good vise for revolvers?

[snowman]

Friends,

I've been looking off and on for awhile for a good solid gun vise that would work well for cleaning revolvers. It seems to me that I need 3 if not 4 hands whenever I'm doing it; I believe it would help me do it considerably faster if the gun could be mounted in a vise.

It appears to me that nearly all the ones I've seen are geared toward long guns. It looks like some of them could hold handguns, but I don't know how solid the arrangement would be. Plus the yoke which grasps the barrel would prevent one from using a cleaning rod, bore snake, etc. in the cylinder with it opened(yoke of the vise right in front of extractor rod) and would block the extractor rod on short-barreled models, keeping one from opening the cylinder.

I've considered designing and making one myself, but don't have time. Have any of you run across a good solution to this? I ran a search and didn't find a thread highlighting this issue.

Thank you much for your help.
Andy

 

[Leonard]

I had an old Dremel Tool vice laying around. I set it up so I can bolt it on the bench using allen head screws that fasten to threaded lead plugs that are screwed into the bench top flush with the surface. The vice has rubber jaw inserts plus I some times use a rag as well. It also swivels so I get a good angle for standing and brushing down the bore. I usually hold the gun by the barrel. It works great and I also use it for jobs like changing rear site blades. If you need more info let me know.

Len

 

[snowman]

Len,

Yes, I would be interested in more information. Would you happen to be able to post pictures of it in use? That would be helpful if it is possible.

Thank you for the response.
Andy

 

[Leonard]

Hi Andy,

This evening I will take some photos and hopefully be able to post them.

Len

 

[Leonard]

Nothing fancy but it works and can be removed so the unit it is mounted to can be pushed under the bench or used for other projects.

Len

 

[snowman]

Thank you, Len. Looks like that might be the ticket. A few questions:

-Are those anchors usually available at mom and pop hardware stores?
-Where would you recommend looking for a vise like that?
-What do you normally use to prop up the cylinder when you clean it? Or do you just hold it away from the frame with your hand?


Thanks again!

 

[Leonard]

The anchors came from Home Depot any good hardware store should carry them.

The vise is no longer made there are probably thousands of them sitting around not being used. Try Ebay. Dremel makes a new vise it clamps on the top and Sears has a similar one that also clamps on I have no idea if these are as solid you may want to look at both at Sears or who ever sells Dremel tools.

You have a couple of options on the cylinder you can remove it from the gun and clamp it in the vice or clamp the complete revolver with an open cylinder and clean it up one cylinder at a time rotating the cylinder by hand but your not not fighting to keep it from moving back and forth with the brush just keeping it turned in the position you want.

One piece of advise when you position the gun do it so the cleaning agent and crap coming out are not running down into the action! You notice for barrel cleaning the gun is held upside down.

Hope this helps.

Len

 

[Glitch]

Check out PanaVise. Same type of critter as the Dremel vise, but widely available and there are tons of accessories. I have the Model 301.

http://www.panavise.com/index.html?pageID=1&page=full&--eqskudatarq=2

 

[bountyhunter]

Friends,

I've been looking off and on for awhile for a good solid gun vise that would work well for cleaning revolvers. It seems to me that I need 3 if not 4 hands whenever I'm doing it; I believe it would help me do it considerably faster if the gun could be mounted in a vise.

It appears to me that nearly all the ones I've seen are geared toward long guns. It looks like some of them could hold handguns, but I don't know how solid the arrangement would be. Plus the yoke which grasps the barrel would prevent one from using a cleaning rod, bore snake, etc. in the cylinder with it opened(yoke of the vise right in front of extractor rod) and would block the extractor rod on short-barreled models, keeping one from opening the cylinder.

I've considered designing and making one myself, but don't have time. Have any of you run across a good solution to this? I ran a search and didn't find a thread highlighting this issue.

Thank you much for your help.
Andy

Panavise with plastic jaws.

 

[H Richard]

My "gun-room" is next door to my workshop. I have a heavy shop vise on my work bench, and most importantly have made some padded inserts for the vise. I used some hard rubber glued to 1/2" pine board, (a pair). The gun will be sandwiched between them and no scratch's result. Also, be very cautious when placing a semi-auto in any vise, and the amount of pressure applied can smash in the magazine well enough to result in difficulty inserting and removing magazines. Brownells sells mag well fillers to be used to keep the magwell from being crushed or distorted.

 

[snowman]

Thanks, fellas, for your help. I wonder if you would bear with me while I ask a few more questions(I like to make sure I do things right the first time -saves time, money, hassle, and headaches).

I have three 8-3/8" barreled models, two N-frames and an L-frame. For those of you who recommended either the Panavise or the Dremel, I'm wondering if these would be large/stout enough to keep the big irons from slipping, particularly under the pressure of a bore or chamber brush moving back and forth. I noted on the Panavise website that that model's jaws are only 2.5" wide and .5" high(I realize the height doesn't matter -unless somehow I would torque the gun to one side enough for the barrel to slip out the bottom of the jaws -ouch!).

Also, have you found that the bluing on your barrels stand up to this treatment without rubbing off at all, after repeatedly being clamped and released to clean the gun? I only have three blued guns, but they are nearly pristine, and of course I'd like to keep them that way as much as is possible.

I hope I'm not trying your patience here. You've been very helpful already and I appreciate it much.

Andy

 

[Leonard]

As you know all I have is an old Dremel vice the jaws are very narrow and for some applications I will clamp a rag in place or under the jaws protecting the gun from the exposed metal parts. I have been using this method of cleaning for a number of years and have never marred a gun. The Pana vice looks very similar.

Someone mentioned using a large bench vice I have one in my garage and it has removable padded jaws they have an aluminum back plate and a heavy rubber surface that is very large. Its over kill for what you want to do but would work. I do not use mine for routine cleaning as it is inconvenient from my gun room. I think the padded jaws came from Brownell's.

Len

 

[shovelwrench]

Personally, I like the padded jaws in a shop vise.

At my buddies shop, where I do most of my smithin, is a large shop vise like this. I put aluminum jaws in mine, we normally just wrap what we are working on in a peice of leather. The jaws on these turn, as does the base.

These are serious vises though, you would need a good sturdy bench to bolt it to, but, you'd never need another vise.

 

[snowman]

Very good. I have a 5" shop vise on my workbench, but I guess I never considered using it for gun cleaning; I guess I was thinking it might mar the finish, even with its rubber jaw inserts. Maybe I'll try it for the big boys, and get one of the smaller outfits for the shorter barreled guns.

Many thanks again for the information and suggestions. I've always appreciated the input of the members here -it has helped me with a number of decisions.

Andy

 

[ambassador]

I use my woodworking vice with an old nylon cutting board cut in half for the soft jaws needed not to mar the stainless,works great.

 

[haggis]

Here's a few choices from Brownell's, ranging from non-marring vise inserts to adjustable vises.

http://www.brownells.com/.aspx/cid=692/k=vise/t=P/mfg=/Products/Vises/All/search=vise


Buck

 

[snowman]

Thanks for the link, haggis. I ought to be able to find something suitable there.

Andy

 

[Leonard]

Snowman,

Information overload?

I used my old Dremel vise yesterday to cleanup a 625-2 I just purchased. I removed the cylinder and with it locked in the padded jaws it was a breeze to clean up all the cylinders without having to rotate it. All my effort was on scrubbing not hanging on to or steadying parts! In the past I would clean the cylinder while it was attached removing it was much easier.

One of the the smaller vises is all you need even with too long of a barreled hand gun.

Len

 

[snowman]

Snowman,

Information overload?


Len

Nah -I spent 3 years in graduate school; now THAT was information overload!


I know that a lot of folks remove the cylinder for cleaning; I may try that sometime.

Thanks again!
Andy