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Leather Belt Vise I Made For Edging And Hand Sanding


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Posted (edited)

Hi everyone. I have arthritis in my spine, hands etc. and holding down my belts with one hand while edging and sanding the belts hurts. And I can't do it but a few moments at a time. I designed and made an inexpensive vise to hold my belts for these operations while I create my belts and strap goods. Here are a few snapshots of the clamping detail, and a link to my Youtube channel video. I hope this helps give others with some issues a little food for thought. Thanks for looking. Don Sterchi.

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Edited by Tallbald
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Posted

Looks like it would work pretty well for stitching those belt layers together too. Nice job.

Stu

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Posted

Thank you so much. I hadn't thought about the hand stitching possibilities. I had to give up hand stitching due to the arthritis, and splurged on a beautiful Cowboy 3500 from Bob at Toledo Industrial Sewing Machine. I just hope that what I did for my self helps other arthritis or disability sufferers. Don.

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Posted

Not much interest in my post, but I'll say this. I got to use my vise tonight on a real project for the first time and it has reduced the discomfort a LOT for me. It also sped the edge sanding process up to less than 5 or so minutes an edge on a 48 inch belt I'm making. I'm SO very happy I took the time to figure out and make this vise. Unbelievable improvement for me over what I had been having to fight to hand sand. Just wow. Don.

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Posted

I wouldn't say there's not much interest, Don, you've had 134 views. I always like seeing other members' DIY projects, and this is one that I shall file away.

Machines wot I have - Singer 51W59; Singer 331K4; Seiko STH-8BLD; Pfaff 335; CB4500.

Chinese shoe patcher; Singer 201K (old hand crank)

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Posted

Dikman I appreciate your kindness. I only hope that the vise and also the modified arbor press I made and shared here some time ago help folks with disabilities like mine to keep doing what they love or need to do. Don

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Posted

Replies to threads can be a little slow coming sometimes. Glad to hear it worked well for you. Seems like it would be a real time saver for anyone working on belts, you might consider drawing up plans and uploading them here.

Stu

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Posted

I like the idea, looks well made and useful. If you don't mind I am going to copy your idea. I have a little trouble holding a belt when sanding and burnishing.

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Posted

Ruger, you've got me thinking now. I sand mine on a belt sander and occasionally have issues if the belt isn't real thick (it tends to wobble about a bit!). Because Don referred to it for hand sanding my brain didn't equate it's use with a belt sander too! A lightweight version for holding while using a belt sander....hmmmm.

Machines wot I have - Singer 51W59; Singer 331K4; Seiko STH-8BLD; Pfaff 335; CB4500.

Chinese shoe patcher; Singer 201K (old hand crank)

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Posted (edited)

Haven't visited in a day or so. I've been busy working on ordered belts. If it's useful, I'll say I used 32 inch lengths of steel bed frame rail because I had it on hand. The base is just 3/4 inch cabinet grade plywood Penny and I pulled from a dumpster where an office was being remodeled. Come to think of it, the rails were pulled out of other folks trash at the curb too, long ago.

5/16-18 carriage bolts 5 inches long were used for the clamping screws, and threaded T-nuts, available at home and hardware stores, were tapped into the end of a through-drilled clearance hole in the hardwood blocks.

I drilled round scrap wood through for the 5/16 inch diameter threaded portion of the carriage bolts, and then drilled a deep clearance hole big enough for the bolt head, leaving 1/2 inch of material at the bottom of the hole for the bolt head. I epoxied the heads down in the "handles".

I did have to make some thin spacers to lift a narrow belt up above the rail "jaws", but 1 3/4 inch wide belts need no lift. Scrap leather was glued with weldwood to the inner faces of the rail "jaws".

Straight hard wood could be used in place of steel rails and the whole affair would be lighter weight.

I have found that little clamping pressure is needed to restrain a belt I'm working on by hand,. probably due to the large jaw contact area and the friction of leather padding to leather belt.

And again, I hope the idea is helpful to others. I've had to work making adaptive fixtures and tools for myself because of my physical issues.

Thanks . Don.

Edited by Tallbald

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