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My favorite "pin vice" is a piece from a mill, it has a geared chuck and the body has a nice heft to it, so pressure isn;t needed to make a hole - gravity does it all for me. 

In my band instrument repair days

Wood Ball Head

The wood ball head is my favorite pin vise.  I've tried others over the years, but I get better control with the ball head. 

I don't know who made it many years ago, but my drill bit index is a small metal case that opens up to reveal two flip up bit holders that also serve as the index.  When closed it's very easy to store in my tool box - an old fishing tackle box from many years ago also.

Enjoy

Paul

A little off topic

But I need to know, what is the surface board that shows in the background?  The green board with the different size squares?  I have had a pin vice for quite some time now and love it.  I think I bought mine either at Radio Shack or Jameco electronics. 

Waggs an answer about the Green board

That is a Crafts and sewing self closing cutting pad. It is very much like the ones we use for model railroading and can be bought at most of the large crafts/hobby stores like Hobby Lobby .

Dan

Green board

Agree and agree

I am quickly finding Jack's articles to be my favorites (and it should probably become Joe's favorite column because I tend to hit the companies that Jack recommends!).  I have his jewelers saw recommendation on my to do list, but I went directly to Model Expo to get the slide pin vice.  I have been using two of the other vices he describes (one for larger and one for smaller bits), but I have broken my share of bits due to the heavy "head" of these pin vices.  If this slide collar works for Jack, I bet it will work for me.  I already use the flat index drill bit case (I have two - one for my traveling tool kit which I use for shows with my old club and one for my home work bench.  This allows me to have a backup for bit breaks).  And I did end up getting several packets of smaller bits...only I misplace them every so often in my tool box.  The cases are much easier to find! The box with plastic zip bags might do the trick, but I don't know if that would end up any easier to find. Even labeled, there are so many things that a model railroader can have in small boxes that it can be a hobby in itself to find things that are useful, but not used continuously!

I've always followed the progress on Mr. Burgess' Yosemite Valley, and find his tool choices to be just as fascinating and helpful to me in my modeling.  Thanks!

Agree...