Flexibility--Mobility–Convenience - WRIST AT REST

The base holder is specifically designed to hold the Portavise® tightly either in a horizontal or a vertical position in the same base holder. In the horizontal position it allows a working height of the jaws surface area to be 1¼ inches at the lowest object held working level with a jaw surface height of 2¾ inches on a vertical plane for the holding of the surface area of an object. Of course, the vise will hold a much higher object than the jaw dimension. With the vise mounted vertically, the working height of the object held on a horizontal plane is close to the same working height or about 1¼ inches plus a 1.88 inch jaw opening. This means you can now hold objects at a horizontal or vertical working level with your wrist at rest for delicate and precise drilling, grinding or polishing, etc.

On the bottom of the base is a special “grip to the surface” material that, with any hand assisted work load, the Portavise® allows the same work as most mounted vises for sawing, drilling, polishing and de-burring, etc. The big difference is the mobility and flexibility in working at your preferred angle and height, also because the vise is portable and you can even take it with you. Additionally, you have your selection of work areas from wood table tops, laminated tops or even glass case tops. Providing the material on the bottom of the base is free of soil or other work material, it can be used on most any flat surfaces without damage to the surface finish. The bottom gripping surface of the base and table surface is best kept cleaned with glass cleaner for the best surface adhesion and results.

More about the patented jaw panels

The patented jaw panels have a blend of polymers that under pressure allows them to “grip to the shape” of the held object. The panel material actually deforms under relatively light pressure to fit to the shape of objects and allows round, oblong or odd shape objects to clamp into the openings at the top of the plastic panels. The smallest opening exposes the largest area of the clamped item but has the least holding ability. The largest opening exposes less of the surface but has the most holding ability. Round items, as an example, may be clamped flat for drilling, or at angles for painting. Even hollow tubing can be clamped in place without needing a V-grove and not denting the tube. Flexible plastic tubing can be held with light pressure without collapsing the tube. A third hand fixture can be made by fitting a standard 3/16"electric alligator clip (with the plastic insulation removed) over 3/16 inch the tube with a press fit to make a third hand fixture by clamping the tube any where in the vise panels. Clamping metal tubing tightly, then releasing some pressure, the tube can be rotated in its self made form. Even soldering can be done with heat at the end of the clip but don’t put heat on the plastic panels. The three openings at the top of the panels are standard sizes of 3/16, 5/16, and 7/16 inch diameter. The same size openings oppose each other and will take wood or metal dowel stock from hobby stores. The dowels can be width sized to fit the jaw opening and a standard size hole drilled in the dowel to accept other third hand applications. A dowel that fits in the 7/16 inch hole can be rotated or clamped in a fixed position by the vise to hold a third hand in place.