Made some quickie copper vise jaws for my Wilton

[dr_clyde]

I hate the serrated jaws that come with the Wilton vises. They do grip the work well, but I don't know why anyone thought it would be acceptable to leave a scarred, sharp, jagged finish on your part. At least on the tradesman, the jaws are reversible to the smooth back side. But, on the machinist models they are centered by a little boss on the jaw recess making them one way only.

All the vises in my shop get copper soft jaws. I never have an issue with them slipping, and they can be resurfaced several times before they need to be retired. Plus they are nice for welding.

Banged these out on the Bridgeport this evening.

 

[EdT]

Those copper jaws are really nice!! Do you find any advantage of using copper rather than aluminum?

 

[dr_clyde]

Copper is more dense, so it's more durable and you won't deform them as bad when you need to crank down on something.

 

[kazlx]

Very nice.

 

[PT Doc]

Where do you get the stock?

 

[sanddan]

Very cool. What spec copper did you use? I checked McMaster-Carr and they have a "Easy-to-machine 145 Copper" that comes in 1/2"X 2" bars among other sizes. Not cheap though.

 

[dr_clyde]

I used 110 copper bar from McMaster. In case you were wondering on cutters I used a CTD drill for the thu drill and an Imco 4 flute carbide endmill for the counterbores. Faced to thickness with a Seco Carboloy 6 insert face mill. It machines fine provided you use the right speeds and feeds. I used Trim E206 soluble oil in a squirt bottle for lube.

 

[zkling]

Copper is more dense, so it's more durable and you won't deform them as bad when you need to crank down on something.

Technically density has nothing to do with the stiffness or ability to resist deformation.

 

[dr_clyde]

Technically density has nothing to do with the stiffness or ability to resist deformation.

Ok, density is the wrong word. But my point is the copper is more durable than aluminum. Whatever the properties are that make it so.

 

[CastleBravo]

Those are beautiful. Good work sir!


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[383 240z]

I've got a chunk of A360 here for that same project. However might use some Aluminium bronze I have left over, just to be different. Thanks for the pics. Looks great. Keith

 

[Hephaestus29]

Almost too nice to use.

 

[exmaxima1]

I've got a chunk of A360 here for that same project. However might use some Aluminium bronze I have left over, just to be different. Thanks for the pics. Looks great. Keith

Aluminum bronze might be too hard and slippery for jaws. Similar problem with many brasses. Copper seems to be better at gripping.

 

[dkroth]

Mmm. Copper.

 

[tarbellb]

Some junkie is going to steal the vise, try to pry the jaws off with a rusty piece of rebar, ruin everything, then ditch it in the alley.

But until then, those look dead ****. Well done.

 

[1/2 Cup]

Great work and thanks for posting.

 

[Ign]

Thank you! I've been wanting to do this forever for the same reasons. People who don't know any better tell me it's stupid, wasteful, copper is too soft etc. All incorrect.

I just never seem to find the time to make a set.

I agree, serration marks in the work are never acceptable.

 

[kazlx]

Personally, I've never had serrated jaws on any vise I've owned. If they have them, I grind them smooth.

 

[ModelTBrian]

Great looking. I'm now going to find the time to make some.

 

[welder4956]

I need to make some of these too. Time to order some copper bar.

 

[CastleBravo]

I wonder if one of you fine gentlemen would be inclined to mill a set for a guy like me? Dimensions provided of course.


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[sanddan]

I checked out my Columbian vise and there isn't an obvious way to remove the steel jaws. It looks like they have a rabbit joint between the vise and jaw without any screws that I can see. Not sure how to remove them.

 

[CastleBravo]

I have an old Columbian too. I'll have to look at it and see if I'm in the same boat.


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[kazlx]

Not all vises have removable jaws. I know two of my three don't.

 

[dr_clyde]

I know my Columbian has the same tongue and groove jaw. I believe they are pinned in. If you can manage to get the pins out, you can replace the jaws. Not worth it IMO. I use mine for taking apart pipe and other dirty jobs where it doesn't matter if the jaws mark the work.