Fly Tying Vise - my first ever lathe project

[jchicago]

This was the first thing I ever made on a lathe, last summer. Works well too.

It was made on a Cummings 7x12, now I have also a Craftsman 101-07383 and have many questions about the ol' girl

Thanks for looking,

-Joseph

[old2l63]

Very nice work. What is the base? I have a buddy who ties, and uses a big block of tool steel as his base. He likes the rock solid stability.

[jchicago]

3 x 4 x 1/2" 1018 Steel, from Speedymetals.com. That was just my first project; when I found out high-end vises cost $700+ I couldn't believe it so I looked at a few patents, picked the features I wanted and whipped this out without ever even seeing a metal lathe...hehe. Version 2 is already CAD'ed and will have ceramic bearings that spin the shaft about 700 times with a quick turn of the thumb and proper counterweighting.

-Joseph

[old2l63]

You should get together with my buddy. He was a machinist, and has some ideas for enhancing tying vises. He works at Cabella's now. He teaches the tying class on Saturdays at the store out here in Schaumburg. If you live close, check it out. Maybe you could collaborate?

[jchicago]

I appreciate the offer but I am in Nevada I would certainly be willing to email with him however, if it would be appropriate.

-Joseph

[jeff]

Neat looking setup. I have no clue what im looking at exactly as far as how you use all the things i see but still looks nice. Did you engrave the base or is that a watermark on the photo?

[jchicago]

Thanks Jeff.

It's 'engraved' but that part could have been better. First time I tried engraving via cnc on steel; the tip was not the correct degree for that hard a material. I think I have the hang of it now though!

-J

[Professor]

This was the First lathe project you undertook?? WOW!
I've been whittling things out for more years than I'll admit and I've
not made anything as spiffy looking as that. Grade: A+

Can't wait to see version 2!

[jchicago]

Thanks for the compliment professor, means a lot. Yes when I made this I had just received my 7x12 and hadn't even really seen a metal lathe before. Using a lathe seemed 'natural' opposed to the cnc machine I built, which was, and still is sometimes, much more intimidating. I've aslo made some accessories for [any] vise that no one else has yet to think of. Might ne a nice hobby for retirement.

-Joseph

[Rabidfish]

I have been tying flies for 20 years (note: didn't say i was any good at it) and have paid $500 for a vise before. None of them look that nice.

I'm not sure what all the equipment is for either... But I do see a lot of Renzetti influence in the basic vise. It occurs to me someone might be spending too much time "wishing they were fishing" ! There's only one cure for that...