highlander Posted November 9, 2008 Share Posted November 9, 2008 4 inch square steel tubing welded into a wheel rim. 1/2" rr tie plate welded on top. rebar studs welded on bottom of tubing to add stability. filled with a full 80lb bag of quickrete and some lead and granite pieces for added weight. estimated total weight: 300lbs Now all i need to do is forge a handle for the vise. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sam Salvati Posted November 9, 2008 Share Posted November 9, 2008 GREAT WORK! Nice base idea, ill have to borrow that one! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moya034 Posted November 9, 2008 Share Posted November 9, 2008 I'm pleased with how that turned out.4 inch square steel tubing welded into a wheel rim. 1/2" rr tie plate welded on top. rebar studs welded on bottom of tubing to add stability. WOW! Whoever welded that square tubing into the wheel rim must have been a real professional. Filling in a 1/4" gap between the tubing and rim is not for the faint of the heart! O wait, that was me. :cool: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
highlander Posted November 9, 2008 Author Share Posted November 9, 2008 I'm pleased with how that turned out. WOW! Whoever welded that square tubing into the wheel rim must have been a real professional. Filling in a 1/4" gap between the tubing and rim is not for the faint of the heart! O wait, that was me. :cool: especially with an AC machine! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Einhorn Posted November 9, 2008 Share Posted November 9, 2008 Good job, congratulations. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rlarkin Posted November 9, 2008 Share Posted November 9, 2008 That looks good. I think I'll copy it. OH WAIT. I already did! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sabre Posted November 9, 2008 Share Posted November 9, 2008 NICE!!! only downside is if you want to change the vice to another stand...the legs cemented in....i would have used a piece on 1 inch tube then put the leg in it...Other than that it would be super sturdy!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rlarkin Posted November 9, 2008 Share Posted November 9, 2008 Well, luckily for me, the leg on my vice was broken off before I got it. Only a stub about 6 inches long. I took a piece of 1 inch black iron, heated up one end and drove it on the stub. So mine will come apart. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Lumpkins Posted November 9, 2008 Share Posted November 9, 2008 Looks good Highlander.. all that hard work will soon pay off... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
highlander Posted November 9, 2008 Author Share Posted November 9, 2008 sabre, that is why the hilti te-72 was invented. thanks for the comments all Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arbalist Posted November 9, 2008 Share Posted November 9, 2008 That's a real fine looking Leg Vice, nice job. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
philip in china Posted November 10, 2008 Share Posted November 10, 2008 I frequently use a lump of concrete as a weight. Sean hates it but that is mainly jealousy. So my squat stands and dipping frame stand in concrete in the gym as does my goat BBQ. I also cast a slab on top of a bench where the bench grinders sit. The extra mass keeps them a good deal steadier and I just cast threaded bar into the mix to anchor them down. I think most smiths get fairly expert with concrete. It is just so versatile and useful. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
highlander Posted November 10, 2008 Author Share Posted November 10, 2008 thanks everyone. beings that my vise didnt come with a handle, i cant decide what length to make it. what length is normal? its a 5 1/2 inch jaw. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frosty Posted November 10, 2008 Share Posted November 10, 2008 I think the handle on my 6" Indian Chief is about 18" or so. It's not a really close tolerance thing. Frosty Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
highlander Posted November 10, 2008 Author Share Posted November 10, 2008 I think the handle on my 6" Indian Chief is about 18" or so. It's not a really close tolerance thing. Frosty indeed, you are correct. I was trying to get an estimate off my bench vises and couldnt come up with an accurate scale. 18" sounds dandy to me, maybe a little longer. just wanted some input on the average one. thanks very much! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
devon blacksmith Posted November 12, 2008 Share Posted November 12, 2008 how well do these stands work with twisting and scrolling?as I am allways looking for a way to have a portable vice that wont fall over. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
highlander Posted November 13, 2008 Author Share Posted November 13, 2008 how well do these stands work with twisting and scrolling?as I am allways looking for a way to have a portable vice that wont fall over. havent used it since i finished the stand due to an eye injury. beings that the whole thing weighs 300+ pounds, i would say its pretty sturdy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
philip in china Posted November 13, 2008 Share Posted November 13, 2008 Devon Blacksmith, I understand that the secret is to have a plate at the base of the vice on which you stand. Of course you can't move the vice because you are standing on it. BTW not my genius but Maestro Hofi again! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted November 13, 2008 Share Posted November 13, 2008 I can shift a vise that has 1000 pounds holding it in place 300 is nothing! Much better to have the wide baseplate. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quenchcrack Posted November 13, 2008 Share Posted November 13, 2008 I have my vise mounted to my workbench and it is rock solid. However, I would also like a portable vise to take to meetings and demos. However, I fear that a truely portable vise would not be really sturdy enough to bend and twist on. How solid is a base like that? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted November 13, 2008 Share Posted November 13, 2008 I have two portable set ups: one is a 55 gallon drum with one end removed and a bung on the side near the bottom. In the open top I bolted a section of 2x12 cut in a arc to match the curve of the drum. The vise mounts to the wood and for the foot I have a small bracket that holds it and is staked into the ground. To use fill with water. 400# of water fits well and provides a slack tub/fire supply. When done remove the bung and drain and the drum is light and can be used to store other stuff in when travelling. One for a less glaring set up uses the regular vise bench bracket that I have forged a set of 1/2" sq stock legs that fit the bracket "branches" and then angle down to the ground where they are bent out to provide a step and then bent down to make a spike to hold them in place. I have also forged a tong/hammer rack that arcs out from the ends of the bracket arms and bolts together with the legs and bracket. I also have a caddy for punches and chisels that bolts onto the bracket. Not nearly as sturdy as the 55 gallon drum but I can ask folks to stand on the end of the legs when I want to do heavier work in the vise. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
highlander Posted November 14, 2008 Author Share Posted November 14, 2008 the vise is very sturdy as is. not rock solid, but i used it today for the first time and it works well for what i need. I like the fact that i can move it around as i need Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
welder19 Posted November 14, 2008 Share Posted November 14, 2008 You could weld a round steal plate on the bottom, make it big enough so that your standing on it while using the vise, it is imposible to move something your standing on, it will also give you a larger footprint and being round you will still be able to roll it around, I wouldn't use anything lighter than 1/4", 1/2" wopuld probably be best. welder19 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frosty Posted November 14, 2008 Share Posted November 14, 2008 I agree, a flat round steel plate is my favored base. It's stable, easily moved and is NOT a trip hazard like a wheel rim or truck brake drum. Frosty Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted November 14, 2008 Share Posted November 14, 2008 not *as* *much* a trip hazard; especially if you bevel the edge a bit. (I've managed to trip on a gnat's eyelash before and other times walk across a room full of bowling balls with n'er a slip. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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