Ok, the only purpose for this thread is to occupy my grey matter in an amusing manner.
I'm going to confess to commiting one of the 5 original sins of black powder gunsmithing.
Please understand that as a member of this forum you are bound to secrecy and you may never so much as utter a word of this thread to another living soul who is not also a member of this forum.
For many years, Brace yourselves....
I used a Chinese pair of ViseGrips for a mainspring vise and never ever paid the ultimate price for such treachery. I got away with it by adjusting the tension in tiny increments until the spring would release. I'd employ the same tactics in order to reassemble.
There! I said it. I can finally relax in the knowledge that I came clean. What a load off! Judge me as you see fit, but the only reason I bought a mainspring vise is because I didn't want to be looked upon as a hack for not owning one.
Of course now that I've purchased an honest to goodness mainspring vise I use it exclusively and so far I continue to live a charmed life with regard to mainspring breakage.
To all of you ViseGrip gunsmiths I offer only this... For the small investment it's a no-brainer, A mainspring vise could be the key that releases you from the shame of being a closet cheapskate. We both know that your ViseGrip will work in a pinch but you'll need a mainspring vise for all of the rest of the times. :grin:
I'm going to confess to commiting one of the 5 original sins of black powder gunsmithing.
Please understand that as a member of this forum you are bound to secrecy and you may never so much as utter a word of this thread to another living soul who is not also a member of this forum.
For many years, Brace yourselves....
I used a Chinese pair of ViseGrips for a mainspring vise and never ever paid the ultimate price for such treachery. I got away with it by adjusting the tension in tiny increments until the spring would release. I'd employ the same tactics in order to reassemble.
There! I said it. I can finally relax in the knowledge that I came clean. What a load off! Judge me as you see fit, but the only reason I bought a mainspring vise is because I didn't want to be looked upon as a hack for not owning one.
Of course now that I've purchased an honest to goodness mainspring vise I use it exclusively and so far I continue to live a charmed life with regard to mainspring breakage.
To all of you ViseGrip gunsmiths I offer only this... For the small investment it's a no-brainer, A mainspring vise could be the key that releases you from the shame of being a closet cheapskate. We both know that your ViseGrip will work in a pinch but you'll need a mainspring vise for all of the rest of the times. :grin: