Vises... bow holding devices...

[Pappy]

Barrage,can't have to many vices,I think we have 15/16 at the club and when the classic gets here that ant enough. Lost arra I have a workmate just like that,it is handy when you travel.
     Pappy

[Eric Krewson]

Here are some easy to make vise jaw pads.



Adding a post near your vise is the handiest add on you can have while working on bows. It supports your stave while you are doing serious wood removal and acts as a great stop for bending wood.

[chriss880]

i just have vice and some clamps that work really good

[FlintWalker]

Boy!  Either you fellers don't use your vises much, or i'm just a slob!
  Here's what I use to pad the jaws on my vice.  It's just some thick rubber hose split down one side. I like it better than leather.  You can just slip it off if you don't need it, plus no matter how hard you tighten it, it won't dent your wood. 

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[Hillbilly]

I use a shaving horse for debarking and chasing rings, a bench-mounted vise for the rest of the process.

[Badger]

Here is one I use for rel highly reflexed bows, don't use it often but If I am having trouble with one I pull it out. I just crank it down and tiller while it is in the stirrups.

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[ludimile]

I just clamp onto a heavy table with the part being worked overhanging the edge. i put a pice of cloth underneath the back when working the belly

[Hojo]

I struggled with the small vise that I have for a long while.  Made some of the vise jaw pads like Eric K's (above) out of some old OSB scraps and they vastly improve the vise's ability to hold staves --- and with no damage.   Great idea, Eric!

[wakosama]

The majority seem to prefer a large heavy machinists vise, solidly mounted.  A bit surprising since bows are wood, but I can see why from the pictures and having done a little bow work.  I especially like all the different jaw padding options.

Thanks everyone...

LUK

[Pat B]

That's one reason I leave the handle shaping until last. A nice solid squared off handle area clamps well and holds well without scaring the finished handle, whether your vise jaws are padded or not.

[medicinewheel]

this is my bench; i'm forth generation using it! my grandfather and my gran-grandfather have been carpenters, so it has it's history.
i mounted the vice and it's pretty good working hight for me now. although the free space that i have this way on both sides of the bow works great for me.
i see some really good ideas for paddind the vice here, thanks for that!
f.



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[Postman]

Highly portable....

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[Sidewinder]

Gitter done boys. I don't have a camera handy right now but I use a 4" one a buddy gave me when he was downsizing and getting rid of the three of everything he had.  I built a bowworking bench like the many I saw at OJAM last year with a some outriggers for stabbility. the bench is heavy but when debarking you need something that not gonna move on ya. I have been using leather scraps as pads for the wood but I like the rubber hose idea. One could call it portable if I still had a truck but it won't fit in the trunk of the car so I guess it is'nt, lol I can move it around my area  as need though and I am happy with it. The bench also serves as a stitting bench when company is over and we need extra seats by the fire ring, I just take the vise off and voilla it goes from bow bench to guest seating in no time flat. Works great. I love seeing where everyone makes their shavings. Its nice to know I'm not the only one out there thats a little off kilter with the wood shaving thing. Danny

[DanaM]

I have lots of vices drinkin, smokin, chasing.... oh you meant vises

[medicinewheel]

dana, thanks for the correction!
just to round this up a little: in british english it is "vice", not "vise"

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