Steven,
I am wondering your thoughts on the use of a traditional vise like the one being used in your photos. When i say traditional, i mean one with parallel fixed jaws that then are padded with leather or wood.
There are machinist vises made with one pivoting jaw that allows the holding of a tapered object. And then there are pattern makers vises (which I prefer to use) that have each wood and rubber backed jaw pivoting independently, allowing the holding of pretty much any shape put into it securely. A big help when things start getting fully shaped.
I am surprised when i see photos out of different smiths shops to see how many are using traditional vises like initially mentioned above. Do you see an actual benefit to that style of vise, or is it just a function of working with what was always available?
