My latest gimmick (stump vice)

[grassfed]

So I have been thinking about this for a while. I was worried that the stump vise was cast iron but it seems to be cast or forged steel and welded really well. I raise the blade to the top then shut down the skidder. After I clamp in the saw I drop the blade to the perfect height. I always file two handed standing behind the saw and just switch hands from left to right so this works well for me. This is the most comfortable/efficient hand sawing setup I have tried and since the skidder is usually close by in my one man operation it works for me. I may end up banging the vise but so far it is holding well.

 

[teakwood]

thats a good idea ;)

[Ed_K]

x2

[BargeMonkey]

 I know where the old stump vise in my box is going now. Never thought to weld it on, makes sense.  :D

[coxy]

on my buddys skidder they welded the cable cutter to the arch that works nice

[H.O.D.]

Good idea. I used sharpening the saws as an excuse to go back to the barn vise and take a break but now you ruined that excuse.

[teakwood]

your 66! you dont need an excuse to make a break, you have earned it!! ;D

[ohiowoodchuck]

thanks for the idea 8)

[Corley5]

My blade would sag down before I could finish filing ;) ;D

[DDW_OR]

it looks like it is back far enough from the dozer blade to keep out of trouble.

maybe add a metal cover that flips over the stump vice, that is hinged to the back of the dozer blade?
and held in place with a pin?

pull pin, flip cover forward, then use vice.

[grassfed]

maybe add a metal cover that flips over the stump vice, that is hinged to the back of the dozer blade?
and held in place with a pin?
pull pin, flip cover forward, then use vice.

I thought about doing things like that but I decided to start simple and see how it works. So far I really like it and since it is summer I am filing allot. I figure if it fails I will try some more complex design. If it lasts a year or 2 I will just go with the simple design and weld on a new one.

[DDW_OR]

an option for the future is to weld the vice to the flat part of a steel hinge
then weld the bottom of the hinge to the dozer.
then remove the hinge pin and store the vice in a safe place, not the same "safe place" where everything is lost  :D  ;D

[danbuendgen]

I wondered about doing this, but figured a good size branch would break off the weld and you would lose your vice...

[grassfed]

Funny you should say that because I did knock it off last week pushing up a large pile of logs. The vice survived and the weld bead cracked.

I wanted to try it and see if I liked filing in that position before I made any more complicated system.

For the time being I just welded it back on a bit further out on the blade so my left shoulder would have more room when I file left handed.

In the long run I have decided that the best way to mount the vice is going to be welding a bolt on the back of the blade. The vice has a wider flat spot on it between where the clamp part is and the spikes that go into the log.

I am going to drill a hole through the middle there and I will just bolt the vise on with a wingnut when I use it.

I will probably weld a couple of pieces of flat steel on the blade where the sides of the vice rest when it is bolted. This way I will still be able to use it on stumps as well. I'll do some pictures after it is finished.

[g_man]

Thanks for the idea grassfed. I tried putting it on the back of my tractor bucket. A little more out of the way....maybe.



 

gg