(Also posted in rec.crafts.jewelry)

Well, in an effort to expand my range of enameling techniques, I'm trying
to add engraving under the enamel. I'm going to be making a budget block
to get started. I'll be slicing off 1/3rd of a bowling ball and adding a
vise. I was going to get a drill press vise and replace the jaws with
derlin or nylon or something similar, but looking around, I was wondering
if it would be better to get one of these
http://makeashorterlink.com/?K57E257DB (long ebay link, worksafe) and
remove the handle and attach it to the base.

Also, I noticed these as well http://makeashorterlink.com/?S3AE137DB which
seems to be a very good price. Would I be better off to just cough up the
$250 for it rather than making my own block? I'm reasonably competent at
making my own tools, as long as they aren't horribly intricate.
Todd

I have a bowling ball with a flat area cut on it and a plywood base
with a hole to hold it.

I have hardly used it. But my thoughts are to secure anything I want
to engrave with either double backed tape or pitch ( if tape won't work
).

Dan

Todd

I've used one of those vises that they're selling on Ebay. They're
awesome. And $215 is an outright steal of a price. They're usually
$500. If you're serious about doing engraving, get the right tools.
That vise is absolutely the right tool. Fun as it is to make your own
tools (I've done it a lot), it sometimes pays to just buy the real thing
up front.

Jim