Bowling Ball Vise

[brianh]

Made a new version of bowling ball vise the first one made had a manual latch but since this one is always in the shop I went with pneumatic and foot pedal control.

Saves a lot of time on carving not having to walk around the piece it is mounted on a hydraulic cart for height adjustment.

DSCN2261 by Brian Harnett, on Flickr

DSCN2268 by Brian Harnett, on Flickr

DSCN2269 by Brian Harnett, on Flickr

This is the manual version
DSCN0212 by Brian Harnett, on Flickr

 

[dogdog]

LMAFO.... to pic 2 and 3.... you have some talent there

 

[Aspen RT]

Wow......that moose is super cool!!!

 

[BD1]

LMAFO.... to pic 2 and 3.... you have some talent there

ME TOO !!! It is not what we thought ! LOL

Thar is amazing work. Your wood hoist is above and beyond cool. It's something how the REAL wood craftsman use wood for EVERYTHING. AWESOME WORK !!

 

[brianh]

Thanks, the hoist on the table hooks up to my detail saw making it weigh about a pound holding 11 pounds of saw gets tiring. I made the balancer after severing 3 tendons in my left hand on glass, holding the saws full weight for any time was impossible for a few months.

I made plans a while ago for the manual latch one after some other carvers were interested.

They are at this link
http://harnettdesigns.lenzus.com/cgi/album?30891110+30965168+0+33389267

 

[NASTYZEN]

You sure have mad skills!
At a quick glance of pic's 2 and 3. I must say, I did do a double take at first. LoL

 

[77Mini]

That looks like a pretty clever setup for carving. Looks good.

If anyone has any other ideas for old bowling balls let me know .....I have a few and would love to do something with them.

 

[joe49]

Pair of balls and a piece bar and a little epoxy, make nice dumbbells.

 

[royce]

That looks like a pretty clever setup for carving. Looks good.

If anyone has any other ideas for old bowling balls let me know .....I have a few and would love to do something with them.

They also make a fine projectile fired from a mortar.
Sorry for the hijack Brian, great work on the vise, by the way.
Royce

 

[matt_i]

I am admiring your vise and the incredible work on the carvings!

Also I liked the tool balancer idea, simple and effective. If that gets in your way, Packers-Kromer makes a pretty nice and durable moment-spring balancer in several sizes that you could easily mount to your building steel. Just a straight vertical cable. Tweak the spring pressure with an allen wrench until its perfect.

 

[brianh]

I am admiring your vise and the incredible work on the carvings!

Also I liked the tool balancer idea, simple and effective. If that gets in your way, Packers-Kromer makes a pretty nice and durable moment-spring balancer in several sizes that you could easily mount to your building steel. Just a straight vertical cable. Tweak the spring pressure with an allen wrench until its perfect.

Thanks I have used them before at my last job. One thing not obvious in the picture is the whole assembly rotates on a wheel hub bearing. Unless I go really fast inertia is not an issue.

 

[Provincial]

Nice setup!

A truck spring brake chamber would make a nice air cylinder for clamping. The spring extends the shaft (5/8" NF threads) and 120 psi maximum air pressure retracts the spring/shaft. No air is needed to lock the device if it is designed to be locked with the shaft extended.

 

[stage20]

i was thinking a real vise that actually holds a bowling ball. those things are a fortune.

what you have built[the vise] and what youve carved is great.
nice work!

 

[vettex2]

good idea !