Homemade knife vise | The Tools of the Trade | Forum

I like seeing tools that other people made and getting ideas for things to make around the shop. Anything you can make yourself you can customize to your needs and it saves you money. You also get the chance to learn while making something useful.

The inside of the fork is rounded to match the ball. If you notice the one side of the fork is held on with a pin in the bottom so it hinges a little to allow clamping. I didn't make it I bought it frum a man at the NWBA. He said he got the plans on a machinist fourm as I remember. I think there would be other ways of making the forks have the right amount of give to tighten up on the ball. I also think you could forge in the dished area for the ball.

ya I have ben macking all wood self bows for over 20 years. I only got into blacksmithing and bladesmithing in the past 4 or 5 years. It is sumtimes a little hard to do the two out of the same shop. I always have to sweep up wood shavings and dust before forging so I forge for a few days or make bows for a few days but never on the same day. the staves are yew and ocean spray and servic beary.

Hay tom ya the native americans around hear used ocean spray for arrows but I have seen and have bows that they made out of it also. It is very strong for its size and you can get bows of 50 to 60 # out of stuff that is 1" in diamater. It is hard to dry becouse it has a pith and will crack to the pith if you arn't carfull. I usualy cut it down to the pith with a band saw when green then seal the exposed wood with carpenters glue then dry. You can find larger diameter ocean spray in short sections of 36 to 40" then cut down the midle and splice together at the handel to make longer bows. My faverat hunting bow is made this way and pulls 55# at 26" draw.