Announcement: My new GizWidget for Engravers/Scrimshanders

[BrianPowley]

I developed this to hold all of that small stuff that just won't tolerate clamping in a vise.
Works with Hot glue, ThermoLoc and modeling clay
Learn a little more here: http://www.powleyengraving.com/profitcenter.htm

 

[Roger Bleile]

Brian,

Bring one the next time you go to the OGCA.

Roger

 

[Andrew Biggs]

Hi Brian

Great looking idea.

Why are the bottom bits that the vise holds in a V shape as opposed to 2 opposing flat sides or square???

Cheers
Andrew

 

[BrianPowley]

Andrew, those are to fit in the "V" notch in the vise jaws to give a little more solid "lock up". It's basically to keep it from shifting/turning.
If you want to offset it in the vise, you can just turn it and slide it in the jaws. It could have been square, but I was being lazy. This only takes two cuts to make. Square takes 4 cuts. Ha,Ha!
Ok Roger, I'll bring one to OGCA. Did Joe Rundell talk to you about the July show?

 

[thughes]

Brian, that's cool. I'm still just a practicing wannabe, but I just ordered one. After messing up the edges of some of those little practice doo dads that GRS sells, I made a similar out of wood. Well maby it wasn't all that similar since I think it got used for kindling in last nights fire. In the words of somebody " that's a lot better than the one I had". Thanks.

Todd

 

[Tim Wells]

Great idea and well thought out. Holds that thermoloc in there just like a filling in a tooth.

 

[Sam]

Pretty neat idea, Brian. Is the above-the-vise portion 1" high?

 

[BrianPowley]

Sam,Yes. The "top" is 1" thick. I did that to provide a nice solid support for inlaying. It would probably work if it was thinner, but I just stuck with numbers that were easy for my 12th grade education! Ha,Ha!
Tim. I actually used hot glue for the picture, but ThermoLoc behaves the same.

 

[BrianPowley]

Sam....on another note: I bought my son a Fender Banjo for Christmas---wish it could have been the one you have/had for sale.
He was inspired by you at a Grandmasters Weekend and he asked me if I knew of any other good banjo pickers.I told him "Some guy named Bela Fleck is getting pretty good too!"

 

[unclejim1955]

Well that does it. I've been thinking about buying one of your prayer boxes for a while. This idea looks pretty cool so I just placed an order for both and some practice barrels too.

 

[Sam]

Brian: I always keep whatever I'm working on as low and close to the vise's mass as possible, that's the reason I asked. I'd probably prefer 3/8" or so.

I bought a new Ome openback banjo so I sold two others this week. So now I'm down to three banjos...my Gibson bluegrass banjo, my Ome, and another bluegrass banjo I'll give to a special student one day.
Most of the Fenders require a professional setup by someone who plays banjo and understands banjo setup. Of course a good teacher should assist you and your son with this.

 

[BrianPowley]

I agree about the set up with the Fender. It is made good enough for a beginner, but I find the intonation a bit on the sharp side. At first I thought is was technique (or lack thereof), but I do believe it needs some pro attention.
If he can muster enough desire to make a go of it, we'll investigate an upgrade for him.
He's had 7 years of piano lessons and is quick to pick things up, but he's also 17....and has a drivers license. LOL!

 

[monk]

i made a variety of sizes in .5" pvc plastic. i just roughcut grooves in my pieces with a radialarm saw or even round graverss, works good with hotmelt, tloc, superglue, etc.

 

[monk]

shown are 2 of many i've made of .5"pvc plastic. random grooved with a radialarm saw, the other cut with a round graver. worked well with tloc, superglue, hot melt, etc

 

[BES]

Jura's Diamond Setting Tools

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WA9Ww3eoXX8

 

[BrianPowley]

I've come up with a neat little addition to this. I think it will make a great little setup for shows or for just taking it on the road without lugging around a heavy ball vise. This behaves like the old sandbags we used in the past.
Here's a YouTube video where I'm demonstrating some bulino work.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rZSf88U6FGE&feature=youtu.be