A brand from my country. It's pronounced like "kahn-ja" (means hook). Their main business is manufacturing forged parts and providing heat treatment services for the automotive industry. They do manufacturing for a lot of big brands worldwide (BMW, Mercedes, Ford and Toyota to name a few). The vices, anvils and hand tools are their side business. They're almost always high quality. You'll probably be happy with yours as you've said.
I live in Turkiye. Kanca manufactures for Bessey and others. Very high quality in ibeam clamps-I have 10-and anvils. Great video man. Unfortunately manufacturers today are not thinking 100 years of use like they were 100 years ago. Even kanca. I think you found the best that can be hoped for new.
Here, where I live, this type of blacksmith's vise is very rare and always disputed with a slap fight...🤕... You made great comments about the change and I hope that this new tool brings you more comfort in your work. Congratulations!
@blee25591 I live in the south of Brazil, close to the border with Argentina, and I don't speak English, sorry... I just use a translator to comment and sometimes I can't express myself very much... 😅. But I am deeply grateful for your videos and they are what I need. Thank you very much.👍
I'm glad I bought a new vice not an antique. The Australian Anyang dealer brought some in from china. Mine is a 4inch, but it's huge. Big heavy frame. Uses a coil spring instead of a leaf spring. The jaws have no knurling, so they don't scratch the work piece as bad, although I imagine less grip is provided.
I am so happy to find that you replaced the old vice. It used to bother me that it was so shaky in use. I could not bring myself to say anything as I so enjoy you gift of teaching Smithing that my judgement was not warranted. Best of luck with the new vice. I can rest easy now.
I've had mine for about two years, and I didn't even know it could swivel like that! Mind blown! Also, I agree about the rubber handle stops, I've had one get melted with my OA torch and it keeps popping off, but its not really a big deal and i could easily upset the ends or weld on a ball to stop the handle from falling out.
Just got very lucky and bought a 4" jaw vice from a sale near Sheffield for £15 [$19.50] It has had a charmed life since under the grease, general crud and a little rust, it is almost unmarked and looks to have been hardly used. It is an old school very sturdily built vice and weighs in at 110lbs .... close to double the weight of the Kanca 6" Jaw. Round the Sheffield area we are very lucky since the rapid decline of steel and manufacturing has left plenty on the second hand market at around £30-60 mark but it is advisable to take them apart and inspect carefully before handing over cash, as the condition varies greatly. If you get one with major parts missing or which are total write offs, they can be a good source of decent quality wrought iron, if the price is right.
My OCD was messed with when you welded on the post without first grinding the rust off the post. Uhhhh. Great project and otherwise good job, and thank you for showing.
Loved your video! Got me thinking about my setup! As for old tools, I am one of those that love them! Sometimes you can get a marvellous tool and I love using old tools it’s like you have a lineage of craftsmen with you when your working! I got my vice from a farm in Ontario. The son found it in a storage shed that had not been opened in 50 years. He sold it to me for $300.00 and it sat in storage for three years before I installed it. It seemed cross threaded but turned out to just be old grease! Consider myself fortunate and honoured to have this in my shop!
Absolutely beautiful John . Hopefully you get great use out of for many years to come my friend. Keep up the great craftsmanship and hard work my friend. Forge On. Fab On. Weld On. Keep forge lit. Keep Making. God bless.
..Nice review sir. i'm looking forward to the 6 month update. The swivel feature looks to be an asset as long as it doesn't go to wandering on it's own...
Wishing I had a place I could permanently set up my post vise. For now, I welded up a vise stand from a old steel wheel, a ~3' chunk of some I-bean, and some other random scraps I had. When I Use it, I have to lift the massive stand/vise out of the shed and use it outside. Took my 5yrs of o, and finally found one last summer. No clue on the brand, as the screw box looks like no other I've seen. Onmly marking is the numer 1896, which I assume is the year of manufacture. 5 1nd a half in jaws, and weights something like 90lbs. Only paid $125 for it.
Thank you for video’s such as these! I’ve been watching your video’s for years! Opening a shop in Newfoundland as my own retirement project and your video’s have been a vital part of my development. Thank you for what you do!
What a great video John. Thanks for sharing with us, turned out excellent. I have been hunting for one of these vises for a good while. Mostly find junk and always over priced. I'll be looking at the website soon Fred.
Good morning like your vice, i bough one like this last summer at prince auto it's a awesome vice and got it for a wicked price. regular price $599 got it on sale for $150. it had a few scratches on it. your going to like it. have a great day
I love mine. I wasn’t willing to pay a premium price for an old junky vise, so this was a nice alternative. Im not a full time smith so I may be proven wrong, but it hasn’t happened yet.
I love mine. I replaced the handle ends with billiard balls because I'm like that. It's rock solid and I have a 1/2" plate welded atop a 4" schedule 40 square tube sunk 3 feet into my concrete floor.
5:35 yea John, I for one would love to have that hammer in my shop if I could get it working. I’m really liking these improvement videos around the shop. Talking about people enjoying restoring/refurbishing old tools, there’s a saying my late grandfather used to use at garage sales in regards to old tools/machinery. “There’s a reason they’re selling that.” Another excellent video sir.
You are quite right about the rubber stops on the vice handle. I've owned a kanca 150mm/6'' bench vice for 10 years that had the same handle stops and within a year or two they relaxed and eventually lost their grip on the handle and let it fall off the screw. My solution was to remount the rubber stop using soft steel wire wound tight a few turns around the rubber, the twisted ends cut short and sunk in the rubber to prevent them from injuring the hands in operation. Other than that I like my vice.
It's really nice if you treat yourself now and then.l took my 6" one and took a lick of the jaws in the Mill and recut the teeth with a zip cut wheel and it now works good
I have had one for years now. The only thing I found to be a pain are the rubber stoppers on the crank handle I just welded some big ball bearings on the handle . Still working great.
Great video! I traded for my leg vice many years ago. It's the only one I've really used. I didn't realize how poorly it held things until I saw this video. Maybe if I can have a successful year, a new leg vice will be in my shop.
Thanks for posting this! Good to see someone's making these. I have an old one that works fine but not everyone can find a good old post vise. And I said it before...I'll say it again: I love your shop! :)
I have a couple of the old leg vises in my shop. They work extremely well. I started grabbing them up at farm sales and auctions about 20 years ago and I probably have about a dozen of them ranging in size from about 200 lb. down to 4-inch jaws. I don't think any of them cost me over $25. I am glad to see a company is manufacturing them again. The one in your video looked pretty good, too.
Good review, it looks like a great vise. I might have to check them out, my vises are all pretty hashed. You may only use the swivel once or twice a year but I imagine it would be great to have when you need it!
John, nice information and video on this vise. I like the new post and accessories you added, very nice, gives me ideas. I found an old leg vise that my dad had, probably got it in some scrap iron he bought, I've cleaned it up and got it fixed and mounted on a wooden post and it's a lot better than what i did have, nothing. I like the way your new vise can pivot, I think that would be a nice feature. I'll be looking forward to seeing your update and opinions on it as you use it. John V.
Great video Bear! I have about 5 of these post vises of various sizes at my shop. Thinking about mounting one on a truck rim so that I can move it around when needed.
I'm glad that your initial impressions are good, I've been using mine for about five months so far and I've been loving it. Looking forward to your thoughts after using it for a while
I love my Kanka. I have the 5 inch one and I probably should've gotten the heavier 6 inch but I've had no complaints or troubles with it. I've beaten, burned and scratched it all up amd it hasn't given up yet
I have had a Kanca 6 inch vise for about 2 years now. It works great. I have had no issues with the vise at all like I have with my older post leg vises. The only complaint i have at this point is that the pain on mine has begun to peel off in large sections on the leg and upper portions of the vise. Would i buy it again. I certainly would. Love your videos and the lessons I learn by watching them. Thank you for teaching in such a way that makes it easy to follow the process.
Thanks for the storage ideas. I’m just about to build a new stand for my old leg vice. Not many options in Australia for new leg vices and you can pay big for an old one in good condition.
Nice vice. Maybe the Fontanini peeps would consider making a behemoth vice with 7 or 8 inch jaws. More than one vice is welcome only if you have the space.
I have never like the weeble-wobble mounting of the old post vises.I have ruined several old post vises in my life.I have destroyed the threads in the screw casting, spread the jaws apart(they are softer than you would think below the top part way down.) I have put them in the press and re-straightened but they are never the same it seems I have found that the abrasives from my hand grinder eventually wear out the threads in the screw casting. I have also had the screw threads worn off. (abrasives from hand grinder stones mixed into the lube in the screw.) I find washing the screws out and cleaning and re lubing occasionally helps the screw threads last.
Awesome!! I’m glad you made this. I’ve really been wondering about these vises. I see them all the time when I visit centaur forge. Wasn’t sure why to think of them.
Thanks for sharing this video. Having purchased a lot of used equipment over the past many years, there is no feeling better than being able to purchase something new and being the first one to use it. I love the thinking that you put into the storage on the post itself.
Great review. I've always wondered about those vises, but I've never seen any in person or known anyone who has. The rotational feature could come in handy just to clear your twisting wrench if you have it mounted to a table or bench that doesn't quite clear like you'd hoped. Being able to rotate the jaws would also come in very handy when you have to work on a large assembly, like a gate or railing. I know there's been many a time when I needed to hold up a large piece so I could peen the styles. Usually, I grab it at the base with a large vise designed fo on a milling machine, but that's always been less than ideal even if it does work. Being able to latch onto one end at whatever height I wanted, would make it easy to slip my 120# anvil under the part that I'm working on so it could be the floor anvil to back up the peening I'm doing on the other end. Not a common need, but still.... I'll look forward to hearing your 6mo review!
Two weeks ago I just put together my first leg vise stand! Yours looks way more sturdy so I'm excited to see what you think of it more as you use it. I've been trying to use mine to make 1/2" nails but have been having little success, they're just so small. Thanks for all you do!
In my area, you can get used for almost as much as new. In some cases, that old is shot. I've seen anvils with 90% of the face broken off for as much as, say, a 110 pound Kanca anvil.
So i guess it has a good spherical washer, ? I have a big old vise, and I had a new washer made. handle, too, with one machined ball, and one threaded, which I forged welded on. That spherical washer is the key to the whole system, as is the firm mount, which you've dealt with.
Thank you very much for another excellent video. Have you ever worked with a German blacksmith vice? German blacksmith vices are in a complete different category of "beast" of their own. The thick metal cheeks provide an extraordinary strength to these tools. Currently I work with two German blacksmith vices jaws width 140 mm and weight around 50 kg. The oldest one is probably 120 years old, all made in wrought iron and still goes strong...
I haven't, but I have heard good things. I have also never seen one for sale here in the US, so I might have to figure out how to import one from Germany, probably a bit pricey.
@@BlackBearForge Indeed if you would like to import a German vice from Europe to the US, it can be a bit pricey. Who knows you make a blacksmith tour around Germany and you return back to the US with some "Goodies"? I own two bench vices and two blacksmith vices, all of them made in Germany, all of them in perfect working conditions and all of them imported from junkyards/antique shops. Since I discovered German blacksmithing tools, my imagination stopped there...
Really glad to see this video, John. I've been looking at that vise for some time and wondered whether it was really up to the job. Looks pretty good. I'm not concerned about he paint, and the rubber on the handles would be easy to fix if needed. The real question is whether it will hold up to the beating. I never understand why vises are made with such aggressive toothed jaws. Particularly for this type of vise. I would have to change that for sure. But again, not a big deal. Love that scrap yard you have. I wish there was something like that near me. But everything around here that isn't welded down (and a lot of things that are) gets scrapped for a few pennies. Scrap material doesn't exist and new material comes at McMaster prices. If I were in your area, I might be dragging that power hammer home. :) Seems like you are getting the shop all fixed up for some serious new production work and new projects. Gonna be great!
About your bending fork, I couldn't see it up close, but flatten the lower U part for more grip/surface area to minimize movement which honestly, a square peg bottom to the bending fork to fit the anvil seems better if doing much eye work. But great video and you explain your vise use, well!
very good info on the vise. Have you ever used a big heavy foot vise ? I see them from time to time big heavy things you just use your foot pedal on front to clamp it looks.
Use to look at used because you couldn't find new . They want so much money I always use machinist vices . I can find them & afford them . I really lucked out on my anvil !!! But could never find a pole vice at a fair price .
I bought a big 6' bench mounted vise at an estate sale. It was used by a large forestry company originally. It wasn't even set out for sale. I spotted it and asked if I could buy it. I grabbed some tools and removed it from the work bench myself and gave the fellow $60. It isn't fancy but has a decent anvil behind the jaws. I like it. I will need to make a woodworking vise and bench soonish, and I have some drill press vises. I have a wooden leg vise attached at the back of my shop. Haven't used it yet. Its' my Grandfathers old shop I am renovating and setting up; jack of all trades in a small shop LOL I am wondering why that style of vice is better for blacksmithing? Would I beat up my workbench using my bench mounted vise? Break my cement floor? I put a sheet of metal underneath my bench vise before mounting it, because I knew I would use it for welding/grinding/forging. I am guessing that my bench mounted vise would not be considered by blacksmiths to be mounted solidly enough? Like an anvil, is better set into solid ground?
What people are asking for old wore out tooling is ridiculous. I paid $75 for my 4” vise and its in perfect shape. If I didn’t come across it I was going to buy a brand new kanca. I’d bet it’s going to work just fine. New materials is superior over the older ones. Machined threads vs brazed is a no brainer.
Glad you did this video, hope to see a follow up on down the road to see how it works out. The thing that really struck me though was seeing you use a PHD! I thought you were in Colorado, where the heck in Colorado are you that you can use a PHD to dig a hole!?
@Black Bear Forge guess maybe it was just where I lived in Colorado, those things were completely useless. All the holes I dug seemed to all be best accomplished with an extra heavy spud bar and a coffee can once you got past that first 8" or so. Dirt was a like unicorns, there weren't alot around. Lol
I have seen these around in the blacksmith suppliers web sites. Price is certainly reasonable compared to the ridiculous money they want for old leg vices (not as ridiculous as the price they want for old anvils though). It does look lighter than old vices of the same size, but my preferred size is a 4 inch vice, so one of those 6's might make a good like for like replacement for me. It will be good to see what you think of it long term, might nudge me to get get one if you think it worthwhile.
It's coming up on a year since this video came out, and was wondering during how well this vise has held up for you. I've been putting together my own portable smithy and the little engineer's vise I've been using just isn't up to the job, but I haven't really seen any long-term reviews for the Kanca vises.
@BlackBearForge I think the lighter weight will be a benefit to me. Thank you for the reply, and thank you for the great content! I've learned a lot from your videos, and I really appreciate the time and effort you put into them.
Great video, looks like a good vice. Speaking of things you've done a little while back, how are those punches you made out of the Atlantic 33 holding up? I never saw a video about them after you made them.
This thing with old tools is the quality control not necessarily the materials. In a lot of cases the way things were built in the past makes up for the lower quality materials. Old military surplus rifles for example. Many of them would cost thousands of dollars to make new today but you can buy an old one for under 1k. Many of the old tooling doesn't even exist anymore and really can't be replicated. Things used to not have planned obsolescence built into them either.
I'd never heard of a leg vise (certainly never seen one) before taking an interest in blacksmithing. What's the advantage over a bench vise? When would you prefer a bench vise over a leg vise?
Good video on not only the vise itself, but the entire process of installation! I must ask though... It's been a while. Any thoughts on how it's been performing? Would you suggest this as a decent option for folks still gearing up, relatively new to blacksmithing?
Hi I'm a big fan of yours and I'm trying to grow my TH-cam channel but my TH-cam shorts quality seems to be bad after I upload the video,I film my videos in 4k on my iPhone 13, Thanks!
Looks like what a blacksmith NEEDS is: A forge (fire), An anvil (something to bang hot steel into), A hammer (something to bang into the streel), And something to hold hot steel while you bang stuff into it,, Is that more or less correct?
If you are comfortable sharing, which salvage yard was that? I’m in Northern Colorado and still having issues finding decent prices on materials. I make it down to Elbert a few times a year to visit friends and maybe I can make looping through the salvage yard part of my trip!
the way that vise opens is on a tilt rather than like a traditional bench vise being parallel between the jaws, do you find that is a problem as holding onto a bit of even stock it will have less contact area
This is the way all blacksmiths leg vises work and you're correct, it can be a problem. But the design transfers the abuse fro forging to the ground instead of to the vise screw, so they hold up much better than a typical bench vise.
![[MV] A leap of faith...ความเชื่อใจครั้งสุดท้าย (From "Petrichor the series")](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/U1piZH2CNXA/mqdefault.jpg)
A brand from my country. It's pronounced like "kahn-ja" (means hook). Their main business is manufacturing forged parts and providing heat treatment services for the automotive industry. They do manufacturing for a lot of big brands worldwide (BMW, Mercedes, Ford and Toyota to name a few).
The vices, anvils and hand tools are their side business. They're almost always high quality. You'll probably be happy with yours as you've said.
Thank you for the added information.
What’s your country please, Mert? The g with the accent looks Eastern European to me? A Slavic language? Or Hungary?
@@HansWeberHimself Turkey. The accent signifies soft g. Afaik only Turkish and Azerbaijani alphabets have that letter.
@@HansWeberHimself Kanca (pronounced kahn-tsa) in Hungarian means mare :)
Have you ever looked at Fireball Tool vices? It would be great to see what you think about his stuff.
I live in Turkiye. Kanca manufactures for Bessey and others. Very high quality in ibeam clamps-I have 10-and anvils. Great video man. Unfortunately manufacturers today are not thinking 100 years of use like they were 100 years ago. Even kanca. I think you found the best that can be hoped for new.
My OCD is happy with the finished product. What a ride!
Here, where I live, this type of blacksmith's vise is very rare and always disputed with a slap fight...🤕... You made great comments about the change and I hope that this new tool brings you more comfort in your work. Congratulations!
@blee25591 I live in the south of Brazil, close to the border with Argentina, and I don't speak English, sorry... I just use a translator to comment and sometimes I can't express myself very much... 😅. But I am deeply grateful for your videos and they are what I need. Thank you very much.👍
Beautiful job on removing the old post & setting the new post.
I'm glad I bought a new vice not an antique. The Australian Anyang dealer brought some in from china. Mine is a 4inch, but it's huge. Big heavy frame. Uses a coil spring instead of a leaf spring. The jaws have no knurling, so they don't scratch the work piece as bad, although I imagine less grip is provided.
I am so happy to find that you replaced the old vice. It used to bother me that it was so shaky in use. I could not bring myself to say anything as I so enjoy you gift of teaching Smithing that my judgement was not warranted. Best of luck with the new vice. I can rest easy now.
7:48 That's humor.
Useful ideas for storing specific tools!
I've had mine for about two years, and I didn't even know it could swivel like that! Mind blown! Also, I agree about the rubber handle stops, I've had one get melted with my OA torch and it keeps popping off, but its not really a big deal and i could easily upset the ends or weld on a ball to stop the handle from falling out.
I hadn't thought of that possibility, I'll try to avoid doing that.
Typically you'll have at least one of the ends with a removable stop, such as a threaded on ball, so you can take the handle off without cutting it.
Lol, me neither, I'll give that a go tonight.
Just got very lucky and bought a 4" jaw vice from a sale near Sheffield for £15 [$19.50] It has had a charmed life since under the grease, general crud and a little rust, it is almost unmarked and looks to have been hardly used. It is an old school very sturdily built vice and weighs in at 110lbs .... close to double the weight of the Kanca 6" Jaw. Round the Sheffield area we are very lucky since the rapid decline of steel and manufacturing has left plenty on the second hand market at around £30-60 mark but it is advisable to take them apart and inspect carefully before handing over cash, as the condition varies greatly.
If you get one with major parts missing or which are total write offs, they can be a good source of decent quality wrought iron, if the price is right.
Excellent video as always. You sure set the bar high for us newcomers to this here TH-cam. I like it 👍
I love how you mounted this vise. Are you going to do a follow-up video? I didn't see one.
"Mystic properties".....indeed the old tools do 😂😂. Looked at those vises several times. Thanks for posting this
My OCD was messed with when you welded on the post without first grinding the rust off the post. Uhhhh. Great project and otherwise good job, and thank you for showing.
Great timing, I was just looking for a new vise to replace my old 1920's one that's functional, but frankly whooped. Thanks John!
Glad I could help!
Loved your video! Got me thinking about my setup! As for old tools, I am one of those that love them! Sometimes you can get a marvellous tool and I love using old tools it’s like you have a lineage of craftsmen with you when your working! I got my vice from a farm in Ontario. The son found it in a storage shed that had not been opened in 50 years. He sold it to me for $300.00 and it sat in storage for three years before I installed it. It seemed cross threaded but turned out to just be old grease! Consider myself fortunate and honoured to have this in my shop!
Hello John
That is a good investment .
Thank you for showing .
Take care
Yours Frank Galetzka😊
Absolutely beautiful John . Hopefully you get great use out of for many years to come my friend. Keep up the great craftsmanship and hard work my friend. Forge On. Fab On. Weld On. Keep forge lit. Keep Making. God bless.
..Nice review sir. i'm looking forward to the 6 month update. The swivel feature looks to be an asset as long as it doesn't go to wandering on it's own...
It will be interesting to see how it holds.
Wishing I had a place I could permanently set up my post vise. For now, I welded up a vise stand from a old steel wheel, a ~3' chunk of some I-bean, and some other random scraps I had. When I Use it, I have to lift the massive stand/vise out of the shed and use it outside. Took my 5yrs of o, and finally found one last summer. No clue on the brand, as the screw box looks like no other I've seen. Onmly marking is the numer 1896, which I assume is the year of manufacture. 5 1nd a half in jaws, and weights something like 90lbs. Only paid $125 for it.
Thank you for video’s such as these! I’ve been watching your video’s for years! Opening a shop in Newfoundland as my own retirement project and your video’s have been a vital part of my development. Thank you for what you do!
Glad you like them!
What a great video John. Thanks for sharing with us, turned out excellent. I have been hunting for one of these vises for a good while. Mostly find junk and always over priced. I'll be looking at the website soon Fred.
Haven't seen any movement while you were hammering yet, nice job!👍
Me neither
Can’t wait to hear your final thoughts!!
So far I think its a good vise and it hold well. After i have more time working with it I'll be sure to do the follow up.
Good morning like your vice, i bough one like this last summer at prince auto it's a awesome vice and got it for a wicked price. regular price $599 got it on sale for $150. it had a few scratches on it. your going to like it. have a great day
I love mine. I wasn’t willing to pay a premium price for an old junky vise, so this was a nice alternative. Im not a full time smith so I may be proven wrong, but it hasn’t happened yet.
I love mine. I replaced the handle ends with billiard balls because I'm like that. It's rock solid and I have a 1/2" plate welded atop a 4" schedule 40 square tube sunk 3 feet into my concrete floor.
I'm going to start setting up a small blacksmithing shop to get back into to forging so all these information videos are a huge help, thank you.
Glad to help
Seems to be a good vise. When I saw the post out of center, I figured there had to be a reason. Especially after you checked for square and level.
Thanks for the review and the vice stand build. Great stuff!
5:35 yea John, I for one would love to have that hammer in my shop if I could get it working. I’m really liking these improvement videos around the shop.
Talking about people enjoying restoring/refurbishing old tools, there’s a saying my late grandfather used to use at garage sales in regards to old tools/machinery.
“There’s a reason they’re selling that.”
Another excellent video sir.
I'm sure that hammer is still available. But it would be a total rebuild
You are quite right about the rubber stops on the vice handle. I've owned a kanca 150mm/6'' bench vice for 10 years that had the same handle stops and within a year or two they relaxed and eventually lost their grip on the handle and let it fall off the screw. My solution was to remount the rubber stop using soft steel wire wound tight a few turns around the rubber, the twisted ends cut short and sunk in the rubber to prevent them from injuring the hands in operation. Other than that I like my vice.
It's really nice if you treat yourself now and then.l took my 6" one and took a lick of the jaws in the Mill and recut the teeth with a zip cut wheel and it now works good
I have had one for years now. The only thing I found to be a pain are the rubber stoppers on the crank handle I just welded some big ball bearings on the handle . Still working great.
Good tip!
Looks to be a fairly robust vise. I too look forward to seeing how it holds up for you.
Great video! I traded for my leg vice many years ago. It's the only one I've really used. I didn't realize how poorly it held things until I saw this video. Maybe if I can have a successful year, a new leg vice will be in my shop.
Thanks for posting this! Good to see someone's making these. I have an old one that works fine but not everyone can find a good old post vise. And I said it before...I'll say it again: I love your shop! :)
I have a couple of the old leg vises in my shop. They work extremely well. I started grabbing them up at farm sales and auctions about 20 years ago and I probably have about a dozen of them ranging in size from about 200 lb. down to 4-inch jaws. I don't think any of them cost me over $25. I am glad to see a company is manufacturing them again. The one in your video looked pretty good, too.
Good review, it looks like a great vise. I might have to check them out, my vises are all pretty hashed. You may only use the swivel once or twice a year but I imagine it would be great to have when you need it!
John, nice information and video on this vise. I like the new post and accessories you added, very nice, gives me ideas. I found an old leg vise that my dad had, probably got it in some scrap iron he bought, I've cleaned it up and got it fixed and mounted on a wooden post and it's a lot better than what i did have, nothing. I like the way your new vise can pivot, I think that would be a nice feature. I'll be looking forward to seeing your update and opinions on it as you use it.
John V.
Thanks for sharing! We appreciate all of your continued efforts and uploads Black Bear!
Great video Bear! I have about 5 of these post vises of various sizes at my shop. Thinking about mounting one on a truck rim so that I can move it around when needed.
I can't wait to see how she's holding up! Awesome work with the stand too!
I'm glad that your initial impressions are good, I've been using mine for about five months so far and I've been loving it. Looking forward to your thoughts after using it for a while
Good to know!
That’s looks really nice! And the upgraded stand is going to last forever! Thanks for sharing!
I hope so!
I love my Kanka. I have the 5 inch one and I probably should've gotten the heavier 6 inch but I've had no complaints or troubles with it. I've beaten, burned and scratched it all up amd it hasn't given up yet
I have had a Kanca 6 inch vise for about 2 years now. It works great. I have had no issues with the vise at all like I have with my older post leg vises. The only complaint i have at this point is that the pain on mine has begun to peel off in large sections on the leg and upper portions of the vise. Would i buy it again. I certainly would. Love your videos and the lessons I learn by watching them. Thank you for teaching in such a way that makes it easy to follow the process.
Thanks for the storage ideas. I’m just about to build a new stand for my old leg vice. Not many options in Australia for new leg vices and you can pay big for an old one in good condition.
Thanks for the info i just got mine in the mail. I like the tips on what to have areound the vise . Thanks for sharing
That is a good looking vice I hope it works good for you I'm not completely confident in the way it's mounted to the post with just 2 bolts
Nice vice. Maybe the Fontanini peeps would consider making a behemoth vice with 7 or 8 inch jaws. More than one vice is welcome only if you have the space.
I have never like the weeble-wobble mounting of the old post vises.I have ruined several old post vises in my life.I have destroyed the threads in the screw casting, spread the jaws apart(they are softer than you would think below the top part way down.) I have put them in the press and re-straightened but they are never the same it seems
I have found that the abrasives from my hand grinder eventually wear out the threads in the screw casting. I have also had the screw threads worn off. (abrasives from hand grinder stones mixed into the lube in the screw.) I find washing the screws out and cleaning and re lubing occasionally helps the screw threads last.
Awesome!! I’m glad you made this. I’ve really been wondering about these vises. I see them all the time when I visit centaur forge. Wasn’t sure why to think of them.
Sweet vice and I'm sure it is well secured now, great review 👍
Tapping a hole on the ends of the handles isn’t bad. Adding little circle plates or balls on there. Great video as always.
Great tip!
Thanks for doing this video. I have a kanca Anvil that is pretty good. So I was wondering how good this was going to be.
Thanks for sharing this video. Having purchased a lot of used equipment over the past many years, there is no feeling better than being able to purchase something new and being the first one to use it. I love the thinking that you put into the storage on the post itself.
Great review. I've always wondered about those vises, but I've never seen any in person or known anyone who has. The rotational feature could come in handy just to clear your twisting wrench if you have it mounted to a table or bench that doesn't quite clear like you'd hoped. Being able to rotate the jaws would also come in very handy when you have to work on a large assembly, like a gate or railing. I know there's been many a time when I needed to hold up a large piece so I could peen the styles. Usually, I grab it at the base with a large vise designed fo on a milling machine, but that's always been less than ideal even if it does work. Being able to latch onto one end at whatever height I wanted, would make it easy to slip my 120# anvil under the part that I'm working on so it could be the floor anvil to back up the peening I'm doing on the other end. Not a common need, but still....
I'll look forward to hearing your 6mo review!
Two weeks ago I just put together my first leg vise stand! Yours looks way more sturdy so I'm excited to see what you think of it more as you use it. I've been trying to use mine to make 1/2" nails but have been having little success, they're just so small. Thanks for all you do!
I've been watching you struggle with that old vise slipping .... always wondered how you managed to tolerate it!
Awesome video! I’ve been thinking about getting one of these for myself.
In my area, you can get used for almost as much as new. In some cases, that old is shot. I've seen anvils with 90% of the face broken off for as much as, say, a 110 pound Kanca anvil.
I wish there were more shop classes in schools.
Thanks for the videos, always appreciate your content. I am definitely in the market, so this one's awesome!
So i guess it has a good spherical washer, ? I have a big old vise, and I had a new washer made. handle, too, with one machined ball, and one threaded, which I forged welded on. That spherical washer is the key to the whole system, as is the firm mount, which you've dealt with.
Thank you very much for another excellent video. Have you ever worked with a German blacksmith vice? German blacksmith vices are in a complete different category of "beast" of their own. The thick metal cheeks provide an extraordinary strength to these tools. Currently I work with two German blacksmith vices jaws width 140 mm and weight around 50 kg. The oldest one is probably 120 years old, all made in wrought iron and still goes strong...
I haven't, but I have heard good things. I have also never seen one for sale here in the US, so I might have to figure out how to import one from Germany, probably a bit pricey.
@@BlackBearForge Indeed if you would like to import a German vice from Europe to the US, it can be a bit pricey. Who knows you make a blacksmith tour around Germany and you return back to the US with some "Goodies"? I own two bench vices and two blacksmith vices, all of them made in Germany, all of them in perfect working conditions and all of them imported from junkyards/antique shops. Since I discovered German blacksmithing tools, my imagination stopped there...
Really glad to see this video, John. I've been looking at that vise for some time and wondered whether it was really up to the job. Looks pretty good. I'm not concerned about he paint, and the rubber on the handles would be easy to fix if needed. The real question is whether it will hold up to the beating.
I never understand why vises are made with such aggressive toothed jaws. Particularly for this type of vise. I would have to change that for sure. But again, not a big deal.
Love that scrap yard you have. I wish there was something like that near me. But everything around here that isn't welded down (and a lot of things that are) gets scrapped for a few pennies. Scrap material doesn't exist and new material comes at McMaster prices. If I were in your area, I might be dragging that power hammer home. :)
Seems like you are getting the shop all fixed up for some serious new production work and new projects. Gonna be great!
About your bending fork, I couldn't see it up close, but flatten the lower U part for more grip/surface area to minimize movement which honestly, a square peg bottom to the bending fork to fit the anvil seems better if doing much eye work. But great video and you explain your vise use, well!
very good info on the vise. Have you ever used a big heavy foot vise ? I see them from time to time big heavy things you just use your foot pedal on front to clamp it looks.
Those are usually specialized for upsetting and heading.
Use to look at used because you couldn't find new . They want so much money I always use machinist vices . I can find them & afford them . I really lucked out on my anvil !!! But could never find a pole vice at a fair price .
I have a Kanka. It is very good
Good Luck with it Bro :)
Hey there,
How about an update on the Kanka vise after a year's use please?
I'm actually working on that video this week. Should be ready by the end of the month.
I bought a big 6' bench mounted vise at an estate sale. It was used by a large forestry company originally. It wasn't even set out for sale. I spotted it and asked if I could buy it. I grabbed some tools and removed it from the work bench myself and gave the fellow $60. It isn't fancy but has a decent anvil behind the jaws. I like it.
I will need to make a woodworking vise and bench soonish, and I have some drill press vises. I have a wooden leg vise attached at the back of my shop. Haven't used it yet. Its' my Grandfathers old shop I am renovating and setting up; jack of all trades in a small shop LOL
I am wondering why that style of vice is better for blacksmithing?
Would I beat up my workbench using my bench mounted vise? Break my cement floor?
I put a sheet of metal underneath my bench vise before mounting it, because I knew I would use it for welding/grinding/forging.
I am guessing that my bench mounted vise would not be considered by blacksmiths to be mounted solidly enough? Like an anvil, is better set into solid ground?
What people are asking for old wore out tooling is ridiculous. I paid $75 for my 4” vise and its in perfect shape. If I didn’t come across it I was going to buy a brand new kanca. I’d bet it’s going to work just fine. New materials is superior over the older ones. Machined threads vs brazed is a no brainer.
Brazed connection is as stromu as machined piece if it’s done corectly
I personally disagree with the notion that new is better than old. I use a 200 ur old post vice and it’s better than the new post vices I have
Glad you did this video, hope to see a follow up on down the road to see how it works out. The thing that really struck me though was seeing you use a PHD! I thought you were in Colorado, where the heck in Colorado are you that you can use a PHD to dig a hole!?
Everywhere I've ever lived I've used one. Tree roots and rooks can be an issue at times, but a spud bar helps in those instances.
@Black Bear Forge guess maybe it was just where I lived in Colorado, those things were completely useless. All the holes I dug seemed to all be best accomplished with an extra heavy spud bar and a coffee can once you got past that first 8" or so. Dirt was a like unicorns, there weren't alot around. Lol
I have seen these around in the blacksmith suppliers web sites. Price is certainly reasonable compared to the ridiculous money they want for old leg vices (not as ridiculous as the price they want for old anvils though). It does look lighter than old vices of the same size, but my preferred size is a 4 inch vice, so one of those 6's might make a good like for like replacement for me. It will be good to see what you think of it long term, might nudge me to get get one if you think it worthwhile.
Great review on the product. I know I've been thinking about one.....but uh.....What about that power hammer in the scrap yard?
It's coming up on a year since this video came out, and was wondering during how well this vise has held up for you. I've been putting together my own portable smithy and the little engineer's vise I've been using just isn't up to the job, but I haven't really seen any long-term reviews for the Kanca vises.
Its been a good vise so far. I do wish it was heavier, but it holds better than my old one.
@BlackBearForge I think the lighter weight will be a benefit to me. Thank you for the reply, and thank you for the great content! I've learned a lot from your videos, and I really appreciate the time and effort you put into them.
Great video, looks like a good vice. Speaking of things you've done a little while back, how are those punches you made out of the Atlantic 33 holding up? I never saw a video about them after you made them.
They have been great. I like that is safe to quench them in water even if they start to turn red in use.
@@BlackBearForge Awesome to hear, Thanks John, have a great day.
I wish I could buy the mounting hardware from that old vise
This thing with old tools is the quality control not necessarily the materials. In a lot of cases the way things were built in the past makes up for the lower quality materials. Old military surplus rifles for example. Many of them would cost thousands of dollars to make new today but you can buy an old one for under 1k. Many of the old tooling doesn't even exist anymore and really can't be replicated. Things used to not have planned obsolescence built into them either.
Can't believe you left that power hammer behind at the scrap yard! Guess your new one suits you.
That and the new one doesn't need a complete tear down and rebuild with a big chance of not finding all the needed parts
Looks a pretty light weight vise
I'd never heard of a leg vise (certainly never seen one) before taking an interest in blacksmithing. What's the advantage over a bench vise? When would you prefer a bench vise over a leg vise?
Good video on not only the vise itself, but the entire process of installation!
I must ask though... It's been a while. Any thoughts on how it's been performing? Would you suggest this as a decent option for folks still gearing up, relatively new to blacksmithing?
I have been quite happy with it. But there is still that fondness for big old vises even though this one works fine
Check out the fireball tools vise!
Its awesome, but I would need a bigger shop
Never seen old post hammers, presses, or drill presses at a scrap yard.
Hi I'm a big fan of yours and I'm trying to grow my TH-cam channel but my TH-cam shorts quality seems to be bad after I upload the video,I film my videos in 4k on my iPhone 13, Thanks!
I’m mostly just jealous that your scrap yard has a power hammer. I’m lucky if I can even find high carbon steel at mine.
I doubt I would find high carbon steel very reliable here either.
Looks like what a blacksmith NEEDS is:
A forge (fire),
An anvil (something to bang hot steel into),
A hammer (something to bang into the streel),
And something to hold hot steel while you bang stuff into it,,
Is that more or less correct?
Thats a good start. Add a way to cut material and some files for cleanup
Would love to know what you think about it now that it's been almost a year
its been a good vise and hasn't given me any trouble. I still wish it was heavier, but it hasn't been an issue
Should've checked out a fireball tools vice. Designed and built by an engineer that like to design the absolute best tool he can.
What salvage yard Did you visit, because I saw some blacksmith tools to have
Salt Creek Steel in Pueblo
Good video. I'm curious, which savlage yard did you go to for that post?
Salt Creek steel, if you're in Pueblo, its right behind Mid West Fabrication.
That setup looks good. I'm also in Colorado, where is that salvage yard is like to throw them some business
Thats Salt Creek Steel in Pueblo
@@BlackBearForge awesome thank you.
If you are comfortable sharing, which salvage yard was that? I’m in Northern Colorado and still having issues finding decent prices on materials. I make it down to Elbert a few times a year to visit friends and maybe I can make looping through the salvage yard part of my trip!
Thats Salt Creek Steel off of Northern in Pueblo
Thanks!
Ya i was wondering about that powerhammer too
@BlackBearForge its been a year, what is your thoughts on it now, do you still like it, has is held up?
It's not OCD it's CDO,... cause alphabetical. By the way did you fill the column with anything? Sand, concrete.
the way that vise opens is on a tilt rather than like a traditional bench vise being parallel between the jaws, do you find that is a problem as holding onto a bit of even stock it will have less contact area
This is the way all blacksmiths leg vises work and you're correct, it can be a problem. But the design transfers the abuse fro forging to the ground instead of to the vise screw, so they hold up much better than a typical bench vise.