Lathe mounted carving vise?

[Jesse Tutterrow]

I vaguely recall seeing a vice which mounted to the banjo of a lathe and would hold a faceplate / chuck. It used a ball / socket set to allow (almost) infinite positioning. At the time I thought "that's nice but not for me", now I have a use for one. Will someone please refer me to that vise?

 

[Russ Braun]

I think Trent Bosch has something like that; not sure it hooks to the lathe. I have one somewhere in my shop! Another tool purchase at the Symposium Trade Show......love that place, haha!

 

[Fadi Zeidan]

Trent Bosch and Simon Hope have them.

 

[William Rogers]

Simon Hope is no longer shipping to the US or Canada. He says because of insurance. You might be thinking of the Woodcut Pro-Mount Carving Stand. Axminister carries it and I guess others do also.

 

[Damon McLaughlin]

I have the one from Trent Bosch, it works quite well. It can be set into the banjo, mine also came with a wall/bench mounted bracket which is mounted to my desk.

 

[Dave Bunge]

Best Wood Tools makes a version: https://bestwoodtools.stores.yahoo.net/arcaandfipow.html

I thought Lee Valley/Veritas made one too, but could not find it with a quick search.

 

[David Shombert]

I have the Trent Bosch version and use it a lot. Very nicely made, and versatile

 

[Tom Gall]

I have one made by Veritas/Lee Valley with a 1" post for the banjo. I bought it at an estate sale 5-6 years ago. I searched Lee Valley and found the vise and adapters for faceplates and/or chucks, but none with posts for a banjo. Maybe you can call them and see if they have any with posts hanging around. I've only used it a few times and I recall it being a little high....especially when sitting on a stool.

https://www.leevalley.com/en-us/shop/tools/workshop/workbenches/vises/31172-veritas-carvers-vise

https://www.leevalley.com/en-us/sho...58760-veritas-lathe-chuck-face-plate-adapters

 

[Bill Boehme]

I vaguely recall seeing a vice .....

I don't know if Trent Bosch has any vices, but I have a banjo mounted vise that he makes and really like it.

 

[hockenbery]

Ditto on the Trent Bosch

 

[Larry Copas]

I vaguely recall seeing a vice which mounted to the banjo of a lathe and would hold a faceplate / chuck. It used a ball / socket set to allow (almost) infinite positioning. At the time I thought "that's nice but not for me", now I have a use for one. Will someone please refer me to that vise?

The only ball and socket I know of is the Wilton Power Arm Junior. Its $200 plus and you still need the chuck screw and the tool post for the banjo.

I got a few of the Power Arm's at auction for near nothing and made up a few. Get the one made by Trent Bosch as its just as good and a whole lot cheaper.

 

[Don Wattenhofer]

I made my own out of a sign base, 4" square tube, a small air cylinder, a foot operated valve and an Iron tumbling ball.

 

[Bill Blasic]

I have and use the Best Wood Tools Articulating Carving Post, works very well.

 

[Jesse Tutterrow]

Larry: I think that is what I remember, unfortunately I don't have the tools to make the missing parts (tool post mount, chuck mount).

Bill: I am cynical enough to suspect that everyone has a few vices, I know I do. But you are correct I either misspelled the work or the spelling corrector picked the wrong word. Sorry.

Has anyone used both the Best Wood Tools and Trent Bosch vise?

 

[robo hippy]

Don, excellent job on that set up! I did hear of one where a towing ball and hitch were used. Never saw any pictures though. Necessity is the mother of invention!

robo hippy

 

[Don Wattenhofer]

Don, excellent job on that set up! I did hear of one where a towing ball and hitch were used. Never saw any pictures though. Necessity is the mother of invention!

robo hippy

I never thought of using a tow ball but I would think they would have a flat spot on top that may interfere with some of the positions and the stud on the larger ones would be excessive. Using the 3" ball in conjunction with the 4 fingers gives me about 160 degrees of movement and the swivel joint helps to get the rest so if need be I can point the chuck almost straight down.

 

[JeffSmith]

The woodcut Pro Mount can be used in a banjo - never used mine that way, but its made to do that. I use it on a bench stand; works very well