Holding odd-shaped parts like this fish whirligig in a standard woodworking vise can be difficult. But spending the money on a dedicated carver’s vise wasn’t an option. Instead, I built this adjustable stand for an “F-style” bar clamp to serve as my carver’s vise.
With the exception of the cleat that attaches to the base, the rest of the clamp stand parts are made from plywood.
A stepped slot cut in the base (detail ‘b’) allows the clamp arm to pivot. This is handy for repositioning your workpiece without having to move the entire stand. A knob and carriage bolt lock the clamp arm to the base.
Each clamp bracket is made from two interlocking pieces as shown in detail ‘a.’ They’re screwed to the clamp arm. The opening in the bracket is sized to fit your clamp. A simple clamp stop keeps the bar clamp from shifting while in use. I screwed it to the clamp arm after the bar clamp is placed in the brackets.
