What's that thang!? - Answered

[plumberbummer]

I saw this piece sitting on a shelf at the pawn shop - the man behind the counter priced it at - uhhh, I don't know... ten bucks.
Whatever it is, I'm sure more than $10 went into making it.
The teeth on the front are not affixed - they just have pins on the back of them, and they are easily scratched.
One of the pin blocks is stationary, and the other has one pin in the back that allows it to swivel.
There is a taper on the bottom of the one section with a single bearing at the tip
I can't find any markings on it.
I'm sure I could make something with it, but I would rather see it back to it's intended purpose.
Any ideas?

 

[Ulma Doctor]

it appears to be (a part of) a fixture for shaft work
(at a guess) i imagine it sits into some kind of socket to hold the fixture to a mill or drill table

 

[Nutfarmer]

It's an engraver's vise. The round bottom sets on a leather pad filled with sand. That makes it movable in almost any direction. New they are expensive.

 

[C-Bag]

It's an engraver's vise. The round bottom sets on a leather pad filled with sand. That makes it movable in almost any direction. New they are expensive.

Exactly the use I’ve seen it for. The spherical base is what gives it away. I’ve mostly seen them set in a ring of some kind. This way you can tilt the vise in any direction. Looks a lot nicer than the DIY ones I’ve seen. The last one was a guy used an old bowling ball for the spherical base.

 

[plumberbummer]

It's an engraver's vise. The round bottom sets on a leather pad filled with sand. That makes it movable in almost any direction. New they are expensive.

Thanks! I'm thinking I might try to make a base for it that will clamp it in place for use with the rotary tool.

 

[plumberbummer]

Exactly the use I’ve seen it for. The spherical base is what gives it away. I’ve mostly seen them set in a ring of some kind. This way you can tilt the vise in any direction. Looks a lot nice than the DIY ones I’ve seen. The last one was a guy used an old bowling ball for the spherical base.

Haha! If it works, it works right?

 

[C-Bag]

Thanks! I'm thinking I might try to make a base for it that will clamp it in place for use with the rotary tool.

That would be what I’d use for

 

[C-Bag]

Haha! If it works, it works right?

I think if you can find a new one online you’ll find you made a real score. In those kinda cases we say:

YOU SUCK

 

[Ulma Doctor]

It's an engraver's vise. The round bottom sets on a leather pad filled with sand. That makes it movable in almost any direction. New they are expensive.

very cool!
i didn't know they existed.
i learned something today!!!

 

[MrWhoopee]

If relatively complete, I'd be looking at selling it on eBay and using the funds to buy some tooling you need. No point in turning a wrench into a hammer.