Carving vise for peghead work

[timw]

I used a homemade carver's vise to clamp my peghead on while carving,
and it worked great. It was difficult to hold the tapered peghead in
the traditional vise on my workbench. I found several versions of this
vise on the internet, here is one:

http://www.jerryhartzell.com/wood-carving-on-a-budget/jerrys-wood-carving-vise/

I used 1 1/2" pipe fittings, but smaller diameters should work. The
notches in the tee are optional. I built my vise without the notches
and it holds its position rock-solid without the notches.

A fancy handle isn't necessary either, I just used a nut and a box-end
wrench. This vise holds your carving rock-solid, and allows you to
position it in any configuration you need.

Tim

[Michael McMillan]

Looks like a handy carving stand, Tim. Is your peghead the first part you made, or have you made other pieces, too? What kind of wood did you use to carve it? Carving the head is where I'm at now. Mel provided a beautiful block of mahogany.

 

[I don't see any way to share photos with Google groups, like with Yahoo. Am I missing something?]

 

--Michael

[David Gillett]

Tim, Michael,

 

As you are carving your own pegheads, I strongly recommend that you talk to Mel Dorries. He had a local woodcarver friend make a head, but Mel said the peg holes came out all wrong!  I'm not smart enough to know why, but Mel, being Mel, will be more than happy to explain the pitfalls and details.

 

David

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[Tim Winters]

Thanks for the heads up David?

As they say, 'fools rush in where angels fear to tread'. I've already drilled my pilot holes, but have n't enlarged them with my peg-reamer yet. I think I have my angles drilled like my plan calls for, but I wouldn't bet the farm on it, yet. I plan on 'bushing' the holes if they prove to be wrong. By bushing, I mean that I can glue in a maple dowel and re-drill if necessary.  This group is great!  Thanks for the tip.   Tim

[timw]

Thanks Michael!

I used Poplar to carve my first peghead. The only reason I used it was
because I had it on hand and knew it was dry. It has been
'acclimating' in my shop for almost three years so I know it is
stable. I worried that it might be too soft for holding pegs tightly,
but this is my first gurdy build and I am trying to learn without
spending lots of money. If the pegs don't hold well in Poplar, I will
try peg drops for a better grip or drill out my pegholes and glue in
maple dowel 'bushes' or, as a last resort, buy the geared-head tuners,
that look like traditional pegs.

I may be mistaken, but I think poplar may be as hard as mahogany, but
I'm not sure.

I don't know how to share photos yet, but I need to find out soon.
This group is awesome!!! Tim

> >http://www.jerryhartzell.com/wood-carving-on-a-budget/jerrys-wood-car...