toolsd
Active member
Insofar as the stripped hole, it doesn't matter. If you've got them on hand, the helicoil route keeps all the fasteners the same, which is convenient.
It's simply the cheap taiwanese of a long time ago. Which makes it a LOT nicer than the taiwanese of today. However, still probably not quite the same as an old American vise.
I say that not as an insult, so please don't take it that way. I have an old taiwanese drill press, had it for 20 years, it was old when I got it. It's just a cheap old drill press, but I've been using it for SO long, I wouldn't give it up for anything. It has history (came from a relatively famous - in my world - old Naval aviator) from before, and with me.
Also, likely a "discount" model of way back because the jaws don't line up well. It may be bent, but not super likely, probably just not made with the greatest of care. The good news is that it's REALLY easy to fix if you have a mill or friend with a mill. Just machine the jaws in place (with the hardened inserts removed) and it's as good as any vise you're gonna find.
This could be done by hand with a little grinder wheel (the smaller the better) by putting some paint on the jaws (I'd still remove the inserts) and close it. Open and grind off the paint marks... Clean off the paint, apply a new layer, lather rinse repeat. Nice thin layer of paint applied with a rag or something, leave it wet. Water based or oil doesn't really matter. This will be slow and tedious, but simple. Eventually you'll have a world class fit for a vise. Just go until you have little dots of contact over the faces. Even as little as 10 percent total contact is WAY good enough. Just as long as it's evenly distributed.
Seems to have a neat little accessory with it. It's a nice vise!
Tools
edit: Just dawned on me, if the jaws don't touch when closed with the inserts removed, you'll have to grind the inserts. You'll have to do this again if you replace them. You will lose the "teeth" (knurling) if it has them, but with a really nice fit, you don't really need them. Reference any milling machine vise.
You could shim them also.
It's simply the cheap taiwanese of a long time ago. Which makes it a LOT nicer than the taiwanese of today. However, still probably not quite the same as an old American vise.
I say that not as an insult, so please don't take it that way. I have an old taiwanese drill press, had it for 20 years, it was old when I got it. It's just a cheap old drill press, but I've been using it for SO long, I wouldn't give it up for anything. It has history (came from a relatively famous - in my world - old Naval aviator) from before, and with me.
Also, likely a "discount" model of way back because the jaws don't line up well. It may be bent, but not super likely, probably just not made with the greatest of care. The good news is that it's REALLY easy to fix if you have a mill or friend with a mill. Just machine the jaws in place (with the hardened inserts removed) and it's as good as any vise you're gonna find.
This could be done by hand with a little grinder wheel (the smaller the better) by putting some paint on the jaws (I'd still remove the inserts) and close it. Open and grind off the paint marks... Clean off the paint, apply a new layer, lather rinse repeat. Nice thin layer of paint applied with a rag or something, leave it wet. Water based or oil doesn't really matter. This will be slow and tedious, but simple. Eventually you'll have a world class fit for a vise. Just go until you have little dots of contact over the faces. Even as little as 10 percent total contact is WAY good enough. Just as long as it's evenly distributed.
Seems to have a neat little accessory with it. It's a nice vise!
Tools
edit: Just dawned on me, if the jaws don't touch when closed with the inserts removed, you'll have to grind the inserts. You'll have to do this again if you replace them. You will lose the "teeth" (knurling) if it has them, but with a really nice fit, you don't really need them. Reference any milling machine vise.
You could shim them also.
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