Giant Vise Weighs 372 Lbs.

2011 - Volume #35, Issue #5, Page #38

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Brian Johnson’s steel vise is big enough for anything he can throw at it. Its jaws open 14 1/2 in., and the length of the wide-open vise is nearly 4 ft. The face of each jaw is 10 in. by 2 1/2 in.
“Making the vise was a combination of a good challenge and a display of my welding abilities,” admits Johnson. “Besides, it’s fun to have something different from what others have.”
The starting point for his vise was plans published by the James F. Lincoln Arc Welding Foundation (www.jflf.org). Gordon Hennen, the author, described it as a rugged steel vise that “will not break or distort”. Johnson says the sliding tube design has lived up to Hennen’s promise.
“If I put something in the vise, it doesn’t come out, and it doesn’t turn,” he says. “It’s not like the imported vises available today.”
Johnson modified his vise to make it bigger and stronger than Hennen’s original. His moving jaw mounts on 1/2-in. thick, rectangular steel tubing. Johnson’s crank is 1 3/8 in. in dia. with four threads to the inch (Acme).
The Hennen vise crank attached to the bottom of the fixed jaw. Johnson explains that that would allow flex and forward movement and possible binding. Johnson used a straight through draw bolt design that allows the most mechanical advantage possible and prevents binding.
“I salvaged chrome plated hydraulic shafting for handles, handle knob and also for the draw bolt screw,” says Johnson. “It’s high tensile and machines well.”
Another bit of luck went into the vise’s massive hammer block that sits behind the fixed jaw. Johnson found it at a local scrap yard. The piece is 2 1/2 in. thick and 4 in. wide at its narrowest end and a bit wider at the opposite end.
“All I had to do was bevel it a bit and weld it in place,” he says.
Johnson says the vise comes in handy when he makes forges. He designed a brake that fits in the vise for bending both treated and diamond 10-ga. steel plate.
Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Brian Johnson, 16777 County Rd. 75 N.W., Clearwater, Minn. 55320 (ph 320 558-6898).

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Giant Vise Weighs 372 Lbs FARM SHOP Miscellaneous Brian Johnson’s steel vise is big enough for anything he can throw at it Its jaws open 14 1/2 in and the length of the wide-open vise is nearly 4 ft The face of each jaw is 10 in by 2 1/2 in “Making the vise was a combination of a good challenge and a display of my welding abilities ” admits Johnson “Besides it’s fun to have something different from what others have ” The starting point for his vise was plans published by the James F Lincoln Arc Welding Foundation www jflf org Gordon Hennen the author described it as a rugged steel vise that “will not break or distort” Johnson says the sliding tube design has lived up to Hennen’s promise “If I put something in the vise it doesn’t come out and it doesn’t turn ” he says “It’s not like the imported vises available today ” Johnson modified his vise to make it bigger and stronger than Hennen’s original His moving jaw mounts on 1/2-in thick rectangular steel tubing Johnson’s crank is 1 3/8 in in dia with four threads to the inch Acme The Hennen vise crank attached to the bottom of the fixed jaw Johnson explains that that would allow flex and forward movement and possible binding Johnson used a straight through draw bolt design that allows the most mechanical advantage possible and prevents binding “I salvaged chrome plated hydraulic shafting for handles handle knob and also for the draw bolt screw ” says Johnson “It’s high tensile and machines well ” Another bit of luck went into the vise’s massive hammer block that sits behind the fixed jaw Johnson found it at a local scrap yard The piece is 2 1/2 in thick and 4 in wide at its narrowest end and a bit wider at the opposite end “All I had to do was bevel it a bit and weld it in place ” he says Johnson says the vise comes in handy when he makes forges He designed a brake that fits in the vise for bending both treated and diamond 10-ga steel plate Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Brian Johnson 16777 County Rd 75 N W Clearwater Minn 55320 ph 320 558-6898

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