Knife spring vice dimensions

[Ozwelder]

Hi fellas,
I have purchased material to make my pocket knife backspring vice.
From the photos I have seen and scaling them, the vice would appear to be made from 3/4" x !/8" aluminium flat.

I think it works out to somewhere near 7" long.

I have only a small clamp on bench vice and feel the 7" length may be too long to fit.

I don't believe this bench vice will project far enough past the edge of the bench to allow the back spring vice to be used as it will foul the work bench.

Is there a specific reason the back spring vices are this long.If I can make the backspring vice half the depth, say 3 1/2" it would fit in my bench vice.
Or should I just buy another bench vice to suit my work bench?
thanks in advance
Ozwelder

[ea42]

Ozwelder, what is a knife spring vice? Do you have a photo or a link?

Eric

[fergusontd]

Ozwelder, what is a knife spring vice? Do you have a photo or a link?

Eric

ea42, you might check with Dale on here, he's an Administrator. I
believe he made one and can give you the info you need. ftd

[Meridian_Mike]

This is what one looks like....

Dale made some and was selling them. I don't know if he has any left of not.

[ea42]

Ahhh, OK, thanks guys. Very cool! So you're using that to compress the spring(s) so that you can install the center pin?

Eric

[orvet]

Ahhh, OK, thanks guys. Very cool! So you're using that to compress the spring(s) so that you can install the center pin?

Eric

I figured you would recognize it Eric, and that's exactly what it's for.
I pattern these after one that Tom Williams sent me from the Camillus factory.

Here is a link to the original tutorial I posted on the Camillus knife vise in 2008.

https://www.allaboutpocketknives.com/kn ... se#p458914

[orvet]

Hi fellas,
I have purchased material to make my pocket knife backspring vice.
From the photos I have seen and scaling them, the vice would appear to be made from 3/4" x !/8" aluminium flat.

I think it works out to somewhere near 7" long.

I have only a small clamp on bench vice and feel the 7" length may be too long to fit.

I don't believe this bench vice will project far enough past the edge of the bench to allow the back spring vice to be used as it will foul the work bench.

Is there a specific reason the back spring vices are this long.If I can make the backspring vice half the depth, say 3 1/2" it would fit in my bench vice.
Or should I just buy another bench vice to suit my work bench?
thanks in advance
Ozwelder

Oz you did pretty good with the dimensions, except it was not aluminum. Your aluminum bar if it survives the first bending will probably not last long because of metal fatigue. Steel is much more resilient when it comes to bending it, not so much for aluminum.
Personally I would just get a new vice. When I make those I've been them freehand, that is to say I do not have a jig set up so that each one would have identical bends. It would be very difficult to achieve the bends and get them to line up correctly using a shorter piece of steel bar.

If you look at the first pictures and the link to the tutorial I posted above this post, you will see the original knife vise from the Camillus factory. You can just use a another piece of steel flat bar to make the shoulder that holds the knife and then put tape over it to keep it from scratching the knife. That's the way they were made at the Camillus factory and they used some white cloth tape over the metal so I didn't scratch the knives.
The micarta pieces that hold the knives on the later ones that I made are just to keep the steel from scratching the knives. Using another piece of flat bar to make that would be far easier.

If you have problems, let me know I'll be happy to assist.

[Ozwelder]

Thank You gentlemen,

You have answered all of my questions brilliantly. Your answers also cleared up some other questions I should have asked in the first place.

I may have some steel flat bar suitable for the project tucked away but I may have to tidy up my shop a bit to find it.

I can't possibly let the missus witness that or she will expect this tidy up nonsense all of time.

People that fix up old folders are indeed thin on the ground in Australia. I only know of only one other bloke down here who does this.

It was he that put me on to this forum as he is a member here, Thanks Brumby.

I am a beginner but have been interested in pocket knives for a mere 59 years.

[Meridian_Mike]

People that fix up old folders are indeed thin on the ground in Australia. I only know of only one other bloke down here who does this.

It was he that put me on to this forum as he is a member here, Thanks Brumby.

I am a beginner but have been interested in pocket knives for a mere 59 years.

Well, between the 2 of you, y'all should be able to handle Australia... don't you think?

[Doc B]

If I understand, correctly, you're concerned about the length, because when you put it in the vice, it would be below the mounting height of your vise. I don't think the length is critical...although I'd guess the longer it is, the easier it is to "spring" back open and not break. I would think if you needed to shorten it, a little, it would still work. Thoughts Dale? The functional part is the part where you see Dale put the micarta. I bought one from Dale. The micarta idea, of his is brilliant!

[orvet]

No doubt it could be shortened some, will that be enough to help him? I don't know, he would have to figure that out by trial and error.

[ea42]

Doc, if you have space constraints, you don't necessarily need a spring vice. A couple of pieces of leather will do the trick just as easily. We used to use that method in the shop quite often. I'll try to post up a picture of the setup (what little there is of it) later today.

Eric

[Ozwelder]

I would not say I have space constraints ,other than that of depth between the vice jaws and the bench top top itself.

I have changed out the vice jaws and replaced them with chunks of black Delrin. However, I shall continue and make a spring vice,as shown.

I had replied to a post from Reverand, earlier and could not remember the name of this darn plastic.

You can never have too many tools.

Ozwelder