HP500 Posted March 5, 2018 Share Posted March 5, 2018 I recently picked up a very nice 50lb Columbian post vise. I don't have a shop, so I need to make it movable so I can move it from the garage to the driveway and back again to use it. I'm going to build the type of stand where you can stand on the bottom base plate very similar to this one I have a piece of 25"x24" x 5/16" plate for the base. Do you think that would be big enough? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted March 5, 2018 Share Posted March 5, 2018 Depends on how YOU work with your vise. Can you stand on it while you do your normal vise activities? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HP500 Posted March 5, 2018 Author Share Posted March 5, 2018 I'm not sure. I have very limited experience using a post vise to this point. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted March 5, 2018 Share Posted March 5, 2018 Can you mock up the set-up and "play act" using it to see? Remembering you may not want to be too near hot stuff processes but close up for filing? (Except hot rasping, that's a bit more tricky!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HP500 Posted March 5, 2018 Author Share Posted March 5, 2018 Great idea, thanks Thomas! Just out of curiosity, what size bases have others here used for similar vise stands? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beaudry Posted March 7, 2018 Share Posted March 7, 2018 I'm curious , has anybody made a mobile base like that and how does it actually work in real life ? I have a hard time imagining it would be anywhere near stable and solid enough for all the things I use a post vise for; bending ,twisting , chisel and punch work, upsetting bars held lengthwise or vertically in the jaws with a heavy hammer etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted March 7, 2018 Share Posted March 7, 2018 Beaudry; when was the last time you were able to grab your belt and lift yourself off the ground? That type of base is based on having the user standing on it and their weight provides the stability. As a portable vise there are some things it won't excel at. I personally have 1 6.5" vise mounted to a telephone pole mounted 5' into the subsoil and concreted in with a large, thick steel base for the leg to rest on for heavy work; but closer to my forge I have 2 vises mounted on a work bench for less vigorous use. I'm currently working on a movable large vise that can be set up in the center of the shop on 4" structural sq tubing that inserts into a larger section concreted into the floor---and concrete another one out in the drive way for when I need to swing a 20' stick! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anachronist58 Posted March 7, 2018 Share Posted March 7, 2018 On 3/5/2018 at 10:09 AM, HP500 said: I'm not sure. I do not think building that setup would be wasted effort. It would fill your immediate needs as you progress through your learning curve. Thomas' advice on the mockup is critical to success. Clamp the vise to a bench with the plate under it, and do not try to keep your feet on the plate. Ignore the plate. Do your feet go off the edge, as you "work"? Hammering a bend in hot metal may require more distance between you and the work. I hope this is useful. Robert Taylor Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HP500 Posted March 7, 2018 Author Share Posted March 7, 2018 Good info, thank you! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beaudry Posted March 8, 2018 Share Posted March 8, 2018 It was a simple question, has anyone made a base like that ? and how does it work ? The two foot square of 5/16'' plate seems light for the purpose. This can be a difficult and frustrating craft to learn and the learning curve is long. Having a sturdy vise that doesn't bounce or move when you work on it helps a lot to lessen the steepness of that curve . Even if you have to have a moveable and temporary set up because of not having a dedicated shop space ,there are ways you could solidly anchor a vise to make it much more effective. The base plate could be held down tight to a wood floor with screws , into a concrete slab with lag shields , into a dirt floor with a buried block . A brace from the top of the post vise stand to a wall or heavy bench would do a lot to make it rigid . A few minutes work with a wrench or screw gun to set it up or take it down to clear the way is quick and simple. It's easy to patch the holes if you change your mind or have to vacate the space. Mocking it up is always a good idea for any new tool. You want to locate the vise with access to either side and front and some room behind it. It should be one leg of a work triangle between the forge, anvil and vise with only only a few steps between all three. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BIGGUNDOCTOR Posted March 8, 2018 Share Posted March 8, 2018 My vise base is a 2" thick 24" diameter round with a 10" diameter pipe that the vise mounts to. Around 188# for just the base, and it still moves around under some bending operations, I need to pop some holes in the base so I can drive stakes into the ground. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Irondragon Forge ClayWorks Posted March 8, 2018 Share Posted March 8, 2018 I built our portable vise stand using an old auto flywheel with ring gear. It works well by driving stakes in the holes and the whole rig weighs 65 lbs. easy to carry around. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HP500 Posted March 9, 2018 Author Share Posted March 9, 2018 Very helpful, thank you! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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