low cost hand vise - portable picking for cylinders

[nick08037]

I have been on a quest for a simple and inexpensive way to hold lock cylinders comfortably in my hand for picking when a table top vise is not practical or convenient. I usually prefer door cylinders for practice locks but sometimes I would like the same convenience that a padlock offers for hand holding.

It seems simple enough to fabricate something for the task, but I rarely have enough tool time for the more serious projects that I have floating around in my head to spend any time on this. I was certain that there had to be something available at a low cost for this simple task.

I am pleased with the results of this item: super clamp small, from ebay about $8







The clamp can be easily adapted into a simple tabletop vise using the 1/4 or 3/8 inch mounting threads on the base of the clamp. These clamps are used in photography work and many types of mounting adapters are readily available.

I hope someone else finds this useful.
-Nick

additional photos imgur album http://imgur.com/a/xitmB/all

[Comrade627]

That's pretty cool.

I use a small vice taped to a cardboard box when I'm laying in bed picking. It even has storage!

[VancouverSpecial71]

Nick,

Thanks for posting about your new clamp.

I've got some KIK of my own that sure would be a lot easier to work on with one of those. I just might have to pick one up myself - for $8 how can you go wrong?

Thanks again,
Sean

[UnlockingBoredom]

great idea! I have a vise on my little table that I use but when I lay on the couch to pick while watching TV It really hurts my hands. This may help and like was already said.... its only $8.00