The VISES of Garage Journal

[vintage nut]

Vintage nut, that is a loaded question!! I imagine all of us, at one time or another, have done things to our vises we shouldn't. But that's why we like the good ones, they're more forgiving to the occasional errant swing of a five pound mallet. The best advice I can offer is; Don't push your luck!!

That makes sense to me.
I'm sure bending a piece of 1/8x1 flat bar would be no issue, but you might break something trying to cold bend plate.

Besides, I have a 150# antique blacksmith anvil for when I really need to beat on something

you can never have too many tools

 

[oldldh]

Vintage Nut---

I'm as old as some of these ancient clampers...

And...

I know that I wouldn't like being beaten on by anything!!!

A misplaced whack with your hammer could expose a casting flaw deep within the old cast iron...

And...

Crack!!!

A vise is a clamper...not a receiver of whacks!!!

 

[Nuts]

If it didn't break, you are good to go.
If it did break, you used too much hammer.

Catch22


Nuts

 

[Fretters]

A vise is a clamper...not a receiver of whacks!!!

I'm with Oldldh on this one. Like Balane says, we've all likely done some hammering at some point, but just class a vice as a third hand. How oft and hard do you swing a hammer at something held solely in your hand?

End of the day, whether it be vices or some other task, there's pretty much always other methods and means. Sometimes rough and ready is the only option/approach if you're lacking a tool to achieve something by subtler means, so just use your gumption with regard to acceptable force when you have one of those times.

 

[drivesitfar]

Vintage: i'm with the guys on this one too. even though a 150 pound or bigger vise is pretty stout they will break. also your anvil should only be used for hot steel if a "real" anvil or the edges will chip if hit enough with cold steel. get a nice piece of RR track or thick piece of steel plate for those hammering type jobs. Maybe you and your Dad can make some sort of tool for bending flat steel or find one sitting in an old barn or warehouse.

Balane: your $25 Parker is turning into a very nice vise especially with all of Kevin's parts you've been adding to it. sort of like McB's Blockmeister where he took a 3/4 HP Craftsman block grinder he paid $20 for and then he made it this awesome tool. Happy to see you have your Parker at a better height now so your back won't hurt like your fingers and or head from figuring out how to restore all the vises you do. nice work and thinking.

Fretters: nice looking Fortis vice and as much as i like the quick release vices you guys seem to have so many of i don't own any at the moment other than a couple wood vises. have you or any of your friends across the pond figured out how to ship nice old steel to the US without giving up an arm or leg?

 

[drivesitfar]

ALL: HAPPY EASTER to all of you

 

[vintage nut]

The good anvil (peter wright, probably from the 1870s. The body is hand forged wrought iron, with a carbon steel top plate)

It only gets used for hot work. I have a rr track anvil I use for other stuff.

Also, my dad built this for doing a lot of our bending work

With the help of a cutting torch it will bend 1/4" plate.


I must say you guys have convinced me. No hammers will be used with my good vises (apart from hitting punches and such) I have the chinese vise to abuse when it's required. At least until I come across a proper leg vise.

you can never have too many tools

 

[Fretters]

ALL: HAPPY EASTER to all of you

To you too.

 

[CwazyWabbit]

I'm going to buck the trend on no hammering ..... It depends on the vice. For example the record 11* series are described as suitable for heavy chipping/hammering.

 

[vintage nut]

And happy Easter!

you can never have too many tools

 

[Fretters]

have you or any of your friends across the pond figured out how to ship nice old steel to the US without giving up an arm or leg?

If we had, I can guarantee there would have been a reverse container trip of stupidly large or unusual American vices by now.

 

[Fretters]

I'm going to buck the trend on no hammering ..... It depends on the vice. For example the record 11* series are described as suitable for heavy chipping/hammering.

Those are an exception to the rule. Must say though, I'd still feel guilty beasting on one, same as I would a cast/malleable iron vice.

 

[vintage nut]

If you want records, just come to canada! Probably see at least 2 records for every single vise of any other brand.
I'll have the big vise covered now, but I would trade a 4" fixed base record for an equivalent old American vise if anyone is interested.

you can never have too many tools

 

[cretedog]

Happy Easter, Gentlemen!

 

[CwazyWabbit]

Fretters: Granted, having seen the damage to some vices and their jaw perches you can see the damage it does, not seen a 11* series with any broken parts though and I've seen some pretty battered looking ones, I also have a 36 that's been bent (and straightened). The lower end vices I wouldn't want to hammer on and yet they are the ones which the users are more likely to hammer on.
This description still amuses me....

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/OLD-BENCH-VICE-RECORD-NO-6-SLIGHT-DAMAGE-6-jaws-/251897272591

 

[Fretters]

I'd hate to see what they class as heavy/bad damage.

 

[jakemac]

The old style fabric plasters, (do you call them plasters across there?), are worth their weight in gold when you're doing work like that. The newer waterproof type work too, but you get far better grip with the fabric type. I much prefer being a wuss and putting plasters on my fingertips than having to spend days waiting for fingertip flesh to grow back so that you're not wincing every time you touch something.

No, in the US plaster is something you use on walls/ceilings or pour into molds to make statuettes. We either call them bandages, or refer to them by a brand name - Band-Aid. The same as calling a facial tissue by the brand name Kleenex.

 

[bagged89s10]

I'm going to buck the trend on no hammering ..... It depends on the vice. For example the record 11* series are described as suitable for heavy chipping/hammering.

I'm not going to lie. I've beat metal on my vise to bend thin metal brackets and stuff. But I'm not talking about beating on it with sledge hammer force to bend 1/4" steel.
I mainly use a vise to clamp steel to cut with and sawzall or grinding and filing.


~Veeps

 

[drivesitfar]

Jake: i forgot to ask Fretters what the heck he was talking about when he mentioned putting plaster on his fingers. thanks for the translation.

Fretters: is that what you are talking about? some of us don't have a Band-Aid handy and we use Duct tape or some black (colored too) electrical tape to give a little more protection.

ALL: so here's a 130 pound Reed 106 that is missing part of it's jaw. i should have or could have taken as many pictures of broken vises as i have of nice ones because they do break. not always with a hammer.

if you do want to bend something and only have the vise to use maybe try a little heat to the part you are bending before hitting cold steel with a BFH when part is in the jaws.

 

[Fretters]

No, in the US plaster is something you use on walls/ceilings or pour into molds to make statuettes. We either call them bandages, or refer to them by a brand name - Band-Aid. The same as calling a facial tissue by the brand name Kleenex.

Thought there'd probably be a different term for them across there. I take it Band-Aid is one which everyone recognises across there, (across here, saying that just makes you think of an annoying, scruffy looking Irish **** )?

 

[vintage nut]

I would never hit cold steel in any vise, even a proper blacksmith vise. The torch is your friend. Get it good and hot and its like bending toffee.

I have to say I like the idea of using it for what you would use your hands for. actually surprising how much you can actually bend with your hands if you pinpoint heat and get it hot enough.

you can never have too many tools

 

[Fretters]

Jake: i forgot to ask Fretters what the heck he was talking about when he mentioned putting plaster on his fingers. thanks for the translation.

Fretters: is that what you are talking about? some of us don't have a Band-Aid handy and we use Duct tape or some black (colored too) electrical tape to give a little more protection.

Aye, Jake nailed it. Electrical/insulation tape is as good as too. Pretty much owt which is fairly thick between fingers and file saves the fingertips from a shedload of grief. Not usually a problen with short stints on a file, but long stints when you're keeping a finger or two on the file surface itself can give a whole new perspective to the old saying of: "Working your fingers to the bone".

 

[Fretters]

I would never hit cold steel in any vise, even a proper blacksmith vise. The torch is your friend. Get it good and hot and its like bending toffee.

Working hot versus cold makes a world of difference, doesn't it. A good torch is something I need to get added to my kit. Can only keep using the gas cooker rings for so long before I admit the need exists and acquiesce.

 

[Mark in Indiana]

Happy Easter everyone!

 

[rumb]

Just finished table clamp for my HEUER Front 120 vise!

PART 1

PART 2

PART 3 Final

I can adjust height and turn vise by 90deg. It's easy to take off and put on on the bench. If I need super strength, I can add 3 M10 screws to screw it to bench.

 

[vintage nut]

If its possible in any way, even pawning your children, try and get an oxy acetylene torch. They will get big pieces red hot in no time!

you can never have too many tools

 

[rayh]

Kevin on your Holland, did you lightly file the top of the letters flat before painting? Great job.

 

[vintage nut]

Kevin on your Holland, did you lightly file the top of the letters flat before painting? Great job.

I can't answer for him, but I have never done that myself.
I might try it next time!

you can never have too many tools

 

[Craptain]

Just finished table clamp for my HEUER Front 120 vise!

PART 1

PART 2

PART 3 Final

I can adjust height and turn vise by 90deg. It's easy to take off and put on on the bench. If I need super strength, I can add 3 M10 screws to screw it to bench.

The video's are self explanatory and good. Couldn't understand the commentary though. [emoji15]

Sent from my LG-D801 using Tapatalk

 

[bagged89s10]

Happy Easter all.

Have you guys seen shims like this in a Parker vise. This is on my Parker 22x.







It has a hole for a pin but the pin was missing. This model doesn't have a place for the lip behind the spindle to sit to center the spindle/lead screw. This shim seems to rubs on the lead screw causing some wear. My plan is to machine a full bushing out of a softer metal like bronze to reduce future wear and keep the lead screw centered better. The other option is to integrate a bushing onto the spindle lip that I have to repair anyway. What do you think?

Maybe this was an older Parker vise because there are no patent dates on the side. I don't have the right size socket to take the swivel base off so I haven't taken it off yet to see if anything is stamped underneath.


~Veeps

 

[KMScott]

Kevin on your Holland, did you lightly file the top of the letters flat before painting? Great job.

Good eyes, Yes this Hollands vise had a very sharp and detailed text casting, and on this one and others I have painted I do draw file the text to create a nice flat surface to paint.

 

[wrenchguy]

Good eyes, Yes this Hollands vise had a very sharp and detailed text casting, and on this one and others I have painted I do draw file the text to create a nice flat surface to paint.

nice, real nice.

 

[vintage nut]

That looks great! I'm definitely going to have to try that next time

you can never have too many tools

 

[KMScott]

My plan is to machine a full bushing out of a softer metal like bronze to reduce future wear and keep the lead screw centered better. The other option is to integrate a bushing onto the spindle lip that I have to repair anyway. What do you think?
~Veeps

I agree, a bronze bushing would work well especially if the bore in the dynamic support is a clean hole.

The spindle flange could be welded to fill in the missing piece but a better fix would be to machine the flange away but not all the way down to the spindles major diameter, and weld a flange back in place. Keep us posted on your repairs.

 

[rayh]

Thanks Kevin, I did that to a rusty Littlestown vise a guy gave me but I never got my tank done last fall to derust the thing and paint. The casting letters were different heights so each had to be done separately. I used a flat riffler.

 

[FMC1959]

.

Any way back to this 3-1/2 inch Hollands. I am impressed with the Hollands, this 23-1/2H is another quality vise. I found another vise company on my favorite list, I think It came out pretty nice.

Kevin, another beautiful job

If you want records, just come to canada! Probably see at least 2 records for every single vise of any other brand.
I'll have the big vise covered now, but I would trade a 4" fixed base record for an equivalent old American vise if anyone is interested.

I agree about Record's in Canada, a ton of them. In my neck of the woods I would say for every 100 vise I come across in flea markets, garage sales, CL/Kijiji, about 1/3 are Record, 1/3 Mastercraft, and the other 1/3 is a mix of made in China (more) and some made in the US & Canada (less)

 

[vintage nut]

How do you guys paint the letters?
I used a tiny little artist's brush the one time I did it. Seeing that now, I might actually go back and file the tops down and repaint them!

you can never have too many tools

 

[dutchgray]

No, in the US plaster is something you use on walls/ceilings or pour into molds to make statuettes. We either call them bandages, or refer to them by a brand name - Band-Aid. The same as calling a facial tissue by the brand name Kleenex.

In the UK plaster is that as well as band aids.

 

[balane]

How do you guys paint the letters?
I used a tiny little artist's brush the one time I did it. Seeing that now, I might actually go back and file the tops down and repaint them!

you can never have too many tools

I've tried it all and nothing works better than this method. A huge bonus is that it's so easy even a drunk chimpanzee could do it.

http://www.shanewhitlock.com/blog/?p=272

 

[oldldh]

I've tried it all and nothing works better than this method. A huge bonus is that it's so easy even a drunk chimpanzee could do it.

http://www.shanewhitlock.com/blog/?p=272

A Drunk Chimpanzee???

I resemble that remark!!!!

The name of that particular method is...

"The Little Dab'll Do You" method...