barrel vise recommendations

john442 - is no image on the link that you provided - showing is out of stock? As per Post #20 and others above - is maybe not needed to have "real good" vise to install normal modern barrel, but, from experience here, need "real good" vise and action wrench to get some elderly ones apart. For my recent attempt to undo a flash hider from a new-ish Savage rifle - was like that was loctited on there - I first tried using spruce 2x4 block in a 4" bench vise - had half holes to match barrel diameter - could not get tight enough to hold against that "glued on" thing - the vise jaws had crushed into the wood blocks at least 1/2" and the barrel still spun in there when I tried to torque on the flash hider. But that assembly held it nicely to warm that thing up with a propane torch - and spent the night in that. I have no idea how tight a compensator has to be torqued on - plain wood blocks in a bench vise might hold it, but as I learned - is a limit to what that kind of set-up can handle.
 
I have never used those Wheeler Barrel blocks - I note they would require a decent bench vice with some spacer blocks to generate clamping force to use them. No clue how well they would hold and grab to a barrel?? Post #11 above has picture and text of what I use.
 
Those Wheelers should be OK for installing barrels, or removing barrels you've previously installed. No idea how they would work for the general removal of factory barrels. Some of those are really challenging. As far as tools for removal of most any barrels that come along, the more substantial the better.
 
A solid metal working 5 or 6 inch vise with thick felt padding will hold a barrel just fine for brake crush washers... blocks designed for round barrels would be even better. The big vise is the thing...
 
I have a monster 6" vise I recovered from a USAF dump in Frobisher Bay. It weighs at least 150 pounds. Disassemble it to move it. Had to replace the handle. Used a piece of cold rolled 2 feet long. It holds things solidly.
 
There are certainly several ways of going about this, and if something gets the job done, its a win.
I decided very quickly that universal vices/wrenches were not going to cut it in my shop. Trying to make a universal tool for something that comes in many different sizes, often has multiple curved/angled contours, generally requires a reasonable amount of torque (and lets not forget, you don't want to mar the finish) is a tall order.

I went the opposite route and made bushings to suit each contour I came across. This way I got ~95% AREA contact on each and every barrel I'd work on and there was no screwing around.
Seeing the increase of prefits on the market and after several requests from customers I've made both my barrel vices and action wrenches available for sale and have had good feed back.

My vices are cnc machined from 1.5" bar stock and take 1 3/4" aluminum bushings.


a layer of printer paper has never let me down for preventing marring or aluminum rubbing and requires no clean up.


As mentioned above, my system requires custom bushings for each barrel contour, however in most cases a customer will only need a couple sizes, one to remove a factory contour and one to suit the aftermarket barrel/s.

I try to keep common bushing sizes in stock and ready to roll. They are $35.


In addition, built to order/custom bushings are a straight forward, fill in the blank proposition. They are the same cost as standard bushings and generally only have a day or two turnaround time.



Cheers!
Paul.
 
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