Engraving Vise, Mini Swivel - Using a Locking Caster

I have been wanting to make a smaller lighter engraving vise to travel with. My current engraving vise is small but it is heavy, It actually broke out the side of my tool box while moving it. So I made a mini swivel vise using a lockable caster. It allows me to easily move my workpiece in all directions. The locking part of the caster can set an angle to help.

1. 1X- 3 inch caster with brake, with bearing swivel - 121 pound rated
2. 1X - 2 inch diameter pin vise (4X -pegs for workpiece holding)
3. 1X- 3 inch by 4 3/4 inch by 1 inch thick Wood - ( I used composite deck board) --BASE
4. 1X- 3 3/4 inch by 1 inch by 1/8 inch thick Aluminum or steel -- FRAME
5. 4X - bolts 5/16 inch diameter by 1/2 inch length -- SECURE CASTER TO WOOD BASE
6. 1X - bolts 5/16 inch diameter by 1/2 inch length -- SECURE FRAME TO PIN VISE
7. 4X - Screws 3/16 inch diameter by 3/4 inch length -- SECURE FRAME TO CASTER

Drill (I used a cordless)

Drill bits (these will vary based on what you use for screws and bolts etc...)

• 1/4 inch -- for pilot hole into wood base
• 11/64 inch - for screws into caster
• 5/16 inch -- for hole in frame to mount pin vise
• 1/8 inch -- for pilot holes in caster

Flat file

Sand paper (180 grit but not critical on grit)

Scuff pad

micrometer

1/2 inch open end wrench

Philips screw driver

Angel (measuring)

Ruler

Small vise

hacksaw (metal cutting saw)

Transfer punch 21/64

Table saw - wood handsaw would also work

Ear protection

Hammer

Blue tape

2 inch diameter pin vise (4X -pins /pegs for workpiece holding)

Remove the top off the handle by unscrewing

3 3/4 inch by 1 inch by 1/8 inch thick Aluminum or steel

Cut to length

Lay out and drill holes

• 11/64 inch - for screws in frame
• 5/16 inch -- for hole in frame to mount pin vise

use flat file to clean burrs

use sandpaper and scuff pad to clean surface of frame

put in vice and bend at halfway point to a 90 degree angle. Use hammer is best

1X- 3 inch by 4 3/4 inch by 1 inch thick Wood - ( I used composite deck board) --BASE

Cut wood down to size, I am using an composite deck board.

I used my table saw but a hand saw would also work.

Make sure to wear eye and ear protection while operation of power equipment

Layout hole location to mount caster to base

I put the caster on the wood base and put 1 inch spacing from top to bottom and 3/8 spacing from left to right

I used blue tape over caster to hold in place on the wood.

I used the the transfer punch 21/64 to mark the drilling locations

remove caster from base

Drill pilot holes of 1/4 - you can thru drill the wood.

Mount Vise To The Frame by first cutting down a bolt.

1. 1X - bolts 5/16 inch diameter by 1/2 inch length -- SECURE FRAME TO PIN VISE

I could not find the right size (length) in my bolt collection, so I needed to cut down a longer bolt to size

To maintain a good thread at the end, I put a nut on the bolt, this also helps in holding it in the bench vise.

I leave the portion that I am going to remove hanging out of the bench vise.

Using a hack saw (metal saw) cut the bolt to 3/8 inch length

I had a clearance issue with my first hole - so I drilled a second hole

Mount the vise on top of the frame and use bolt to secure

In mounting the frame to the caster

I used blue tape to hold frame in place on the caster.

Drilled thru the frame mounting holes with a 1/8 diameter drill into the outside resin

Mount screws using the screw driver

1. 4X - Screws 3/16 inch diameter by 3/4 inch length -- SECURE FRAME TO CASTER

In mounting the caster to the base I use the

1. 4X - bolts 5/16 inch diameter by 1/2 inch length -- SECURE CASTER TO WOOD BASE

Tighten

I mounted a piece of copper stock

blacken with a marker - which helps see the cuts

I use hand push engravers - can not afford a power graver

Instead of pushing the hand graver- using the vise to move the work piece into the point works better for me.

OH self taught - might be better ways

The vise is very solid and the cast I used did not create and chatter (bounce in the graver)

I want to thank you for viewing my pin vise instructable

I have some extras below

MY tools

by bench vise simple hack

I will be creating another instructable on making pins

I added a photo of my engraving tool collection. I say collection because it has taken me many years to find and make the tools.

Thank you again.

I have to store my bench vises

I worked in a barn for 30 years which rust is created on all my metal surfaces

My vise would lock together by the jaws rusting shut.

to eliminate this I put things in between the jaws and close.

this size bench vise I used an old plastic hotel key

Just a thought

Thanks again