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| Vise's for guitar making? What you got, where to get em? http://w-ww.luthiersforum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=10101&t=15806 |
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| Author: | Rod True [ Fri Feb 08, 2008 10:27 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Vise's for guitar making? What you got, where to get em? |
So I've been eying the Stew Mac Guitar Repair Vise for a while  I'm wondering if there are any other sources for this vise or one which is highly similar. Also, what other types of vises are being used by you all? I'd love to hear what you're using, why you like it and any other suggestions you all may have. |
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| Author: | crich [ Fri Feb 08, 2008 10:44 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Vise's for guitar making? What you got, where to get em? |
I got mine from The Japan Woodworker. The only difference I've seen was the wheel you turn. I couldn't go without it now. I think it was $20-30 cheaper through them. I've also seen them at Woodcraft, about the same price as Japan Woodworker. Clinton |
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| Author: | David LaPlante [ Fri Feb 08, 2008 10:49 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Vise's for guitar making? What you got, where to get em? |
I have one of this type.....can't remember if I bought the original or the knock off.........either of these are excellent. Suggest you line the jaws with leather for instrument work.....you will also like the swivel and quick dismount capability. Very solid, very good versatility. Prior to this I had the lightweight aluminum vise by Zyliss.........don't even know if they make that one anymore...... |
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| Author: | David LaPlante [ Fri Feb 08, 2008 11:08 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Vise's for guitar making? What you got, where to get em? |
A large size rubber band stretched around the collars below the jaws will also prevent a neck from falling onto the rails..................... |
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| Author: | Rod True [ Fri Feb 08, 2008 11:11 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Vise's for guitar making? What you got, where to get em? |
So Todd, are you saying that the SM vise is not up to snuff with the woodcraft of Japan Woodworker? I was just looking at all three sites, japan woodworker is the lowest price by $27. |
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| Author: | Rod True [ Fri Feb 08, 2008 11:34 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Vise's for guitar making? What you got, where to get em? |
Thanks Todd, I bet it's really no big deal adding a nylock nut to the swivel heads and I have a tonne of UHMW that I can add to the faces of the jaws. Actually, I think I may just make a couple of 1" thick UHMW jaws for soft use and stick with the hardwood jaws if I need more ridgid grip. I've got the JWW in the "cart" ready to order along with one of their shinto saw rasps, the price for those two items including shipping is $4 more than the stew mac vise alone (plus shipping). |
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| Author: | Howard Klepper [ Sat Feb 09, 2008 2:20 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Vise's for guitar making? What you got, where to get em? |
This style vise was originally built in Germany under the Ulmia brand. I was very happy to pick up one of the originals on Ebay a while back. There are one or two high end copies around made for the gunsmith market that cost multiples of the SM or Woodcraft or Woodworkers Supply versions. The differences are subtle, and the cheaper ones work fine, but everything is tighter and more precise on the high end ones. A Versa-vise (now called Parrot vise by Grizzly) is another woodworking standby that is useful for guitars. You can make wood inserts and have one of the jaws pivot to hold tapered shapes like guitar necks. |
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| Author: | Laurent Brondel [ Sat Feb 09, 2008 5:57 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Vise's for guitar making? What you got, where to get em? |
I also have the original German pattern vise, bought on Craig's list for a song. Great vise, tighter than the late copies and a tad heavier I think. I lined the beech jaws with cork. Couldn't live without it now. I have a Parrot vise on another bench, it's a great smaller vise to use as it can be used vertically or horizontally, and it's cheap. Frank Ford's site has a whole thing on Versa (or Parrot) vises. http://www.frets.com/FRETSPages/Luthier/ProductReviews/Tools/ParrotVise/parrotvise.html |
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| Author: | John Elshaw [ Sat Feb 09, 2008 9:46 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Vise's for guitar making? What you got, where to get em? |
My favorite guitar holding vise is the one described on Sylvan Well's page and cost less than $10.00 to make. It's great because the vise conforms to the radius of the top and back and holds the guitar very secure without any worry of cracking. Check it out: http://www.wellsguitars.com/Articles/Guitar_Holder.htm John |
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| Author: | KenH [ Sat Feb 09, 2008 10:00 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Vise's for guitar making? What you got, where to get em? |
Thanks for sharing that John! That looks like something I can easily make and since I have an abundance of pipe clamps already it should be cheap too. |
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| Author: | Cal Maier [ Sat Feb 09, 2008 12:50 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Vise's for guitar making? What you got, where to get em? |
Quote: My favorite guitar holding vise is the one described on Sylvan Well's page and cost less than $10.00 to make I second That John!! ![[:Y:]](./images/smilies/smiley20.gif "Thumbs Up") The Wells guitar vise works great, and I couldn't or wouldn't do without one now. It's inexpensive and easy to make. I made mine based on a plan published in the GAL Lutherie Tools Book One, submitted by Duane Waterman in 1984.Cal |
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| Author: | Sylvan [ Sat Feb 09, 2008 1:02 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Vise's for guitar making? What you got, where to get em? |
I am glad everyone likes my pipe clamp vise system. However, it is not original with me. I too, got the original idea from Duane Waterman's article in the GAL in the mid eighties! The real beauty of guitarmaking and its' makers' is that everyone shares so much. This is a perfect example of something shared 20 years ago and it is coming around again! |
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| Author: | Guest [ Sat Feb 09, 2008 1:03 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Vise's for guitar making? What you got, where to get em? |
on Sylvan's vise/clamp here too. I downsized the pipe clamps to 1/2" & it's still very strong.
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| Author: | gozierdt [ Sat Feb 09, 2008 9:50 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Vise's for guitar making? What you got, where to get em? |
I also use the Wells/Waterman type vise. I find in indispensable in finishing work on the guitar- neck setting, binding scraping, neck setting, finish sanding. I would have to use 3 or 4 other vise designs to replace what it does so well ![[clap]](./images/smilies/smiley32.gif "adulations")
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| Author: | Dave Anderson [ Sat Feb 09, 2008 10:23 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Vise's for guitar making? What you got, where to get em? |
yeah,this is a good one.I wouldn't want to be without it or the Wells/Waterman.... Attachment: L-00 mine 046 (572 x 428).jpg Attachment: My guitar shop 012 (Small) (160 x 120) (350 x 263).jpg
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| Author: | Lillian F-W [ Sun Feb 10, 2008 12:33 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Vise's for guitar making? What you got, where to get em? |
For those that have used both, what does Stew Mac's vise have going for it that the Parrot doesn't? I only want to buy once and I don't want to regret the purchase or the money spent. |
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| Author: | Rod True [ Sun Feb 10, 2008 1:39 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Vise's for guitar making? What you got, where to get em? |
I do like the simplicity and low cost of the wells guitar body holder, but I don't have the right setup for that. The only bench that could accomodate that type of holder is to close to a wall and I'd only have access from the front. To hold the guiat body for scraping bindings, setting necks finish sanding I made a guitar trojyi. Attachment: guitar troji 0020 (2).jpg Now I know what you're thinking, this thing takes up more space than the wells style guitar holder, and you're right. But I can put this in the middle of the shop and have 360* mobility around the body when I'm working on it. And it stores away fine beside my bandsaw and doesn't get in the way there. Great suggestions folks, I've order the pattern makers vise (Stew Mac style) for the bench and I'm looking forward to getting it and what it will do for my shop. |
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| Author: | Guest [ Sun Feb 10, 2008 6:12 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Vise's for guitar making? What you got, where to get em? |
Rod True wrote: Thanks Todd, I bet it's really no big deal adding a nylock nut to the swivel heads No big deal if you are going to make a StewMac order anyway, and add their bolt/nut upgrade kit, because I kid you not, the thread size for the jaw bolts on that vise is 1/2-12. Not a typo. 1/2-13 thread is common. But 1/2-12 is impossible, but that's what those bolts are, and also the StewMac studs and nylon washers are 1/2-12 thread. They should have put a 1/2-13 thread on the top end, so you can easily get a new nylon nut if needed. I'm afraid to take mine off now, because I can't get 1/2-12 thread nuts and after I put the stewmac studs in, one is higher than the other, and I wonder if they'd be more even if I would switch them, but don't want to take them apart now. |
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| Author: | Darrel Friesen [ Sun Feb 10, 2008 12:11 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Vise's for guitar making? What you got, where to get em? |
Definitely an expensive luxury item, but works great for guitar making. I have one of the Veritas "Tucker" pattern makers vises. You could buy a few of the SM swivel vises for the price though. I do a lot of general woodworking as well though, and it was a gift so what the hey. |
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| Author: | Howard Klepper [ Sun Feb 10, 2008 12:19 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Vise's for guitar making? What you got, where to get em? |
Lillian, if you are going to have just one of them, get the patternmakers (SM or equivalent) vise. |
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| Author: | Lillian F-W [ Sun Feb 10, 2008 9:00 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Vise's for guitar making? What you got, where to get em? |
Thanks Howard. Howard, are you holding my favorite over the top guitar in your picture? I remember its debut. What a magnificent show of craftsmanship. |
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| Author: | Chas Freeborn [ Sun Feb 10, 2008 9:10 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Vise's for guitar making? What you got, where to get em? |
I have a Parrot vise and the Veritas patternmakers vise (called the Tucker vise). I can't imagine working without either of them.   -C |
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| Author: | GHatcher [ Sat Feb 16, 2008 7:36 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Vise's for guitar making? What you got, where to get em? |
I will bring this thread back to the top. One question that I have not seen answered is What does the Stew Mac vise do that the Versa Vise does not do or what can the Versa do that the Stew Mac does not? Reading through this topic, my thoughts are to go with StewMac + the Wells-Waterman Guitar holder. The Veritas Twin Screw or the Tucker Vise would be a nice luxury, but I can't justify the cost. BTW, My favorite item in this thread is Filippo's method of mounting his parrot vise. This thread as well as the work bench thread and the neck jig thread have been great for ideas on how to gear up the workshop. Greg |
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| Author: | Laurent Brondel [ Sat Feb 16, 2008 8:06 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Vise's for guitar making? What you got, where to get em? |
GHatcher wrote: I will bring this thread back to the top. One question that I have not seen answered is What does the Stew Mac vise do that the Versa Vise does not do or what can the Versa do that the Stew Mac does not? The patternmaker vise (StewMac) allows to hold tappered pieces. It is very sturdy and heavy, it can also rotate and lock, thanks to the screw holding it to the bench. The Versa vise is much lighter, definitely not as sturdy, and the mechanism locks both the jaws and the rotation. It needs to be set up right for the vise not to rotate when pressure is exerted, and reset regularly. It is not machined as well as the patternmaker. To hold tappered pieces (such as a neck) you will need to make convex pads out of ply or hard wood for the Versa, or buy the add-on jaws. If I had only one vise I'd pick the patternmaker vise. |
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| Author: | David LaPlante [ Sat Feb 16, 2008 11:39 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Vise's for guitar making? What you got, where to get em? |
Having been inspired by this thread, I got on Ebay and bought this.....as I said, I used to have one of these....this is an excellent and very adaptable system. |
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