I'm looking to buy (or make) a vise for repairing, reworking, and sharpening knives and other cutting tools.

It has to have a very thin profile so I can make 6-degree bevels with files and diamond abrasives. It has to hold the blade securely but without damage, and needs to articulate into a wide range of positions.

What do you guys use? How do they hold up to prolonged use? Any recommendations?

Good news, bad news -

Saw something like what you want on Woodwright's Shop recently on PBS. Essential a wooden vise, with leather pads at the top. Can be mounted to a work bench or can be attached to a workbench.

You sorta kinda have to make it yourself. You can buy the big middle screw parts. The jaws can be customised to any angle to allow for proper shaping. They were using it to hold all kinds of stuff, from boards to dowels (using an insert).

I gotta think this would be really good for metal sharpening.

More - title of the show is "Two screws for you". I was able to access it thru the PBD website. Yeah, the host is punny.

Ive contemplated buying or building one of these, several times, for finishing knives. You could make one yourself, easy enough, if you've got the time.

http://usaknifemaker.com/knife-vise-tab-base.html

Thanks guys. Great ideas, keep 'em coming! You've got my wheels turning.

The biggest challenge is that most blades I deal with already have handles. So most of the clamping force has to be on the blade, without getting in the way. Not to mention that it's not only knives -- could also be pruning shears, scissors, etc.

I'm wondering about the clamp in the Lansky sharpening system. You can get them separately for about $10. Anybody know how securely they hold a blade? Would they scratch coatings?

I have a lansky kit. If you tighen the clamp enought to where it is adequately secure, it will scratch a finish. If you try to pad the jaws so they don't scratch, they don't hold quite securely enough for my liking.

I still use the lansky stones from time to time, but I free-hand sharpen, with them.

HTH