Toolroom Vise V Block

In this video I finally get around to making a dedicated v-block for the toolroom vise. This setup is great for doing end work on rounds and squares standing up in the vise. This particular vblock is unique in that it attaches without removing the standard hard jaws first. Made from A-2 tool steel this vee block will be heat treated and ground for perpendicularity in an upcoming video. STEP and PDF available for folks that want to make their own.

[@CreaseysWorkshop]

Countersinking the threaded holes is one of those pure gold tips that I would never have thought of in a million years. Likewise the idea of tapping the insides of the vise bolts.

[@yosmith1]

even watching you do layout, it reminded me of the simplest techniques that are totally lost on most folks that didn't go through proper pencil and paper drafting or machining.

[@StefanGotteswinter]

I like it - Not the biggest fan of the reliefcut on the back, but I like the rest a lot! Thanks Tom!

[@simonp347]

I was thinking exactly the same thing! Why lose rigity where there could be. Might even snap at the bottom of the v if someone got too heavy handed

[@SuperAWaC]

i reckon the relief would be fine for most situations, but for the purposes of lightening a pocket probably would have been superior.

[@thestonethatthebuilderrefu5231]

I was about to make some smart ass comment about haters on KZbin that never even been in a machine shop. Then I noticed the name and thought isn't that the guy I see on this old tony videos all the time?

[@xmachine7003]

I like your work also Stefan. I watched your grinder video for carbide. Well done.

[@donjohnston9554]

Nice nice. I agree with Stefan (cause I want him to put out another vid) 😁. I do have a question though about the releifs. How would you know the MAX relief to put in before you might be worried about distortion? Thx for all ur vids. 👌🇨🇦

[@danarrington2224]

For all of you young manufacturers out there. This really is how things were machined back in the day. If you needed to drill holes you would dykem the part and layout out the cross hairs on a surface plate using a height gage. Then you would take a center punch and hammer and punch all the hole locations. This type of process was still fairly common well into the 90's. Obviously there are better, faster ways to process a part now BUT there is no better way to learn and appreciate what it takes to be a master craftsman. Great videos Ox!!

[@docokd7oco443]

I like it: three a week or six a year is immaterial. I'm happy to watch and learn whatever you're happy to show and tell. Thanks for the video.

[@eformance]

The cat came back, we thought he was a goner, but the cat came back... Welcome back Don!

[@docokd7oco443]

@@eformance Just an observer...

[@eformance]

@@docokd7oco443 That's good, admitting the problem is the first step... :-D

[@larrysmall3521]

The relief in the back would be a good place for Tom to stamp his name and the date before he heat treats it.

[@jomgelborn]

relief there is stupid. It just allows the thing to flex when clamped.

[@glennstasse5698]

I wouldn’t have guessed there was anything new to add to V blocks. How naive I was! Always a pleasure to watch Tom’s work! ,

[@bcbloc02]

Very cool idea! Workholding is 90% of my machining life it seems.

[@madebythevise]

It's my first time dealing with a milling machine these days, and it's so much fun. There's so much to learn from watching you work, and I'm motivated!~^^

[@larrycollar1322]

Sharing your work with us is very much appreciated. Learn something new and useful every time you remove some metal and make something.

[@mamoshimamoshian9078]

Oh Brother If I just had a Bandsaw like that :) My saw is a joke and when ever I have to cut something I cry the day before because I know creasy hard its going to get :) I have learned a lot from you over the years and lots of respect. Thank you for sharing and keep it up....

[@OldIronMachineWorks]

Tom, Great 1st part of the video. But unfortunately I have to pause the video and go to work. Looking forward to the rest 😀

[@morey77777]

I'm not a normal commenter, but I want to let you know that I really appreciate all of your knowledge. I am grateful that you are willing to share it, and put in the work to record and put it on KZbin. You are definitely the most knowledgeable machinist on this platform. Thanks again.

[@ccrider5398]

I liked your use of the shop brush held against the blade of the band saw on the angled cut.

[@Keith_Ward]

Nice work Tom, love all the ideas.

[@Trent-tr2nx]

Your mill work is always a joy to watch.

[@z06doc86]

Glad to see you back. Love your work!

[@James-fs4rn]

Thanks for sharing Tom! Always enjoy watching the master at work.

[@brianevans1946]

Love the wooden decks on your mill table.. so classy and old school.

[@mattm7535]

Tom, I like how you always try to show the old/less expensive option along with the new/arm & leg way. Its great to see what the differences are and what features and abilities you add in your designs. Cheers

[@howder1951]

Great project Tom, great tapping tips, I thought you had it covered with the first drill, but the second one really needed an explanation (for me anyhow!). Cheers and looking forward to completion and application!

[@OldtimeIronman]

Always a pleasure to follow your thought process and see it happen in steel. Damn yet another thing I gotta make LOL

[@henrikfenneberg6449]

Every video you put up is a treat. 😊

[@hdheuejhzbsnnaj]

I like that little trick with the larger diameter drill on the upper portion of a tapped hole. I've always done it with a chamfer tool, but you end up with a much bigger diameter that way. Cheers, Tom. Always appreciate your videos, and the time it takes to make them!

[@bid6413]

Thanks Tom. Always fun and educational. Good to see you back

[@andymouse]

Im enjoying watching you work...cheers.

[@a.bakker64]

Love the choice of material. Looking forward to the next video.

[@phildcrow]

Thanks, Tom. I always learn from your videos.

[@TomZelickman]

Looks like a great project to do for my personal tools... Can always use another v-block and that's a really nice design. Thanks for sharing!

[@billdlv]

Looks good Tom, lots of good ideas there.

[@michaelrosenlof1084]

Excellent as always-Thanks Tom

[@isabellaman2545]

Very nice tool Tom. Love the tapped vice jaw fasteners

[@benappleyard8391]

If I could tap holes half as fast as that I’d be happy, that takes some serious practice! Nice work as always 👍🏼

[@niltonpolydoro1]

Thanks for sharing with us Tom. Very nice project. Congratulations from Brazil.

[@63256325N]

Nicely done! Thanks for the video.

[@delstone1919]

Thanks Tom, a good useful video again, and a tool/fixture I am sure I will be making for myself.

[@RRINTHESHOP]

Nice idea Tom.

[@larryshaw6517]

I always learn stuff in your videos. Thanks

[@nectouxpierre4634]

Nice work Tom! The carbide endmill work great on this A2. I really love your V jaws for the Kurt! Thanks

[@freemanfreed1581]

why i ignored this guy for some weeks when finding videos on machining is even strange to me. thanks man ..... may be if you are here on the comment section i need videos on helical gear cutting and curves on rotary table....

[@kevinstallard7437]

Excellent video! Thanks Tom.

[@swanvalleymachineshop]

I like it ( the tapped holes in the jaw cap screws ) Nice job on the vee block , Cheers .

[@TheRealFOSFOR]

A fine fixture for sure. Tho the relief cut, as many has said is probably pointless and more of a problem in the future. The back surface is either way being ground flat and it could even be lapped to extreme flatness so it would probably not rock one bit, and the stiffness would be superior.

[@unknownapprentice625]

Luv the mini pallet in the saw!!!!

[@markfulmer8501]

thanks Tom- i like the idea of drilling and tapping the screws that hold the vise jaws on as well as the rest of the video

[@MCEngineeringInc]

Neat block! Great tip to counter-bore the threads.

[@fabianthorne6831]

Great video Tom,thanks for sharing your good knowledge with us,I really appreciate and respect it,coming from one of your subscriber in Trinidad and Tobago,a Caribbean country.God bless you.

[@nikond90ful1]

Thanks for the video Tom.

[@TheAyrCaveShop]

Enjoyed...Nice project. Thanks Tom

[@patheron7812]

I enjoyed the setups and fixtures. I sure would have liked to see the finishing after heat treating.

[@htral]

Band saw blades are cheaper than end-mills for material removal! -- Cool trick to keep blade from flexing away on angled surface cut.

[@johnbirkholz994]

I saw that ninja brush anti-deflection maneuver as well, it's the little tidbits like that you can never get in a classroom.

[@axa.axa.]

@@johnbirkholz994 that's what the back of my chip brush is for. Don't need a classroom or KZbin, it's common sense

[@KravchenkoAudioPerth]

I'll be making something like this for sure. Thanks Tom.

[@jamesreed6121]

As always another interesting project. I'm thinking I might do make one for myself. Also I think I'll modify the screws holding the vise jaws as you did there. The ability to add plates to quickly mount project in the vise at 30, 45 and maybe 60 degree angles is pretty awesome. Thanks a bunch. BTW, I look forward to seeing you at Chuck Bomarito's meet and greet this coming Saturday.

[@geoffkeeler5106]

Agree with the assessment of the smell of Dykem. Another great smell is Hoppes Number 9 gun cleaning solution, highly recommend sniffing!

[@whatdoyouthinktodd]

I love the SMELL of Kroil!

[@chrisstephens6673]

I love smell of bacon frying but i guess that falls outside the workshop parameters. 😆

[@adambohm4367]

Jet a

[@brucewilliams6292]

@@adambohm4367 It smells like victory!

[@brucewilliams6292]

@@adambohm4367 It smells like victory!

[@AmateurRedneckWorkshop]

Great video hopefully I can get ambitious enough to copy these V blocks.

[@johnbodmer5645]

Really nice tool. Tom. I am going to have to copy it.

[@dizzolve]

sweet clever tool Tommy

[@paulhunt598]

Tom, Delightful to watch you work. I need DRO on my mill. I am not smart or skilled enough to keep track of dials, or indicators to keep up with all of the moves work like this project requires. The old eyes don't read scales easily anymore. Again, I enjoy watching you work.

[@kylezellmann6811]

Great video Tom

[@garywills5682]

Every shop i ever worked in i ended up making vee block for a mill vise . Just to keep trhings moving and not wasting time in constant set ups or bluing . My shop teacher in vokie believed in fixtures n jigs. It stuck if i saw we did more then 10 or 12 . I got my head in tooling mode. The more you make them the easier and quicker the tooling came together. Thanks

[@TheTsunamijuan]

@oxtoolco Man I really appreciate you sharing all your knowledge and techniques with us. I always find it interesting how different people and professionals approach the tasks infront of them. Not to mention the additional knowledge of experience that they bring to the table. You along with some of the other big youtube machining greats, have been a big inspiration to me. After a number of years watching you guys, I am finally in the process of purchasing my first machines.

[@hotdrippyglass]

"I love the smell of Dykem in the morning! Smells like victory!"

[@kylezellmann6811]

“Square with the world” is one of my favorite sayings! Make a t-shirt and I’ll buy it. Something like, “I’m a machinist” ; “I’m square with the world” ; 😀

[@paulmace7910]

Thank you. Nice work.

[@johnbirkholz994]

I'm currently apprenticing in stamping tool and die and work almost exclusively with A2 and D2. Being told that they don't make those nice pretty Abom style chips when drilled is one thing, but seeing you get the same ugly, flaky, stringy chips that I do gives me some hope. Watching your channel has helped me learn leaps and bounds faster than I would have at work alone, thank you for what you do!

[@mog5858]

thanks for sharing keep up the good work.

[@kenwilliams9518]

Tom I watched this and really enjoyed. I think I would call it an "m" block. thanks

[@MaxWattage]

Dang that was some high RPM machine tapping there at the end, and into A2 tool-steel too.

[@kazimierzperek2253]

Good work. 👍

[@ydonl]

Seems like a vertical stop of some kind might be handy. Optional attachment. LOVE that bandsaw...

[@doloresstone2142]

My husband watched this video and he wanted to know how to get the PDF of this project. Thank you.

[@railfan439]

Thanks for the video, Tom. See you at the Bar-Z. Jon

[@felixcosty]

Thanks for the video. The two large holes could be used to extend the V block, make another block and two rods and now you have an extra tall V block. You could use the two rods as a rest or for clamp a very odd shaped part. Have a day

[@12345NoNamesLeft]

Great content. I found lots of nuggets

[@isbcornbinder]

Welcome back, yourself. I have been here, where have you been? Good video.

[@wk7060]

Nice video!

[@InverJaze]

Nice Tom. The thing about what you do is make a superior job of it.

[@nowayjerk8064]

thanks for sharing you rock!

[@ianviljoen9036]

...need vblocks to make vblock...darnit. Enjoyed the video, thanks!

[@Engineerd3d]

I love it. Order of operations comes to mind. Thank you for sharing. Also where can I get an ox sticker for my shop?

[@ALSomthin]

Nice tool ! I like the fact it is very adaptable in its use. Dont worry they wont ever change layout dye from its laquer base. I like the spray for large areas also the bandsaw ckampling fixture. Lots of echo in the audio might try hanging up a piece or two of strandboard or thick curtain on chains up towards the ceiling to break that up a bit.

[@ericrichards5862]

Thanks Tom, Will you make a video the grinding of this tool?

[@rickhynes1357]

I see a fair amount of comments on the back relief. I'm fine with that . If you're doing a 100 parts and you only want to dial in the 1st you can simply Gauge block the center to minimize deflection. I think Tom was focused on maintaining the timing of the part from one operation to another. Nevertheless another interesting and educational video from a master toolmaker.

[@ftownroe]

Great video as always Tom but I am trying to find the PDF plan so i can steal your excellent idea.

[@johnwallace9002]

When I made mine I put a row of pin holes down the V-groove to hold short pieces in the groove and I made it the same height as the vice jaws.

[@Cooliemasteroz]

You have some good ideas incorporated into you V blocks and your workmanship is excellent. Now are you ready to make another one because believe it or not there’s room for improvement. Everyone makes their V blocks with 45 degree angles but I make them with 30 degree angles. This way you can hold larger diameters in your vice and under your mill there also will me more room. Also while assembling or disassembling mechanical parts where physical exertion is needed you will find that things are a lot more stable and safe on the work bench due to a lower centre of gravity without making them wider than standard as you have done. I guarantee that if you do this you will be glad that you did.

[@markwilliamson1582]

Hay Tom, if you now have got 2 of them, you could use the 2 reamed holes for sliding them along some good rod for an extending V Block, and the 3 boults could be used for locking screws, just a thought buddy, Lovely job on them, I like the idea of screwing them in to the vice jaw boults, 👍🏻😉

[@xuanxie9085]

Learn a lot from you, really enjoy your videos. A little bit scary seeing you punch that tap into the hole ; )

[@cschwad559]

I love the smell too! Just used it yesterday, but I did get some dykem on me.

[@Yorkiepoocharlie]

Good stuff.

[@christinaedwards5617]

What where is the rest that ended way to fast. Seriously thank you Tom that was amazing as usual. I’ll have to patiently wait for the grinding video

[@jeffanderson1653]

It's August of 2021. Has he made the grinding video?

[@adavid7901]

That’s a neat Little extension that you are using on the 1/8” endmill for the grind relief who makes it and does it have a part number? Great video by the way

[@user-it8sd4ig8w]

Золотые руки. Светлая голова! Храни Вас , Господи!

[@donmittlestaedt1117]

Thanks Tom

[@johnreese3943]

CDCO has a V jaw for the 6" Kurt for $65. It has 3 vertical Vx and 2 horizontal. Vs are of different sizes. I don't bolt mine in place, instead I just use it as a loosw v-block.

[@robertpartsmade5832]

As always Tom a pleasure to watch and learn .... with respect to the back relief and the issue of flex ..... not quite sure how tight you guys pull up your vice jaws when gripping a part !? 🤔 Regards Robert PARTSMADE 🇬🇧

[@TabletopMachineShop]

I've often though about using a precision angle block to square up stock. If you had some kind of square-ish stock you could use a precision angle block to reference it vertically, face it, and repeat 2 more times. Thoughts?

[@zachtthomas]

Nice.

[@TonyHammitt]

When you get it done, can you clamp something in it and then run an indicator along the back of the relief to show us what the deflection ends up being? I'm betting it's not going to be a whole lot

[@phillhuddleston9445]

Good job just wondering why you ran the spindle RPM's so high while tapping, I've noticed that at least in my experience running it that fast dulls the tap faster. Most non-machinists have no clue on how much time and effort goes into making something like this, good to see you are at least giving a sneak peak into what it takes.