DIY Knife Makers Vise

[HainesNYT]

I'm no knife maker...but saw a thread where one of our member was looking for help having a knife makers vise built. I started on this yesterday (briefly). It looks like another member has stepped up and is helping him out, so I figured I'd just have fun completing this and make it a DIY project for others.

I always try to do quality work, but I often try to "repurpose" some of the things I have laying around. This will be an adjustable, bench-mounted vise.

Starting off with 2 pieces of 2 7/8 oil pipe cut to 5" lengths.


Cut a piece of 1/4"x 3"x 5" strap to be used for the base. I bevel all the edges with a grinder and clean it up with a wire wheel.


I cut two pieces of 2 3/8" oil pipe...these will fit inside the 2 7/8" pipe. One is 5" long and has a saddle cut into one end. The other is just a tad under 10".

[HainesNYT]

Drilled 1/2" holes in center of 2 7/8" pipe. Deburred the holes with a carbide cutter for the die grinder (love a die grinder!). I always use a center punch to avoid walking the bit, and when drilling larger holes I prefer to drill a smaller pilot hole. I will weld 1/2" nuts to each of these holes. These will allow for T-handled bolts to tighten against the inner pipe and give this devise it's adjustability.

Drilled 4, 5/16" holes for the mounting base.

[HainesNYT]

1/2" nuts welded in place. I tack all six corners before fully welding. I like to keep a bolt threaded in it when I weld to prevent any splatter from landing inside the but and causing any threading issues.


T-joint / saddle welded up.

[horns07]

Looking good

[HainesNYT]

Base is fully welded.


Starting to take shape.

[HainesNYT]

Fresh coat of Ospho to soak overnight. Supposed to chemically covert rust back to iron and double as a primer. Pretty good stuff.

[BTLowry]

Looking good

[Foot Patrol]

Just found this and sent you a PM. Great start on the vise. Gonna be a real looker.

[HainesNYT]

Decided to try to make a "bushing" to go inside the pipe that will hold the knife. I make no promises that this will actually work for any considerable amount of time....but anyone building knives can surely make a better bushing

AggieVet was bored and came over to help out...this is some of her handy work.
Used a 2" hole saw and a 2x4.


Cut three "bushings" and gave them a quick sanding.


It was a real PIA to line them up and drill two pilot holes for some 4" screws (one for each side to add a little strength). Used some gorilla wood glue and ran the screws in....had a little splitting so removed screws and drilled bigger pilot and reinstalled screws/wood glue....left in vise to dry a few hours.


This is what we ended up with:


Put it on the bandsaw:


Got a decent cut, better than I expected ...sanded down the flat side to increase gap for knives.


Appears to work...I understand, or believe it will/ may normally be the handle and not the blade inside vise. I'm sure the end user can modify this for their needs.

[Ride_Klein]

Great instructional.

[Foot Patrol]

Haines looking good. Your correct the knife could be inserted into the vise tang or blade side depending on what the maker is working on. Some file work can go all the way around the blade.

[HainesNYT]

T-bolts....I usually use rebar or sucker-rod to make the top of the "T" and weld it to the bolt heads,but decided to try something different and used these shock mounts. I like the way these feel in the hand and they fit the size I needed. Had to keep in mind the radius of the t-bolt for clearance between the mount. Also, I like to grind a groove in the top of the head for the "t" to sit in.

Here are the finished T-bolts. Ran a die over the threads to ensure they turn real purdy like. Used a MAP torch to give them a little color.

[HainesNYT]

I'd like to blame Tap-a-talk for the photos being reversed ....but that was just me. Idiot

[HainesNYT]

I used a wire wheel to knock the big stuff off first, then a 30 grit sanding disc, followers by an 80 & 120 grit....put a decent polish on it and gave it some color with the MAP torch...put some oil on it and a little more heat.


Spent a little more time on the base since it will be more visible.


Base is finished...with color, heat/oil & TBH broad head.


Top of mount is complete...TBH broad head, and heat & oil treatment.

[Bucksaw]

Oh man. I need to make me one of these. Beats the heck out of a clamp and a 2x4.