The Grip.o.Vise!
#7
My toolkit has reached the stage of advanced sufficiency such that my tool-finding travels often yield tchotchkes rather than immediately needed tools. I bring you, from a recent trip to the Habitat ReStore, the Grip.O-Vise*! (open position below):



Here's the closed position. You can see the jaw has moved as the lever's been moved:


The adjustable jaw registers on teeth down the length:


The first thing that puzzled me about this little fixture is what it's for. The capacity is 5-1/8", a rather odd size, so it won't accept nominal X by 6 lumber. And you would either have to recess it on the benchtop or have some supports to bring work of any length up to its level. It also occurred to me that any heavy work, like hammering, would either dent the stock by contact with the teeth or break the really rather small cast iron jaws. Any number of other vise designs on the market will accomplish what this does, and more besides, with less hassle.

But it matters not, really, because the design is doomed by its execution. The company apparently employed two different engineers on the movable and adjustable jaws, with no communication between them, because the travel on the movable jaw is about 1/8", while the tooth-to-tooth distance on the adjustable jaw's rack is 3/16". In fooling around with it, I tried a piece of scrap that I later measured at 1-23/32". At one jaw setting, I couldn't quite fit the scrap into the vise; when I set the adjustable jaw one tooth back, the clamping jaw wouldn't actually close down on the stock. Maybe they should have changed the name to Slip.o.Vise.

So this will get tossed in the back of the Klamp Korner, where it can confuse my kids/grandkids, unless Rob Lee wants it for his collection (are you watching, Rob?).

*That's how it's labeled - not dashes, but periods, unless they're commas. Grip,o,Vise isn't better, so I'll stay with periods.
Reply
#8
Well you peaked my tool curiosity so I Googled it...
Came up with this link...(I'd post a picture but I'm not smart enough I guess). At least you know worth range
Hopefully someone can answer where-how-why-when used for inquiring minds like mine. Dave
Grip.O.Vise
If you continue to cut corners, you'll end up going in circles!

It's my thumb so I'll hit it if I want to!
Reply
#9
Well, no, I know what someone's asking for it. Not the same as wroth. But thanks for finding that; good to know there are at least two in the world.
Reply
#10
Bill_Houghton said:


Well, no, I know what someone's asking for it. Not the same as wroth. But thanks for finding that; good to know there are at least two in the world.



Point taken...intended meaning but poor choice of wording
If you continue to cut corners, you'll end up going in circles!

It's my thumb so I'll hit it if I want to!
Reply
#11
Amazing!
Reply
#12
Hey Bill,

Perhaps it was designed primarily for metal work, not wood? Shims would be used to compensate for the gap between 1/8" and 3/16". It would be screwed to a base of some sort for better stability.
Catchalater,
Marv


I did then what I knew how to do. Now that I know better, I do better.”
― Maya Angelou

I'm working toward my PHD.  (Projects Half Done)
Reply


Forum Jump:


Users browsing this thread: 1 Guest(s)

Product Recommendations

Here are some supplies and tools we find essential in our everyday work around the shop. We may receive a commission from sales referred by our links; however, we have carefully selected these products for their usefulness and quality.