Thanks for the suggestions on this project-vise.
I was able to get the three broken jaw bolts out! I think the elecrolysis helped. Along with the jaw as confirmation, it allowed me to easily find center on the smeared one. I punched them well (fortunately they were fairly soft), did a rigid setup, and was able to get them drilled through fairly easily. The drilling was all on - the threads weren't touched. There was significant space beyond the bolts, allowing PB to soak from behind. For the smeared bolt, and one other, I relieved around the threads at the face - otherwise they would have likely hung up due to interference. Extraction involved a fair bit of PB, lots of waiting, a bit of heat. On all three, the small easy-out felt right at the limit of breaking. It remains to be discovered how strong the threads are. This was great experience for more prized projects.
I want to spray it, but I have that terrible anvil to deal with. The iron in this vise is not at all suitable for use as an anvil - especially if someone is hammering on the edge. And Wilton's decision to overhang that edge, unsupported, beyond the body of the vise? Well, I guess that leaves you something to grind back when it does break.
I don't plan on keeping this vise. It will either go to ebay-etc, or go as a gift. The anvil condition is a challenge for selling. Also, I only have one pipe jaw and one main jaw. I need an appropriate solution there. It might be shop made aluminu, or smooth steel. Or maybe I'll find someone with some donor parts (
or maybe I'm the one with the donor parts?).
I think a better than new anvil repair would have a steel plate machined with a relief on the backside, and then slots carefully sized and cut on the inside edges of the relief. That new anvil face would slide over the lip of the existing anvil. I think that'd be pretty slick in a case where justified. Silver soldering a new plate on top is an option - ideally the plate would have a fitted rellief pocket to locate over and hide the edges.
I want this project done - the easy and quick path seems to be smoothing mostly leveling the top, whack off those broken edges, declare victory, and move on. Those eroded edges extend inward a fair bit and I may end up with a bevel there.
I also see white material inside the hollow jaws from phosphorizing. Any tricks to get rid of that? It's not such a concern with this vise, but for a more important vise, it would be. It'd be neat to fill the hollow jaw with some steel shot, plug the holes, and slowly tumble it on a motor. I do like to let machines do the work. Though tumbling a vise by hand all afternoon would really help build the upper body strength I'll need when claiming my 8" vises.
I have been thinking verde green rather than snap-on red, and wilton decals rather than snap-on. On the other hand, maybe it has more value as a 1989 Snap-On. Suggestions on a proper red rattle can?
---Correction on the C3s.
I have to finish a kitchen update, Finish some major work on my cargo van and install some new windows. Not as much fun, or rewarding as vise work.
