Hi I use a 16mm diameter steel ball taken from a bearing. I hold it in position with my fingers then tighten the vice. I never thought of putting a handle and flat on the ball. Thank you very much for that idea and for sharing
Nifty idea - what did you use for your ball? I've seen steel ball handles, but they aren't polished and based on how easily you milled the flat it didn't seem like yours is SS.
Its a steel ball handle from Mc Master Carr. I don't think they disclose the alloy. Some kind of free machining mystery steel. Good quality, pre drilled and tapped.
@@TigermothRacingTV Checked with McMaster - the round steel knobs are made by S&W Mfg and are made from 12L14: no wonder they machine well. I'm going to try both 1" & 3/4" since I have a 3" vise on my mini-mill. Thanks & stay safe!
Moderndaytinker here I've used this method for many years , but I just use 1/4in.key stock -- mill away one side, leaving a small projection one end- maybe 3/16 by 3/8 by 1/16high. ,😎👍
I have added this to my future project list. It will be very handy. Thanks for sharing and take care.
Great to hear! Thanks for the comment. This is a fun little project and useful tool you can add to your tool box.
Hi
I use a 16mm diameter steel ball taken from a bearing. I hold it in position with my fingers then tighten the vice.
I never thought of putting a handle and flat on the ball.
Thank you very much for that idea and for sharing
Glad we could help! Sometimes fingers just dont fit where you want the ball to go.
Great video very helpful. I picked up a moving jaw “quadralell” that I want to put to use hopefully it works well. It uses a ball as well
I saw those, looks like a nice product, gives you a large contact surface on your part and the ball.
Here from Reddit. Thank you for your video, very helpful.
You are welcome, glad it was helpful for you.
AWESOME
Would it be easier on the part if you used the flat of the ball against the work piece?
You could try that. I default to protecting my vise jaws over the part. Maybe using a soft jaw you could dent up the jaw and it wouldn't matter?
@@TigermothRacingTV that makes sense. Thanks for the reply 👍
Nifty idea - what did you use for your ball? I've seen steel ball handles, but they aren't polished and based on how easily you milled the flat it didn't seem like yours is SS.
Its a steel ball handle from Mc Master Carr. I don't think they disclose the alloy. Some kind of free machining mystery steel. Good quality, pre drilled and tapped.
@@TigermothRacingTV
This one: 6045K56 (1" OD, 3/8-16 x1/2" threaded hole)? I'll make the handle from 3/8" drill rod. Thanks!
@@TigermothRacingTV
Checked with McMaster - the round steel knobs are made by S&W Mfg and are made from 12L14: no wonder they machine well. I'm going to try both 1" & 3/4" since I have a 3" vise on my mini-mill. Thanks & stay safe!
Moderndaytinker here
I've used this method for many years , but I just use 1/4in.key stock -- mill away one side, leaving a small projection one end- maybe 3/16 by 3/8 by 1/16high. ,😎👍