Vise Material

This topic has 15 replies, 5 voices, and was last updated 02/18/2015 at 5:17 am by Steven N. Bolin.

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02/16/2015 at 7:48 pm #23416
Bill Kirkley
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Is there a reason the vise is made out of aluminum and not steel? Does anyone know what aluminum alloy the vise is made from?
02/16/2015 at 9:23 pm #23426
Steven N. Bolin
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Is there a reason the vise is made out of aluminum and not steel? Does anyone know what aluminum alloy the vise is made from?

I would assume it’s due to cost and because it’s easy to machine.

Josh from Razor Edge Knives, a member to this forum and sharpening expert, had a custom vise made from D2 tool steel. He’s inspired me to start looking around town for someone to do the same for me.
02/17/2015 at 4:22 am #23445
blacksheep25
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Sure you could make the vise out of tool steel, and guess what happens when you over torque it on your blade? Then the complaints on this forum would be that the vise marred their knife, when in actuality it was user error.
02/17/2015 at 4:51 am #23446
Josh
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Sure you could make the vise out of tool steel, and guess what happens when you over torque it on your blade? Then the complaints on this forum would be that the vise marred their knife, when in actuality it was user error.

I sharpened hundreds of knives on my hardened A2 tool steel vise w/ no issues… including high dollar customs 🙂 If I was concerned w/ scratches I would clean the vise and then use tape on the blade. Problem solved! :side:
02/17/2015 at 5:16 am #23449
Steven N. Bolin
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Sure you could make the vise out of tool steel, and guess what happens when you over torque it on your blade? Then the complaints on this forum would be that the vise marred their knife, when in actuality it was user error.

I sharpened hundreds of knives on my hardened A2 tool steel vise w/ no issues… including high dollar customs 🙂 If I was concerned w/ scratches I would clean the vise and then use tape on the blade. Problem solved! :side:[/quote]

Boom. Knowledge dropped.
02/17/2015 at 5:20 am #23450
Josh
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Sure you could make the vise out of tool steel, and guess what happens when you over torque it on your blade? Then the complaints on this forum would be that the vise marred their knife, when in actuality it was user error.

I sharpened hundreds of knives on my hardened A2 tool steel vise w/ no issues… including high dollar customs 🙂 If I was concerned w/ scratches I would clean the vise and then use tape on the blade. Problem solved! :side:[/quote]

Boom. Knowledge dropped.[/quote]
I hope I didn’t come across like a “know it all” lol I just wanted to point out my experience 🙂
02/17/2015 at 5:25 am #23452
Steven N. Bolin
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Nah, in no way did you come across as a know-it-all. Keep dropping that knowledge on us newbies. I love and anticipate hearing what you have to say!
02/17/2015 at 5:28 am #23453
Bill Kirkley
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Razoredgeknives:

Why use tool steel as opposed to mild steel? Did you heat treat the vise to harden it?
02/17/2015 at 5:40 am #23454
Josh
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Nah, in no way did you come across as a know-it-all. Keep dropping that knowledge on us newbies. I love and anticipate hearing what you have to say!

lol ur crazy

Razoredgeknives:

Why use tool steel as opposed to mild steel? Did you heat treat the vise to harden it?

Well I have used two different tool steels for vises… A2 and 4160. The 4160 was supposed to be pre-hardened from the factory. The A2 one I had hardened (may have been lightly tempered, not sure – i had it done through a local fab shop). The A2 one was hard as rocks… the lower vise screw wouldn’t even hardly scratch it. I sharpened hundreds of knives on it w/ zero issues, and man did I crank down on some of them!

The 4160 one was a different story. Like I said it was supposed to be pre hardened from the factory around 45 hrc. I used it a few times and 1. it bent and 2. the lower vise screw actually bit into the steel on the opposing jaw and marred it up. This is why it must be heat treated and not mild steel. =)
02/17/2015 at 5:56 am #23455
blacksheep25
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Josh, how much did it cost to get those steel vises made?
02/17/2015 at 6:04 am #23456
Bill Kirkley
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Josh:

Thanks for your help.
02/17/2015 at 8:27 pm #23487
Steven N. Bolin
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Josh, how much did it cost to get those steel vises made?

I’m also curious as to how much you paid. I’ve never had anything fabricated so…
02/17/2015 at 11:15 pm #23493
Josh
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Josh, how much did it cost to get those steel vises made?

I’m also curious as to how much you paid. I’ve never had anything fabricated so…[/quote]

Well I got the hook up from a relative of a friend… i think it was $150 if i remember correctly but i imagine it would typically be a good bit more than that for only having one made. If we get a list together of who all is interested in the A2 jaw then I can contact him again and see about having 5-10 made for a discount.
02/18/2015 at 12:45 am #23498
Steven N. Bolin
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Josh, how much did it cost to get those steel vises made?

I’m also curious as to how much you paid. I’ve never had anything fabricated so…[/quote]

Well I got the hook up from a relative of a friend… i think it was $150 if i remember correctly but i imagine it would typically be a good bit more than that for only having one made. If we get a list together of who all is interested in the A2 jaw then I can contact him again and see about having 5-10 made for a discount.[/quote]

Oh, wow, that’s not bad at all! Not too sure when I’ll have the extra scratch to throw down, but I’m definitely interested in the vise AND riser block when that time comes… If that’s even an option?
02/18/2015 at 1:41 am #23502
Lance Waller
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Josh, how much did it cost to get those steel vises made?

I’m also curious as to how much you paid. I’ve never had anything fabricated so…[/quote]

Well I got the hook up from a relative of a friend… i think it was $150 if i remember correctly but i imagine it would typically be a good bit more than that for only having one made. If we get a list together of who all is interested in the A2 jaw then I can contact him again and see about having 5-10 made for a discount.[/quote]

Oh, wow, that’s not bad at all! Not too sure when I’ll have the extra scratch to throw down, but I’m definitely interested in the vise AND riser block when that time comes… If that’s even an option?[/quote]

If I were you I would just wait for the new vise that Clay is coming out with instead of dropping cash on another vise that will be obsolete shortly
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