American Scale #79 rebuild

[royce]

This project started with a conversation with Kevin Scott about fixing the swivel jaw pin and It snowballed from there.
I need to disclose that in no way, shape or form am I machinist and this would not have happened without a ton of help from Kevin

Started with cleaning up the swivel base surfaces

 

[royce]

Then cleaned up the swivel jaw surfaces and bored the swivel jaw pin bore

 

[royce]

Then moved the center bolt bore and the swivel base locking bolt bores

 

[royce]

Then cut a 1”npt thread in the base and made an insert to get to 3/4 thread

 

[royce]

Then new swivel base lockdown bolts and nuts

 

[Shiftless]

That’s gonna be better than new!
I‘m glad to see that Kevin’s Bridgeport is obviously now up and running.
Excellent work!

 

[royce]

Then a new shouldered center bolt sleeve

 

[royce]

That’s gonna be better than new!
I‘m glad to see that Kevin’s Bridgeport is obviously now up and running.
Excellent work!

Thanks Shift,
The work was done a #3 Moore jig borer

 

[royce]

Then turned, grooved and bored a new swivel jaw pin

 

[Shiftless]

Thanks Royce
I assumed all of the flattening work done on the large surfaces was done with a regular mill rather than the specialized boring mill.

 

[royce]

Then cleaned up the top and bottom of the slide

 

[ChefRex]

Nice, wish I had the equipment to make something like this to happen, following.

 

[royce]

Then let in some bronze round bars to take up the slack

 

[royce]

Then bored the slide for a bronze bushing and faced the spindle

 

[royce]

Next up a handle
Wanting something less cumbersome than the heavy sliding handle, I opted for a pivoting handle cut from navel brass.
The large soup can spindle boss lent itself well to milling flats on it, without sacrificing integrity.
Also added Belleville washers to give enough friction to keep the handle in any position.

 

[royce]

Then bored the swivel jaw lock pin and cut a new pin

 

[royce]

The faced the jaw mating surfaces and the jaw tops

 

[royce]

Thought I would give japanning a try for the finish.
Not perfect by any stretch, but not bad

 

[ChefRex]

WOW, WANT!

Spoiler

not that I can afford it

 

[royce]

And finally assembly
This was such a fun project, learned a trainload and as always, working with Kevin’s help was a treat
Royce

 

[tarbellb]

Always impressive Royce

Thanks for sharing

 

[Shiftless]

As a major sidebar, would you please share your recipe and technique for preparing the Japanning mixture? You start with asphaltum, right?

 

[royce]

As a major sidebar, would you please share your recipe and technique for preparing the Japanning mixture? You start with asphaltum, right?

You bet
5 parts turpentine
3 parts asphaltum
2 parts linseed oil

Disolve asphaltum in turpentine, let stand overnight.
Remix and then add linseed oil.
Strain through paint filter
Apply with acid brush

 

[Shiftless]

Thanks Royce!

Did you get the asphaltum in artist paint tubes?
That‘s RAW linseed oil you use and not boiled?
Mix together at room temperature or warmed up a bit?

Thanks

 

[larry4406]

For not being a machinist you sure look the part and have all of the toys!

Nice job!

 

[royce]

Thanks Royce!

Did you get the asphaltum in artist paint tubes?
That‘s RAW linseed oil you use and not boiled?
Mix together at room temperature or warmed up a bit?

Thanks

Thanks Royce!

Did you get the asphaltum in artist paint tubes?
That‘s RAW linseed oil you use and not boiled?
Mix together at room temperature or warmed up a bit?

Thanks

The asphaltum came in a tin from Renaissance art.
The oil was boiled but does not need to be.
Mixed at room temp.

 

[royce]

For not being a machinist you sure look the part and have all of the toys!

Nice job!

Don’t let the looks fool you Larry!
The jig borer is new to me.
Thanks

 

[Monza Harry]

Don’t let the looks fool you Larry!
The jig borer is new to me.
Thanks

That's NICE $#!+ any way you slice it Royce! You certainly did a Very Nice Job for Faking It (eye roll here, and as Al Borland says to Tim the Tool man Taylor, "I don't Think So Tim") Don't sell your considerable skills short Royce, patients, a keen observant eye, and creative/analytical thinking (as well as taking direction from some one with different skills [K Scott in this case] a truly RARE skill set today) are skills that transfer to many uses, and you [both] display all of the above frequently here! Thanks for Sharing! Harry

 

[Shiftless]

The asphaltum came in a tin from Renaissance art.
The oil was boiled but does not need to be.
Mixed at room temp.

Thanks for all of the details. A neighbor is restoring some old woodworking tools and we have been talking about replicating the old Japanning finishes. I’ll keep you posted on our progress.
I have plenty of old vises (understatement) that might look great with that finish.

 

[royce]

That's NICE $#!+ any way you slice it Royce! You certainly did a Very Nice Job for Faking It (eye roll here, and as Al Borland says to Tim the Tool man Taylor, "I don't Think So Tim") Don't sell your considerable skills short Royce, patients, a keen observant eye, and creative/analytical thinking (as well as taking direction from some one with different skills [K Scott in this case] a truly RARE skill set today) are skills that transfer to many uses, and you [both] display all of the above frequently here! Thanks for Sharing! Harry

Thanks Harry,
That is kind of you to say.
I’m really enjoying this new machinist apprenticeship and could not ask for a finer instructor and friend.
Royce

 

[royce]

Thanks for all of the details. A neighbor is restoring some old woodworking tools and we have been talking about replicating the old Japanning finishes. I’ll keep you posted on our progress.
I have plenty of old vises (understatement) that might look great with that finish.

You bet Shift,
I think everyone should try it at least once, to see the deepest, blackest, glass like finish.
I’d love to see what you guys come up with.
Royce

 

[harley jim]

Royce, beautiful as usual. The handle is pretty trick, adding a little brass always makes a project look a little more rich. Great job buddy.

 

[royce]

Royce, beautiful as usual. The handle is pretty trick, adding a little brass always makes a project look a little more rich. Great job buddy.

Thanks Jim

 

[jhn9840]

Very nice as always

jhn9840
John

 

[Lwel9226]

WOW!!! Royce.... Great job... Good to see you back... And learning new skills too

Lynn W

 

[royce]

Thanks
John, Lynn and all.

What good is a vise without a proper stand.
This one is unlike any I’ve seen or built.
3 legs cut from old beams
1/2”x 28” hex top plate
Maple bowling lane table top.
The top will be elevated over the slide, yet still allow around 75 degrees of swivel rotation.
Royce

 

[Shiftless]

That stand is gonna rock!

I love old bowling alley lane pieces. Did you grab enough of it to make a small workbench for your projects that don’t involve your usual welding of steel masterpieces.

 

[royce]

That stand is gonna rock!

I love old bowling alley lane pieces. Did you grab enough of it to make a small workbench for your projects that don’t involve your usual welding of steel masterpieces.

Thanks Shift,
Yes, I made a 6’ that I use for a drawing table,
a 12’, a 7’ dining table and a few end tables.
Not a lot of joy to mill, chocked full of hardened nails!

 

[Jayman17]

That’s a great upgrade on your vise Royce, that handle is very unique. Great collaboration with Kevin Scott, thanks for posting this project. Great stand too.

Jay

 

[royce]

Let in some 2-1/2” angle iron edge framing on the tabletop and started fitting it up.