC-vise for ? And for what are Your other vise/vises the better choice ...?

I try to find out what is the right, "good tool", like to find a good vise for both tasks,
setting & engraving!
One for both!
is that possible? or are that opposite tasks?

Do I need to buy 2 different vises a small/handy one for setting AND a heavy one for engraving ???

Money isn`t unlimited, but ones investing wise, is saving more (money, labor, time, anger ...)
than twice buying junk, I think!

I am sitting here far away from the good engraver tool sources, so the choices to try are limited, sending is expensive and the shops here who offer engraver tools are very expensive!
(The GRS microball cost here U$500 ! )

Also, to try a tool in a shop or on a tradeshow is one thing, but having that tool then for many years to come in your shop is another!

So, I would be very glad to get some more detailed, professional opinions on vises/vices!
You guys use these tools everyday, some of You for many years already, so You know better what to look for than I do...

Sorry for so many questions!
Thank You very much for Your great help!


Greetings
Takoyaki


PS.
Just if you are interested (and if it is OK to post this)!
Here some information in English, on the earthquake in Kumamoto/Japan ...
there are hundredthousend without water, food, electric, shelter ! Many people sleep in their cars, or outside, as buildings still can collapse, it continues to shake ...

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/20...e-7-3-quake-rocks-kumamoto-kills-dozens-more/
http://www.japantoday.com/category/national/view/2016-kumamoto-earthquake
http://asia.nikkei.com/Business/Trends/Kumamoto-quake-halts-factory-work

 

[Takoyaki]

Hello,

Sorry, maybe my thread is "a bit" too long!

my question is, what makes a vise a good vise?

Thanks for help!

Greetings,
Takoyaki

 

[Andrew Biggs]

Hi Takoyaki

Yes, that's a lot of questions

Tool selection is a personal preference thing. But..........always make sure you buy good quality tools with a reputable brand name. That one simple thing will make life easier for you and save you money in the long run. It is surprising how much difference there is between a good vise and a crappy one.

Yes, it will make your eyes water when you pay for it. But you won't regret it.

Vises..........You want very smooth rotation, jaws closing evenly. Even a half millimetre gap at one end can cause problems holding the work. The vise should open and close smoothly and not feel sticky or clunky.

With an engraving vise you want weight and mass appropriate for your work. The vise gets a lot of pressure placed on it when you are cutting so you want the vise to be stable and not constantly tip over all the time. The weight and mass also help absorb vibration which is your enemy weather you are engraving or stone setting.

Small vises like the GRS micro block are not that well suited toward engraving but stone setter love them.

Medium vises like the GRS low profile and standard block are great for general purpose engraving and stone setting. They have good weight and mass for most jobs including stone setting with the appropriate attachments like ring holders etc etc.

Large vises like the GRS Magnablock and positioning vises are used for larger work like gun actions, gun barrels etc etc. For general purpose work they can tend to be a bit too heavy.

By the sounds of it you would want a standard or low profile vise. This will cover just about all that you want to achieve. With a ring holder clamped in the jaws some thermolock and home made jigs you can hold just about anything.

There are other specialist vises as well......for instance the GRS Benchmate is very popular amongst jewellers. But it isn't suitable for engraving.

Cheers
Andrew

 

[Takoyaki]

Dear Andrew,
hello all,

Thanks alot for such a detailed answer!


I searched some months now around for that details!
Everywhere I read to buy a good quality vise, but not what in detail to look for!
Thank You very much!
I really apreciate it!

So I`ll have to take a closer look at the GRS low profile and standard block.
Movement of the GRS microblock I tried was just super smooth in opposite to that Harp vise, what felt like the upper & lower parts somehow "backed" together!

About the ringfixtures, the ID ringholder is the newer one, isn`t it?
Is it also the better one, or is the older version the better way to go?
They cost pretty much the same ...

My brother has the complete benchmate set and is really happy with it!
I thought to go with a ball vise & fixtures. ;-)
Maybe after lending out the other ones tools, we end up both with the benchmate AND ballvise ...! Lol!

Again, thanks alot for Your time & advise! It is a great help!

Greetings,
Takoyaki

 

[Andrew Biggs]

Yes, the ID ring holder is the newer one and better to work with than the older one.

Cheers
Andrew

 

[Takoyaki]

Hi Andrew, hello all,

Thanks alot!
guess I`ll have to get that one! ;-)

Thanks again! Great help!

Greetings,
Takoyaki

PS. btw beautiful work You do!

 

[jml]

I've had a value/economy block in the past, currently own a microblock. only draw back with the microblock is the weight. I wish it was a few pounds heavier, also wish there was an optional rubber base to reduce unwanted movement. if only grs made a medium between micro and standard

 

[Omar Haltam]

I have a no name micro block I bought in china, and it was about $70 but after using it I would never buy again, like Andrew and others said pay extra for a good quality vise and it will last for many years. I ended up buying the Enset vise which is between the micro block and standard GRS block , it is about 7 pounds
has good weight to it and is very solid, works both for setting and engraving

 

[Takoyaki]

Hi there,

Thanks for answering and great help!


I decided to go with the Lindsay PC-vice.
I think it`s for me the best compromise between being
"handy" for setting and heavy enough for engraving.
GRS has no vice in that size, it is between the GRS microblock and the GRS standard vice.

Guess in quality Lindsay & GRS are both great!

The enset-vise I also considered about, but haven`t found any comment on the internet.
Thought from the video on u tub it is smaller, same like the GRS microblock!

Ringholder I`ll go for the new GRS ID-system.
Does anybody have here have experiences with the extention-kit for wider rings?



Chinese products I would not buy!
Due to the low quality...!
Sorry!
(Just my opinion!)


Thanks & greetings
Tako

 

[J.Hayes]

I had a chance to do some setting prep work with a GRS micro ball vise with the Jura ring holder, it was sweet. My guess is you'll end up with more than one vise.

 

[Takoyaki]

Hello,

thanks!

Yes, that looks also to be a very nice combinaton, especially the ringholder.


But I am tall and healthy (big) with oversized hands,
for setting AND engraving the microball felt a bit too handy for me, when I tried it. ;-)


@ J.Hayes
To end up with more than one vise, I try to avoid by buying an "inbetween" sized vise.
So I hope I can use it for all my work, though it is jewelry, not large `n heavy Items.
Quality should be good, so I`ll enjoy it hopefully for a long time!


At first are other tools "on the bucket list";
The GRS Ringholder and some other nice jewellery tool goodies ...



But buying good tools can get an addiction, so ...
who knows where the "travel" will end up ?

greetings,
Tako