Why were swivel jaw vises produced?

[Bcom]

Does anyone have a photo of a swivel jaw vise in where the swivel part is actually being used? For the life of me i cant figure out why these types of vises were being produced from various manufacturers. Does anyone have a photo of the swivel jaw vise,in where the swivel part is actually being used to clamp some odd part? Prentiss,Reed,Wilton,Parker must have been making them for some reason but what type of item would be clamped needing a special swiveling jaw?

 

[drivesitfar]

Axe handle holding comes to mind. Since these vises were more common before the electric motor a lot of a person's tools were hand tools

 

[lazer50]

I have one in my other shop on my small weld table.soon as im back up there ill get a picture.

 

[Bcom]

I have one in my other shop on my small weld table.soon as im back up there ill get a picture.

Well when you take a pic, see if you can show the swivel part actually being beneficial at holding something other than straight pieces.

 

[Bcom]

Axe handle holding comes to mind. Since these vises were more common before the electric motor a lot of a person's tools were hand tools

Axe handle? Still trying to visualize the swivel part actually holding an odd part.

 

[meatsis]

 

[DHCrocks]

wow, I didn't know those even existed. I was thinking you meant the type where the whole head swivels vertically.

Does that actually work? I'd think that when you start clamping down the wedge would just start to slip out.

 

[meatsis]

wow, I didn't know those even existed. I was thinking you meant the type where the whole head swivels vertically.

Does that actually work? I'd think that when you start clamping down the wedge would just start to slip out.

They actually work great!

 

[Heel2toe]

I kinda want one. You can still put a pin in to lock it in place. But I feel like since one end swivels it will allow you to hold down irregular shaped objects better than one that is set perfectly parallel.

 

[Bcom]

So its meant to hold triangular shapes. I wonder why they dont produce them anymore since they felt the need to produce them so long ago. Do we not use triangular shapes anymore?

 

[meatsis]

I kinda want one. You can still put a pin in to lock it in place. But I feel like since one end swivels it will allow you to hold down irregular shaped objects better than one that is set perfectly parallel.

Bingo

 

[Bcom]

Can i have yours? Ill pay for shipping

 

[meatsis]

I sold that one. But I'm actually on my way to buy another as we speak.

 

[LesserSon]

The way I see it, the purpose of the swivel is to increase contact area between the jaws and a tapered object. There's two things happening when you clamp something: pressure and friction. If you think about it, tightening the vise only contributes to holding power by increasing the surface area directly in contact with the jaws. What keeps the object from slipping out is friction. Swiveling vises demonstrate how much more important friction is than pressure to holding power.

A workaround for not having a swiveling vise is to clamp a broad, shallow triangular pad or semicircular pad in the vise to do the swiveling, though that obviously reduces the capacity of the vise. A vertical notch in one jaw of the vice catches the apex of the triangular pad so it doesn't slip sideways.

 

[Bcom]

I sold that one. But I'm actually on my way to buy another as we speak.

Can i have ur new one? Ill pay for half the shipping

 

[meatsis]

Here it is. 3.5 inch Prentiss. Turned out to be in mint condition and shows no signs of abuse. The pin pulled free with my fingers first try. And the swivel base works perfect.

 

[Bcom]

Yep ill take it. Please ship it next day air

 

[notlob]

Here it is. 3.5 inch Prentiss. Turned out to be in mint condition and shows no signs of abuse. The pin pulled free with my fingers first try. And the swivel base works perfect.

More pics please!!

 

[drivesitfar]

here's my Reed 404.5 as i took it apart. sorry i still have to put it back together, but the tolerances are very good with this vise. one of the members changed one of my pictures on the vise repair 101 thread a bit that some of you might like too.

 

[rharman]

The way I see it, the purpose of the swivel is to increase contact area between the jaws and a tapered object. There's two things happening when you clamp something: pressure and friction. If you think about it, tightening the vise only contributes to holding power by increasing the surface area directly in contact with the jaws. What keeps the object from slipping out is friction. Swiveling vises demonstrate how much more important friction is than pressure to holding power.

A workaround for not having a swiveling vise is to clamp a broad, shallow triangular pad or semicircular pad in the vise to do the swiveling, though that obviously reduces the capacity of the vise. A vertical notch in one jaw of the vice catches the apex of the triangular pad so it doesn't slip sideways.

You need one of these... GyroJaw

 

[Mark in Indiana]

There are a lot of good responses for the reasons that one would need a pivot jaw vise. Personally, I've never needed one in over 45 years of using tools, starting as a kid. If I had to clamp an irregular workpiece, I would wrap it in a rag or cut a wedge out of a piece of wood to correct the angles.

However, they're so damn cool!

Here's my American Scale #75H, after finishing the restoration. It's mounted on one of my roll around tool boxes as a back up vise.

 

[davethorik]

Here it is. 3.5 inch Prentiss. Turned out to be in mint condition and shows no signs of abuse. The pin pulled free with my fingers first try. And the swivel base works perfect.

I have a model 19-1/2 Prentiss vise that is similar. It is a 4" jaw. I like it but its kind of annoying how the swivel base works, with a spring loaded pin and holes drilled into half of the base. I prefer vises with a true 360 degree swivel.