Chris C Posted July 27, 2019 Share Posted July 27, 2019 Couldn't find a thread on this subject elsewhere, so thought I'd start one. Beat me to death if this has already been done! Just finished posting a picture of my "new to me" vise in the "Show me your vise" thread. Next project in line for it is a stand. Think I've got a good idea of what I want to do, but thought it would be fun to see what other's have done. I've been impressed at what some of you have done for your anvil bases, so surely you've got some equally good ideas for vises. My plan.............at this point................is to use a 4x4 steel pipe column, with a 12"x12" base welded to it on the bottom and a 7"x7" top welded to it. Then bolt a 3/4" thick wooden platform on top so I can bolt my vise to that. I don't really like the idea of the raw square tubing being exposed, so plan on wrapping it with vertical 2x4's and putting straps around them to hold them tight to the post. I might pour concrete inside the post both for weight and added rigidity. The base would be bolted to a piece of 3/4" plywood about 36" square. To make this whole mess easier to move when needed, I'd put two wheels on an axle the allows the wheels to float slightly above the floor until the vise column is tipped back slightly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Irondragon Forge ClayWorks Posted July 28, 2019 Share Posted July 28, 2019 Ok I'll be first... This is my first stand been in use 30 + years. This is my second one. A RR tie sunk several feet into the ground with concrete to hold it. My latest one to take with us to meetings & such with the Cavalry pack forge & 55 lb anvil.. A flywheel base and rectangle tubing. Pictures taken for the Show me your vise thread in 2017. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
killbox21 Posted July 28, 2019 Share Posted July 28, 2019 You can see my first stand in the last Pic. After it rocked on me and got me burnt, I put it on the metal one with cement anchors. Added the grinder holding bar later. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris C Posted July 28, 2019 Author Share Posted July 28, 2019 Thanks guys. Keep the pics and comments coming. I'm going to "cherry pick" ideas from all of you because of your experiences. I'm "green as green can be" with lack of experience with this vise. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
killbox21 Posted July 28, 2019 Share Posted July 28, 2019 My next plan is to put a welding blanket on a round curtain rod that I can surround the grinding area. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris C Posted July 28, 2019 Author Share Posted July 28, 2019 That's a good idea. I've not done much grinding in my lifetime............and when I have, it's been outside for that very reason. My crosscut saw for steel is carried outside, also for that very reason. IFC, I like your flywheel base. That's something i might find at the local scrap metal yard. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris C Posted July 28, 2019 Author Share Posted July 28, 2019 If I consider using my work bench as a mount, what is the furthest you guys would recommend it be from my forge? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CrazyGoatLady Posted July 28, 2019 Share Posted July 28, 2019 I'll have to get a picture of my vice stand when I get back home. My smithy is laid out pretty much in a straight line from left to right. Forge, anvil, slack tub then vice. Each are only a step or two away from each other. The slack tub sits back a little so if I accidentally drop something, it's not going to instantly wind up in the bottom of it. The vice is probably two and half steps from the forge. But I have a limited space so this is what works for me. I'd say get it as close as you can so ýou don't lose anymore heat than possible Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anvil Posted July 28, 2019 Share Posted July 28, 2019 I set my forge, anvil, and post vice up in more or less an isosceles triangle with me in the middle about a step or two to each. Im left handed, so I set my anvil to the left when Im facing my forge. I set my post vice up much like Iron Dragon Forge above. My shop is permanent, so both my anvil and post vice stumps are set in the ground Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris C Posted July 28, 2019 Author Share Posted July 28, 2019 Would be nice to have a tidy little 10x10 room that didn't have to "double" as something else. As it is, I'm going to have to clear out just such an area at the end of a storage room. Only thing is I'm not a hot weather person and in the Summer months, I'll want to roll my forge outside so as not to expire in the heat of the enclosure. Luckily, the end of the storage room has a garage door that I can open so I can easily roll the forge outside. But rolling it outside makes it that much further from my big, heavy workbench. So I'm conflicted on how/where to mount the vise. Not having a lot of experience to fall back on, and not having worked with the blacksmith vise much, I'm not sure how I want thing situated. So pictures of vise stands and forge room layouts are appreciated...........the more the merrier! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted July 28, 2019 Share Posted July 28, 2019 Well at my home shop I have 5 postvises mounted and am working on a 6th. Both the clean and dirty shop areas have a bench with both a large (6"+) and a small (4-4.5") post vise mounted to it I also have a large post vise mounted to the telephone pole that supports the roof truss for heavy work---I once twisted a RR spike in it, *COLD*! (I was told it wasn't possible so I got out my large twisting wrench and the large vise and using an appropriate cheater demonstrated that it was just a matter of torque.) At the Casita I had this set up: Sizable piece of Sq Tubing lag bolted to the pole with 2 straps to deal with stresses in the plain and the postvise mounted to the sq tubing with a U bolt---like Colombians used at times. The one I'm currently working on at the home shop will be a gozinta mounted in the driveway to the shop with a removable nesting sq tube to mount the postvise to. I have a couple of projects that need a lot of swing space that isn't available in the shop; but I dislike leaving tools "outside"! The gozinta will have a cap when not in use and will be sunk 3-4' into the ground and concreted in. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris C Posted July 28, 2019 Author Share Posted July 28, 2019 Interesting. Don't guess I've seen anyone asking that much of a vise so far in my journey. Most of what I've seen is a hot piece being twisted..............no big deal. I can't even begin to imagine twisting a cold RR spike. WHEW! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted July 28, 2019 Share Posted July 28, 2019 well then there was this one... Going larger takes more oomph even hot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris C Posted July 28, 2019 Author Share Posted July 28, 2019 Impressive, to say the least. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CrazyGoatLady Posted July 28, 2019 Share Posted July 28, 2019 Very impressive! Here's the picture of my vise stand I promised. I bought it mounted this way. Under all the tools there's a steel plate for a table. We are cleaning, so my tools are scattered out at the moment. Irondragon had suggested that I sink it into the ground. That would be ideal, but I don't work outside or I would. But it's pretty heavy for me, so I don't knock it around very much Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris C Posted July 28, 2019 Author Share Posted July 28, 2019 Very interesting. Do you tilt it and roll it like a 55 gallon drum when you want to move it........or is it light enough to slide around? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CrazyGoatLady Posted July 28, 2019 Share Posted July 28, 2019 I can slide it. Not the easiest thing. But it stays pretty much where it is. I'm sure it could do with some anchoring Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lazyassforge Posted July 28, 2019 Share Posted July 28, 2019 Chris, I have three of these stands around in my shop. With the weight of the salt fork swage block they seem to be a fair compromise of stability and portability. I also have a vise mounted on a bench welded to the building for when I really have to get serious! But the portable vise gets the most use! hope this helps! Bill D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris C Posted July 28, 2019 Author Share Posted July 28, 2019 Nice looking stand. Thanks for sharing the pic. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steven NY Posted July 29, 2019 Share Posted July 29, 2019 This is the first vise stand I built, the base is about 24" square double layer of 1/2" plywood. The post is is made out of laminated 2x4's. I also made all the mounting brackets and the spring for this vise. This is my second stand and post vise. The base is a 48" circle of 2 pieces of 3/4" plywood laminated. The center post is made out of solid laminated 2x4's. The post is log screwed to the base. It is rock solid. As you work you stand on the circle or square to help hold them down. Both vise leg collars are sitting on top of a 5 lbs. weight lifting plate. The second stand is much more stable. Have a good one, W Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris C Posted July 29, 2019 Author Share Posted July 29, 2019 I especially like the second one. If you read my first post, my idea was sort of headed in the same direction as this one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BillyBones Posted August 17, 2019 Share Posted August 17, 2019 Pretty simple really. A piece of 4x4 and some 2x4s. It is actually much sturdier than it looks, i am "one of these days" going to put 2 more 2x's coming out at an angle on the bottom and tie them into the 10x10 that is the base of my shop wall. You may also see a pile of weights next to it on said 10x, may have to change the bottom plate now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
671jungle Posted August 19, 2019 Share Posted August 19, 2019 Stand coming along made from gym equipment. The base plate is 1/4”. The square tube is 3x3”. 4x4” will be post with possible reinforcement (reinforcement may not be needed). I may put some casters on the edge so when tilted will roll. I will add some holes to accommodate spikes/bolts if working off the plate or needed. I will also add another bolting hole on the mount of the base plate. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gburgsmith Posted August 31, 2019 Share Posted August 31, 2019 Just got my post vise, Chris. Made this attempt at a stand today. It's not as stable as I would like, but I think I'll be adding another steel plate like the ones I have now as a counter weight stand. Obviously the plan is to bolt it down eventually, but I need it portable for now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris C Posted August 31, 2019 Author Share Posted August 31, 2019 Looks good to me...................but then I'm no expert. Chris Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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