Ski Tuning Vice - recommendations???

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02-20-2005, 08:42 AM
ScottG

Ski Tuning Vice - recommendations???

After extensive search function usage, there is no good thread about ski vises (other than the not so funny vice puns).

Dipsticks tuning guide is damn good, and it looks like he clamps the middle of the ski in a workmate workbench, and has homemade wood stands for tips and tails.
http://tetongravity.com/forums/showt...ghlight=tuning
I like its cheapness and simplicity, except for the fact that I dont own a workmate anymore, and am not likely to take a workmate with me on a ski trip.

Any suggestions or preferences??
Was thinking about a clamp-to-table model.

Do the lasso or "rope around the brakes" models work well? or is it better to get the clamp/vise unit for the midpoint?
I guess that is my main question.

http://www.tognar.com/vises_benches_...snowboard.html
02-20-2005, 09:17 AM
Plakespear

I have a rope-around stule vise that I picked up for less than $30 on e-bay. It works okay- not quite as good as a clamp. However, it works with any size or style of ski (some of the clamps just don't grip cap construction skis that well), and you can use it to tune your brother-in-law's snowboard. Mine does have it's shortcomings, but for the price and versatility, it's good.
02-20-2005, 04:58 PM
hucksquaw

i own these:
my vices

simple, strong, and effective. i like them but have had a few problems with them.. they dont grab cap construction skis very well and the pieces pointed to in the picture below have both broken off witch has become kind of a pain in the ass.. they were perfect for race purposes when i was still racing (and pretty much everyone i raced with had some sort of derivative of this vice) but there are probably more convenient alternatives.....
02-21-2005, 07:22 AM
justcuz

Quote:

Originally Posted by hucksquaw

i own these:
my vices

simple, strong, and effective. i like them but have had a few problems with them.. they dont grab cap construction skis very well and the pieces pointed to in the picture below have both broken off witch has become kind of a pain in the ass.. they were perfect for race purposes when i was still racing (and pretty much everyone i raced with had some sort of derivative of this vice) but there are probably more convenient alternatives.....

I have this same vice. I love it, but it does have a couple of things I dislike about it. First and foremost, it won't accomodate skis over 92 ish at the waist very well. My Stockli DP's barely fit, and my lady's Heli Guides (110mm) I usually cannot get to fit. Second complaint is the same as above with the chincy rubber pieces to hold the ski into place.

Other than that it's a great vice. I havn't found better, but I havn't looked too hard either.
02-21-2005, 07:45 AM
ill-advised strategy

I can hardly even use anything besides the swix pro 500 now that I'm used to it. It's just so much better than anything else out there.

It's no good for tele and for mounting work, but if you're just doing maintenance/repair on alpine skis...there is none better.
02-21-2005, 09:35 AM
Below Zero

If your looking to make a cheap bench, check this out:

http://tetongravity.com/forums/showt...ighlight=Bench

Also, I have the same vices HuckSquaw mentions. It would be nice if the middle piece opened more for fat skis. No problem with my 88 mm waist skis but my 99 mm Sugar Daddys just barely fit. That ski vice is pretty damn good though.
02-21-2005, 09:55 AM
gravitylover

Quote:

Originally Posted by YetiMan

I can hardly even use anything besides the swix pro 500 now that I'm used to it. It's just so much better than anything else out there.

One of these days I need to get a digi cam and take pics of the upgrades I've made to my Swix 500. Those nylon end pieces and clamps just weren't cutting it. I now have brass and steel clamps that slide on the extruded aluminum track. On ebay there is somebody selling copies of the Swix vise for cheap, I've seen them sell for less than $30. For home use that is the BEST deal out there on a vice.
02-21-2005, 10:01 AM
non grata

http://www.tools4boards.com/ski/pro500.asp?sItem=pro500

great for tuning and waxing, but nothing more than that. it's pretty easy to set up on any countertop or table with a lip and can be found on ebay regularly for around $50 or less. the center securing point clicks into bindings so waist sizes and brake cinching isn't an issue.
08-12-2005, 07:52 AM
SquawMan

bumping this thread to see if anyone has recommendations for a good quality ski tuning vise for fat skis (95+cm waist and larger)

names and model types appreciated
08-12-2005, 07:54 AM
SquawMan

Quote:

Originally Posted by gravitylover

One of these days I need to get a digi cam and take pics of the upgrades I've made to my Swix 500. Those nylon end pieces and clamps just weren't cutting it. I now have brass and steel clamps that slide on the extruded aluminum track. On ebay there is somebody selling copies of the Swix vise for cheap, I've seen them sell for less than $30. For home use that is the BEST deal out there on a vice.

do you know the name of the vendor on eBay?
08-12-2005, 08:13 AM
ski_faster

Quote:

Originally Posted by SquawMan

do you know the name of the vendor on eBay?

PM Sent with name of vendor.
08-12-2005, 08:28 AM
cj001f

Quote:

Originally Posted by ski_faster

PM Sent with name of vendor.

tools4boards
08-12-2005, 08:37 AM
Foggy_Goggles

A regular bench vise with tip and tail blocks works as good as any ski specific vise (not including high$ shop grade stuff). $50 at the hardware store will get you something that lasts for life. If you want to be tech, they make canting rubber jaws. The only down side is it's not portable.