Finished a bit of a restore on this Mac Tools (I think Wilton-made) vise tonight. I received it as a gift from a good friend of mine; it was bought new when they had some motorcycle shops many decades ago. Once they were shutdown it obviously fell on hard times and spent many a season out in the weather.
She was stuck fast:
In the diesel bucket she goes!
A few weeks of soaking later and the main screw still just wouldn't budge. I removed the swivel base and and main screw lock washer that secure it to the dynamic jaw. After doing so I was able to get the main nut moving enough to give me enough room to cut the handle off and drive the completed seized main screw and nut out the back of the body of the vise.
After many hours of heating and beating with the main nut in a vise and a plumber's wrench on the main screw I was able to get it release the remainder of the main screw.
Main screw did not survive:
All parts spent several days in Evaporust:
The ram was very badly pitted with rust. I had to chisel away large amounts of scaled rust. It was pretty ugly and uneven, so I used some JB Weld to smooth out the surface:
Post sanding:
Some etching primer & some navy blue paint later:
A bit-o-fine detailing:
new stainless 1/4-20 jaw screws, turned down on my belt sander after being chucked up in my drill - who needs a lathe? (ME!)
And tonight my replacement main screw came in...ordered the part for a Wilton 655 - perfect replacement. Ole gal is back in action!
