Dear Friends at Garage Journal,
I have been playing in the barn again!
This thread is about Vise Handle replacement by welding a steel ball to the rod. Previously I did a thread called “Vise Handle Replacement”. That thread was about hot forming an end on a new handle. In that thread Nick (autopts) showed an additional vise handle replacement method using a threaded steel ball. This method is similar, except welding the ball on instead of threading it on. I think threading the ball is fine but I don’t have a lathe. I do have a welder so here is how I fixed a bad handle with a welder and steel ball.
As always, questions or suggestions for a better way are welcome!
Greg
I started with an 11 inch piece of 5/8 diameter stress-proof rod. A friend gave me the stress-proof and I bought 2 round steel balls at Reid Supply. I bought the 32 mm diameter size because it is about 1.25 inch diameter, similar to the original ball. I belt sanded a .12X45 chamfer on the rod. The ball has a flat which makes fixturing easy. Then I hold it with my clamp. I'll bet some Tool Makers are laughing at my fixtures now?!
A close up.
Tacked welded in place.
Then weld all around.
Then carefully grind welds on grinder.
Then I used one of these in a 4 1/2 angle grinder to smooth out further.
I put the 4 ½ angle grinder in the Prentiss 516 and dress the welds.
Here is what it looks like prior to hand sanding.
At this point I installed the main screw on the handle rod and repeated the process above. It is only a little clumsier to grind welds. This photo shows how I hold it when grinding with the main screw in place. I twirl it with my right hand and guide it into the grinding wheel with my left hand.
Then I polish with sand paper.
Then Mothers Polish and then wax for rust protection.
The final product. The vise is in the thread called “Reed 204 (old Style) Vise Restoration.
I have been playing in the barn again!
This thread is about Vise Handle replacement by welding a steel ball to the rod. Previously I did a thread called “Vise Handle Replacement”. That thread was about hot forming an end on a new handle. In that thread Nick (autopts) showed an additional vise handle replacement method using a threaded steel ball. This method is similar, except welding the ball on instead of threading it on. I think threading the ball is fine but I don’t have a lathe. I do have a welder so here is how I fixed a bad handle with a welder and steel ball.
As always, questions or suggestions for a better way are welcome!
Greg
I started with an 11 inch piece of 5/8 diameter stress-proof rod. A friend gave me the stress-proof and I bought 2 round steel balls at Reid Supply. I bought the 32 mm diameter size because it is about 1.25 inch diameter, similar to the original ball. I belt sanded a .12X45 chamfer on the rod. The ball has a flat which makes fixturing easy. Then I hold it with my clamp. I'll bet some Tool Makers are laughing at my fixtures now?!
A close up.
Tacked welded in place.
Then weld all around.
Then carefully grind welds on grinder.
Then I used one of these in a 4 1/2 angle grinder to smooth out further.
I put the 4 ½ angle grinder in the Prentiss 516 and dress the welds.
Here is what it looks like prior to hand sanding.
At this point I installed the main screw on the handle rod and repeated the process above. It is only a little clumsier to grind welds. This photo shows how I hold it when grinding with the main screw in place. I twirl it with my right hand and guide it into the grinding wheel with my left hand.
Then I polish with sand paper.
Then Mothers Polish and then wax for rust protection.
The final product. The vise is in the thread called “Reed 204 (old Style) Vise Restoration.
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