Need to make a vise handle.

[larryq]

I'm restoring a bench vise and need to think about replacing the handle; it's a little bent and chewed up and would really stand out (in a bad way) on the restored vise. I don't have a lathe and wouldn't know how to use one if I did.

For a quick fix I know I could buy some threaded rod and screw on a couple of hex nuts at both ends but wanted to aim a little higher than that. I was thinking of buying some 1/2" steel rod and using a die to cut some threads on either end, then maybe putting a couple of these on either end. If so, would I use a 1/2-13 or 1/2-20 die for that, or does it not work that way and I need to go up in size?

Thoughts? Any other approaches worth considering? Thanks for your input.

 

[619DioFan]

Just get the proper size steel rod for the handle and put a shaft collar on each end. very easy fix. both of my vices have handle with shaft collars.

 

[larry_g]

Might I suggest a ball handle, https://www.mcmaster.com/ball-handles that thread onto the shaft instead of an acorn nut. Pick your material. Brass might just set off the vise in a unique way. Don't forget the rubber washers.

If using a 1/2" rod you can thread it directly with the proper die. That said you might consider having it turned down on the end so that it will thread 7/16-20. That will give you a shoulder to **** the nut or ball up against giving a tight joint.

lg
no neat sig line

 

[rharman]

Don't use threaded rod. You'll kick yourself every time you use the vise. Some good suggestions already made although I think the turning down to 7/16", while a clean finish, is kind of overkill - unless you have a lathe.

 

[ricleh]

If you want a handle that looks like it came from the factory check these out.

Vise handles

 

[larryq]

Great suggestions here, thanks everyone. I'm leaning toward something like this, and a couple of threaded ball knobs at the end.

One thing I'm not in love with-- the length of the rod above is 6 5/8", not including the threaded portion, while my existing handle's straight rod length is 7 1/2". So I'd be giving up nearly an inch in length. Not a killer but a little annoying.

 

[SimplyPeet]

Great suggestions here, thanks everyone. I'm leaning toward something like this, and a couple of threaded ball knobs at the end.

One thing I'm not in love with-- the length of the rod above is 6 5/8", not including the threaded portion, while my existing handle's straight rod length is 7 1/2". So I'd be giving up nearly an inch in length. Not a killer but a little annoying.

This was someone who put a lot of love into restoring a vise and made a custom handle. Image on Pinterest and larger version attached.

He used the same type of threaded rod design with chrome balls.

 

[bugnut]

Ebay-- milling machine hold-down couple different diameters lots of lengths threaded on both ends buy mcmaster carr metal parts to match.

NEW DOUBLE END THREADED STUD 1/2-13 BLACK OXIDE , 7" LONG , FREE SHIPPING!!

 

[Bottlecapdigger]

Just get the proper size steel rod for the handle and put a shaft collar on each end. very easy fix. both of my vices have handle with shaft collars.[. ^^^^^. Thats. the way I'd do it to, collars you can get in all sizes. I'm sure your HF store will have them. Bcd.

 

[matt_i]

*If* a person had a floor mounted drill press and could fixture the rod to the side of the table....then it could be drilled and tapped on the centerlines of both ends.

If its a 1/2" shaft I'd WAG that a 5/16-18 is about right, or select via the diameter of ball-end you wish to use.

Screw in a setscrew of appropriate dimension with a drop of blue loctite, screw on the handle, and go about your day, posting pics on the GJ for us all to enjoy

 

[El_Guapo]

I made the one on my old service truck out of a 3/4-10 x 11" bolt, a nut and some red Loctite. Ghetto, but effective.

 

[tarbellb]

I bought a few pieces of steel rod off Ebay (<$15)
+
rubber o-rings
+
shaft collars

 

[Marctrees]

Great suggestions here, thanks everyone. I'm leaning toward something like this, and a couple of threaded ball knobs at the end.

One thing I'm not in love with-- the length of the rod above is 6 5/8", not including the threaded portion, while my existing handle's straight rod length is 7 1/2". So I'd be giving up nearly an inch in length. Not a killer but a little annoying.

I sure would not want a vise handle that is "Short"..

If anything, I would like longer than stock.

JMO.

Marc

 

[SweetD]

Larry, I have a guy that would probably be able to make you anything you want very reasonably. He is a young guy that is a machinist by trade, and runs a hobby/side shop out of his house. He actually machined me a replacement main nut for a very rare vise I have where the nut had been damaged beyond repair. And he was VERY reasonable. Great kid.

Check out ecmanufacturing.weebly.com, his name is Eric. If you look in the photos section of his site, you can see a few pics of the nut he machined for me. Tell him Dave from RI referred you.

 

[larryq]

Check out ecmanufacturing.weebly.com, his name is Eric. If you look in the photos section of his site, you can see a few pics of the nut he machined for me. Tell him Dave from RI referred you.

Thanks, I sent him a note about making a 7 1/2" threaded shaft lever, we'll see what he says. If that doesn't work out the shaft collar idea mentioned a couple of times here sounds eminently reasonable.

 

[6PTsocket]

Plain rod, thread ends, cap with acorn nuts You can get chrome or stainless steel nuts and polish the rod a little and it will look good.

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[connorm]

Semi related question: How are vise handles originally installed? I assume forged in place, somehow?

 

[6PTsocket]

The mcmaster link I posted earlier has shaft lengths up to 10 1/2" inches long. All you have to do is screw off the plastic knob on one end, and add two steel knobs. Or live with the plastic knob, and add one steel knob.

Better than my idea. I forgot you can get threaded steel balls. What dia. Is the rod? Can you get reasonably sized steel balls in the needed thread size?
You want to keep it in scale and not look like a barbell

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[larryq]

The mcmaster link I posted earlier has shaft lengths up to 10 1/2" inches long. All you have to do is screw off the plastic knob on one end, and add two steel knobs. Or live with the plastic knob, and add one steel knob.

Yes, that's a good link you sent, however I'm not sure the plastic knob screws off, per the diagram I saw there? No mention of it being threaded on.

 

[larryq]

Better than my idea. I forgot you can get threaded steel balls. What dia. Is the rod? Can you get reasonably sized steel balls in the needed thread size?
You want to keep it in scale and not look like a barbell

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I can get them as small as 1" diameter on the mcmaster site, so should be reasonably proportional.

 

[larryq]

Larry, I have a guy that would probably be able to make you anything you want very reasonably. He is a young guy that is a machinist by trade, and runs a hobby/side shop out of his house. He actually machined me a replacement main nut for a very rare vise I have where the nut had been damaged beyond repair. And he was VERY reasonable. Great kid.

Check out ecmanufacturing.weebly.com, his name is Eric. If you look in the photos section of his site, you can see a few pics of the nut he machined for me. Tell him Dave from RI referred you.

Thanks. I went with Eric and got a custom-length rod with the appropriate threads for $39 shipped, which was a great deal IMO when you consider the rod itself was probably $12. I then followed larry_g's suggestion about the threaded brass knobs and had a new handle.

I made a post about the restoration here, if anyone is interested.

 

[NC Rick]

I sure would not want a vise handle that is "Short"..

If anything, I would like longer than stock.

JMO.

Marc

I think most vises are (and should be) set up where the handle length allows an “average” strength person can produce the maximum design jaw pressure and the handle should bend just before the nut or some other part breaks.

I’m not being critical of Marc, I likely even agree but it’s interesting to think about.

 

[6PTsocket]

I'm restoring a bench vise and need to think about replacing the handle; it's a little bent and chewed up and would really stand out (in a bad way) on the restored vise. I don't have a lathe and wouldn't know how to use one if I did.



For a quick fix I know I could buy some threaded rod and screw on a couple of hex nuts at both ends but wanted to aim a little higher than that. I was thinking of buying some 1/2" steel rod and using a die to cut some threads on either end, then maybe putting a couple of these on either end. If so, would I use a 1/2-13 or 1/2-20 die for that, or does it not work that way and I need to go up in size?



Thoughts? Any other approaches worth considering? Thanks for your input.

That is the right size. 1/2" dies thread 1/2" rod.

Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk

 

[DFB]

Glad that worked out.

I was curious to what you ended up with. I have a couple of vintage vises in my recent acquisitions of them that had bent handles. Looking at the links for the ball ends and the supplied stock with Mcmaster I couldn't put together anything I needed. Not that it wouldn't do the job but it just wouldn't look right. Having a custom rod made is the best way IMO. I have a local machinists that could do the same for me.

I did have some success straightening one of the vise handles using "another vise"


I'm really considering the purchase of small hydraulic press now to aid in these resto's.


Of course the 20 ton is the best buy they'll say