Vises (sometimes spelled vices) are available in portable versions, and permanent or fixed versions. Portable Vises Portable vises as the name suggests are movable. This is great for job sites where you can’t expect to bring a big heavy shop table with you everywhere you go. They are also great for shops where you are […]Read More
A vise has two parallel jaws that come together to clamp an object in place. There is a stationary jaw, which does not move and helps provide stability. There is a dynamic jaw which is moved away from or towards the stationary jaw along the length of a lead screw. The lead screw is turned […]Read More
A vise (sometimes spelled vice) is used to hold objects in place so that they may be worked on. It’s pretty straight forward, you don’t want a work piece wiggling around while you are trying to cut it, glue it, sand it, file it, drill it, or otherwise modify it. You also don’t want to […]Read More
A vise [vice] is a mechanical tool that is used to hold an object firmly in place so that work may be done on the object. A vise may come in a number of varieties, usually specialized for some purpose such as wood working, machining, blacksmithing, and general shop work. Almost every commercial workshop will […]Read More
A vise is not a complicated tool. You can get by without knowing all the various dimensions and measurements that manufacturers provide when selling a vise. Bolt a vise to a table, put something between the vise jaws, and turn the handle attached to the lead screw. VIOLA, your vise is working as intended. But […]Read More
After deciding that I would rather buy one all-purpose vise rather than multiple specialized vises, I decided to purchase the YOST 750-DI Multi-Jaw Rotating Combination Bench & Pipe vise with a Swivel Base as it seemed to be the best built multipurpose vise I could find that was under $250. This is my review. Shipping […]Read More
Do you want to support the blacksmith in your life by getting them a thoughtful gift, but are not sure what to get them? Then this is the article for you. I will go over great blacksmith gifts for new smiths and experience smiths alike. Beginner smiths are easier to shop for, as it is […]Read More
Drawing out steel is the act of lengthening and thinning a piece of steel stock. The technique for it is simple once you know it, but drawing out steel the wrong way is a frustrating experience. Learn how to do it the right way below. First heat your stock to a nice bright orange/yellow heat. […]Read More
The hell’s forge double burner has a lot of the same benefits as other propane forges. It’s clean, there is no smoke, you can control your temperature more easily than you can other solid fuel forges and they provide a consistent heat. They are easy to set up, and easy to put away once you […]Read More
As a blacksmith, I use a hacksaw to cut mild steel all the time. It’s great for times when I don’t have access to my angle grinder or cold saw. It’s also great for those folks that are just starting to fill out their shop with tools and don’t have access to more expensive machinery. […]Read More