… is used to secure a knife or other tool while a handle is fashioned.

Although I’ve said before that I dislike working with metal, that is somewhat inaccurate.  More to the point, I dislike working with metal in my shop.  My shop is a wood shop and every time I have to work with metal, I feel like I need to detox, decontaminate, or perform some sort of ritual cleansing.  I’ve also said that I like making tools, and that usually requires working with metal.  Out of this paradox I have fashioned a cutler’s vise.

This all started with carving spoons.  In order to better carve wooden spoons, I started making left handed hook knives and slöjd knives.  Now, to better make knives, I’ve made a cutler’s vise patterned after one made by D. Comeau.

The vise started with four pieces of iron pipe cut at the local pipe yard.  The bird’s mouth of the upright piece was cut with a carbide hole saw.

After some sanding, a local welder helped with the assembly (thanks Dan). The knobs on the adjustment screws are fashioned from trimmed carriage bolts and brass channel with wenge wood infills.

The wooden jaws are white oak, lined with cork.  They have magnets imbedded to hold them open and in place when the adjustment screws are backed off.  I indulged myself by having it covered by a local powder coating firm.

Although I do like making tools, I think that I’m also a bit fed up with the metallic mess for awhile. Time to start the chanting, the burning of incense, …or maybe just the vacuum cleaner.