movable vise

[Rolland]

I got tired of having to chase a part around on my bench vise, since it is fixed I have to change position or move the part.
So with a miled out bowling ball and a short piece of 8 inch sewer pipe, I happened to luck out and get the belled end I now have a moveable vise. I made a universal fixture and screwed it to a flat on the ball and wa-laa. I also used the internal seal to create some friction on the ball.
I have two or three different vises I can mount.

 

[1hand]

Cool man.! I like it. Thm:

 

[steamer]

yea that is pretty cool....clever bit a sideways thinking there!

:bow:

Dave

 

[Maryak]

Now that's clever - balls an all. :bow:

Best Regards
Bob

 

[SAM in LA]

Rolland,

Very clever.

:bow:

SAM

 

[Omnimill]

Nice idea, I even have a spare 16 lb Bowling Ball in the garage - but I don't have any 8 inch sewer pipe! :'(

Vic.

 

[BigBore]

I'm impressed with anyone who can get their ball stuck in an 8 inch sewer pipe! th_wav

Ed

 

[mklotz]

How did you put the flat on the ball?

Engravers use a similar device with the ball sitting in a toroidal leather pillow filled with sand. That might be an option for people who can't find a suitable piece of pipe.

 

[vlmarshall]

Very cool. Like Marv said, it looks like a giant plastic version of an engraver's vise.

I've sawn a bowling ball in half, and drilled and tapped some holes in another ( no idea why, they were for a local bowling alley owner), but I've never made anything really useful out of one.

 

[Blogwitch]

Does that flat metal plate and piece of pipe get in the way when you hurl it down the alley?

 

[Rolland]

I'm impressed with anyone who can get their ball stuck in an 8 inch sewer pipe! th_wav

Ed

When you have 8 inch balls keeping them in a sewer pipe keeps them from rolling off the table and breaking your foot.

Does that flat metal plate and piece of pipe get in the way when you hurl it down the alley?

I did not use the pipe but the plate does cause a terrific hook and beside sit makes a terrible racket. The bowling alley ask me not to come back :

How did you put the flat on the ball?

I strapped it to a piece of channel iron with a load strap and cut it with a sawsall. Had someone shot a video of me doing that it would have been much the same as watching two monkeys trying to have sex with a football.

 

[Hal]

If you don't have a piece of sewer pipe handy some people find a small rubber tire to keep the ball in place.

Hal

 

[Omnimill]

If you don't have a piece of sewer pipe handy some people find a small rubber tire to keep the ball in place.

Hal

Trouble is, I need all four tyres on the Mower ... Rof}

Vic.

 

[max corrigan]

Nice idea, I even have a spare 16 lb Bowling Ball in the garage - but I don't have any 8 inch sewer pipe! :'(

Vic.

I have seen this method used in the hand engraving world (shotgun parts etc) they would mount a small vice or similar on a bowling ball, and simply sit the ball in a small tyre or inner tube, as used on wheelbarrows or such, kind of gripped the ball better, might help if you can't get the 8" pipe!
Regards Max...........

Just re-read and realised several posters had mentioned the rubber tyre trick! my apologise for repeating this, i'll stand in the corner for half an hour :-[
Max............

 

[substandard]

Great idea, I am always trying to twist and turn around the vise trying to work on a part. Much easier to turn the vise instead. Some where down the line I ended up with 4 bowling balls in my Strategic Collection of Refuse, Accessories and Parts (SCRAP).

Might be able to call in a favor and get some 8" pipe if not I should be able to find an old tire..

 

[grunty]

The only problem I can see is it will move when I hit the workpiece with my lump hammer :big: :big:

 

[PTsideshow]

Here is a fast version, with one harbor freight vise with the vacuum base removed.

The post is just a little larger that the finger holes, reamer one out and with a Chinese tire and inner tube to adjust friction on the bowling ball.
Not good for beating on but will work for holding and repostioning with out opening the vise.

 

[Rolland]

I just found the rest of the piece I cut the one I am using off of. If any body wants it they can have it. It does not weigh much but I don't know if it will fit in a flat rate box of course it could always be mailed parcel post. Or I could cut it to fit in the large flat rate box.
Let me know and I will figure out a cost on shipping the pipe has never been put to use.