Australian/New Zealand Luthiers Forum

Well, here's another sampling of my "cheapness". I know that one can get a vise from Stew-Mac with angles arms to aid in making nuts and saddles, but I figure it's pretty easy to make one. Also, I've seen something similar years ago on the OLF that Bruce Dickey showed. That section of the forum is gone now though.

Anyway, pretty simple really. Just more scrap wood, a couple of cuts on the table saw (or band saw if you prefer) and some sanding and you're all set.

Here they are, in all their engineering wonder Sorry for the bad pictures.





The nut vise has a little ledge on it (the saddle vise could have one too)



Now just take it and put it in your main vise and work away.



And a newly made nut



Here's the saddle vise in action. See how much angle you can get with this vise. Makes dialing in the intonation easier (once you've figured that out)




That's it. Enjoy.

Yet another great idea for all us cheapskates. Thanks Rod.

Simple is good and that is nothing if not simple.Cheers Rod.
I also spy a green version of the "Stew-mac" vice holding it all up.How do you find this as a vice?I have always liked the look of them but the freight is a bit steep to Australia.
Might be a good item for a group buy Allen.
Who is the supplier of the green version Rod?

Rod True wrote:Well, here's another sampling of my "cheapness".

"Cheapness is the mother of invention!" along with necessity. Great job Rod & thanks for sharing. As Michael pointed out, the shipping costs to the underside of the globe is high so ideas like this are great for us plebs

Thanks for that great

Localele wrote:Simple is good and that is nothing if not simple.Cheers Rod.
I also spy a green version of the "Stew-mac" vice holding it all up.How do you find this as a vice?I have always liked the look of them but the freight is a bit steep to Australia.
Might be a good item for a group buy Allen.
Who is the supplier of the green version Rod?

Sorry for the delay Michael

I got my vise from Japan Woodworker. I really like this vise alot. I use it every day in the shop. I use to have a basic metal working vise but I wanted something that would hold the neck while shaping it etc so I opted for this one.

Actually though, you could make one of the ones like David Collins showed on the OLF a while back. Here's a picture for you.



This would require a vise screw which I'm guessing you guys could easily source from one of the many wood working supply houses down under. http://www.timbecon.com.au/products/vic ... 328_0.aspx for example

I don't know if this will make it more attractive to you, but Woodcraft has them on sale, $50 off the normal price.

http://www.woodcraft.com/product.aspx?P ... ilyID=3961

Ya, I was sort of thinking it was on sale somewhere. Thanks for the link Lillian! Maybe it will help one of our upside down friends

Rod, do you really think there's hope for them? I mean, after all, they hang out with us.

HA! Chicken or Egg Lillian?

You are so right.

I like the idea Rod. I like the fact that you can just stowe them away in a draw along with your nut files and such until needed again.

Without having seen this thread, (also!) about two years ago I made something very similar (inspired by the nut & saddle vise available from Stewmac), but with the clamp already incorporated so I can take it to the belt sander or also clamp it in the normal vise.