Which pen blank vise?

[RobW]

I just purchased a used full sized drill press this past weekend, with a 4" quill travel, and think a real vise might make drilling easier. I've been using a homemade vise since I started turning pens earlier this year. It functions, but doesn't hold the wood too solid. I've been wondering if a real vise would be worth the cash. I've seen the Woodcraft model, and pictures of the PSI one, is there any difference besides cosmetic?

I can't justify the cash for the nice looking one that is being sold through this website, but if anyone has an opinion of which to get? OR, if anyone has a used to to get rid of.......

Rob

 

[rduncan]

I can't commant on any but the one I purchased at Woodcraft during on of their 15% off "Bag" Sales. I think it's the best investment I've ever made for penturning. I had been using a wooden clamp as I learned in a class for comparison.

 

[coach]

Wait until Paul in Oklahoma makes them again. Best vice you can buy!!!!!!!

 

[Mudder]

Originally posted by coach
<br />Wait until Paul in Oklahoma makes them again. Best vice you can buy!!!!!!!

I have to agree.

I would rather sell my DVR and go back to a jet mini than sell my vise from Paul and go back to my old one.(Lou coined this phrase, I embellished it a little) Matter of fact, you are a week late. I sold my woodcraft vise last week.

 

[MDWine]

I've never regretted buying good tools. I worked for a while without one, and wouldn't go back for anything! I have the woodcraft version, which works well. I don't know about the other one offered here, but it looks like a nice vice, and is highly regarded!

 

[its_virgil]

Paul's vice is worth every $$$ it costs. It is FAR superior to anything else sold by anyone. The reasons are numerous. There is a thread going on Y! penturners about this same thing. A superior tool.
Do a good turn daily!
Don

Originally posted by coach
<br />Wait until Paul in Oklahoma makes them again. Best vice you can buy!!!!!!!

 

[jrc]

My vice to hold blanks while drilling, On the handle that presses and holds the blank I have two sheet rock screws that extend 1/8' and pierces into the blank to help hold it. I works real good and have drilled over 10,000 with it. I'll try to get a photo this evening.

 

[Jim Boyd]

Originally posted by its_virgil
<br />Paul's vice is worth every $$$ it costs. It is FAR superior to anything else sold by anyone. The reasons are numerous. There is a thread going on Y! penturners about this same thing. A superior tool.
Do a good turn daily!
Don

Originally posted by coach
<br />Wait until Paul in Oklahoma makes them again. Best vice you can buy!!!!!!!

Poor guy isn't going to have any free time at all[:0]

 

[Rod Torgeson]

Rob......Here are a couple of pictures of my Pen Drilling Jig. Hope this helps.

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[its_virgil]

There are pen drilling jigs, and then there are jigs and them even more jigs: homemade and commercial. There are pen drilling vises and more vises and even more vises, commercial and homemade and I still say the PHD vise is far above and beyond any I've used or seen used. But if someone has a vice or jig they are happy with, I say stay with it. If not, call Paul. I have no financial interest in any way with PHD Designs. Just a happy and satisfied customer.
Do a good turn daily!
Don

 

[jb_pratt]

I originally used the pen drilling vise sold by Craft Supplies. This vise lasted me about 2 weeks. The mechanism on the Craft Supplies vice are mostly plastic and stopped working. In typical Craft Supplies fashion they gave me a full refund for the vice. I then ordered the PSI drilling vice. The mechanism on this vice is mostly metal but I find that there is the least bit of play when drilling. This doesn’t cause a problem but the brass tubes fit ‘looser’ than that of the Craft Supplies vice so I have moved to using Gorilla Glue to glue the tubes into the blank. After reading all the posts on this site I have ordered and paid for one of Paul’s vices that are scheduled to ship the end of October. I’ll comment later on Paul’s compared to the PSI and CUSA vice’s.

 

[Rifleman1776]

Rod, that looks like a simple, effective method. I use a machinists cross-slide vice from Grizzly and it comes in handy for many more uses than pen blanks.

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[Dario]

Originally posted by Rifleman
<br />Rod, that looks like a simple, effective method. I use a machinists cross-slide vice from Grizzly and it comes in handy for many more uses than pen blanks.

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Very nice vise...for $44.95 it looks reasonably priced considering what it can do.

 

[jrc]

Mine cost less than a dollar and quickly adjusts for different size blanks. The screws holds the blank tight. I can drill dozens of blanks in a few minutes and I have drilled over 10,000 blanks.

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[Thumbs]

Rob, back to your original question. I have had and used both the Woodcraft and PSI model. I preferred the PSI model. I just replaced it with Paul's vise offered here on site. My PSI model is about 3 months old. Make me an offer by pm, including shipping, maybe we can deal.....

 

[onewaywood]

Ok I gotta ask,,,,, who is Paul and how do I get a hold of him ????

 

[PenWorks]

Originally posted by onewaywood
<br />Ok I gotta ask,,,,, who is Paul and how do I get a hold of him ????

It's the best kept secret, no one will tell you, because we all are on his waiting list for new tools. []

So you did't get this from me [8D]

http://www.penturners.org/forum/pop_profile.asp?mode=display&id=447

 

[Paul in OKC]

Originally posted by onewaywood
<br />Ok I gotta ask,,,,, who is Paul and how do I get a hold of him ????

Here I am[][] E-mail me through the group. I think I have one left available for this batch. Will be making 30!!( I hope my wife and kids remember what I look like when I get done[])