Find out what make the blacksmith post vise so useful, how to mount a blacksmith post vise, and what the blacksmith post vise can be used for.

What is the blacksmith post vise?

A basic common sense definition to the question of “what is a blacksmith vise?” would simply be a vise that a blacksmith uses.  In that case, he is most likely to use the one that is set up next to him.  For research purposes, let us look at the blacksmith post vise, also commonly called the post vise, a solid box vise, or a leg vise.  On this type of vise, the rear jaw has a long leg that extends to the floor or ground, and the front jaw will pivot usually about half way down the leg of the rear.  This is a tremendous help to the blacksmith, mechanically speaking, because any downward force or pressure is transferred down the leg of the vise to the floor or ground.  Compare this to the machinist vise, where the front jaw is connected to the base of the rear jaw through the screw box itself.  That is why that mechanism can fail sooner if used as a blacksmith’s vise.

 

How to mount a blacksmith post vise?

The blacksmith’s post vise has a mounting bracket that will fasten to the rear leg of the vise.  This bracket will extend further back behind the vise, using the holes in the bracket, you can screw or bolt the bracket to a post or table.  Be sure that the base of the rear jaw leg sits firmly planted and supported.  As this is where all the force of your hammer blows are extended to.  You can see in the picture that I have mine mounted to a stand that I made.  The leg sits supported by the base of the stand and there is a small table where I attached the mounting bracket.

How to use a blacksmith post vise?

As I am still learning to forge, I have not used the vise as extensively as I have seen some others use it.  I have found it useful in clamping hot metal to do some twisting or small upsetting.  I also have used it to hold a jig while I form the metal repeatedly.  If you can think of some other jobs that I have not mentioned here, please feel free to add them into the comments below.

 

If you found this helpful be sure to check out my other article “Essential Blacksmith Tools for Beginners.”

Also I found this article on post vise restoration to be extremely thorough and helpful.