Alternative bench vice handle

[Packard V8]

so that a vice can be used over a bench rather than at the edge,

When this question first appeared, I thought the obvious would come to me. After some days and two pages of replies, I still don't get it. I'm sure they exist or OP wouldn't haven't asked; so for what hand-work-holding operations is it required, much less better, that a bench vise be used over a bench instead of on the edge?

jack vines

 

[Fretters]

drill a .5 hole and square it up with a file. If you cant do that then what do you need a vice for?

Technically, that isn't broaching. That's merely filing out a round hole to square. That is possible, (though time consuming), but it would be a shoddy fit. Filing out a parallel blind hole isn't exactly the simplest thing which springs to mind.

When this question first appeared, I thought the obvious would come to me. After some days and two pages of replies, I still don't get it. I'm sure they exist or OP wouldn't haven't asked; so for what hand-work-holding operations is it required, much less better, that a bench vise be used over a bench instead of on the edge?

jack vines

It's merely the way I prefer to work for some operations. Edge mounted for vices where it'll be holding long and/or possibly irregular shaped pieces for forming, but for the likes of fine shaping/filing, I much prefer to have a vice mounted inbound on a bench which I can sit in front of. Gives somewhere for resting the elbows, for example, and also cuts down on the amount of **** which makes it onto the floor. Call it a personal quirk if you will.

 

[Outlawmws]

Actually if it's only one, while time consuming, it isn't that difficult to file a round hole square. I can remember in my first Machine shop class having to file an outside radius on some screw clamp jaws, and they were check for accuracy to tight tolerances with an optical comparater.

Same with filing flat and square.

Was it necessary for the thing we were making? Not a chance; The point of it was to learn HOW so we had it in our bag of tricks...

 

[arsco]

you need a vice like this

http://boston.craigslist.org/gbs/tls/4347957721.html. not mine BTW

 

[srmofo]

Technically, that isn't broaching. That's merely filing out a round hole to square. That is possible, (though time consuming), but it would be a shoddy fit. Filing out a parallel blind hole isn't exactly the simplest thing which springs to mind.

.

I know its technically not broaching, but theres more than one way to skin a mouse. I could have that hole filed out in about 10 minutes tops. It sounded like you were already planning on removing the handle and replacing it with a shackle. If the handle is off, its not going to be a blind hole.

Fit is all dependent on your work. there shouldnt be any issue with getting a snug fit.

Im still trying to figure out why you want a vise in the middle of your work bench though so what do i know

 

[Fretters]

If the handle is off, its not going to be a blind hole.

Yup. Numpty moment on my part there. I'd misinterpreted what you were suggesting. It's not so much not being open to certain ideas, btw. I'm just trying not to do anything which irreversibly alters it.

 

[Fretters]

you need a vice like this

http://boston.craigslist.org/gbs/tls/4347957721.html. not mine BTW

That's a gorgeous bit of kit.

 

[drivesitfar]

SRMFO: Fretters mentioned in an earlier post today that he likes to put his elbows on the bench while filing or doing some other tedious work with something in his vise. and so he can sit closer to the bench and not have **** all over the shop's floor.

since Fretters vise is almost 100 years old and not just an everyday vise I think he has thought it to be better not to drill any holes in the end of the main screw or do any welding.

that said here is an old Morgan 88 vise I picked up that had a screw tapped in the end of the main screw to keep the handle in there tight. so a similar method has been brought uo with a little threaded piece with a bearing in the end. shorten the handle and it could work.

personally I like the option you already did with no extra holes being drilled so just figure out a fairly easy way to tighten and loosen the vise with it.

good luck

Fretters: I see you just posted the cool old vise that I think is a Parker and it's not a kit and this vise might be older than yours and made that way to begin with. pretty cool and i'd love to find one to give it a new home.

 

[Craptain]

Fretters: I see you just posted the cool old vise that I think is a Parker and it's not a kit and this vise might be older than yours and made that way to begin with. pretty cool and i'd love to find one to give it a new home.

I think you misinterpreted what he meant. A "bit of kit" is a colloquial term meaning something useful or something you use e.g. a tool or an implement. In Britain it is used to describe many things. As we come from the same part of UK I understand him perfectly. But I have been here long enough to speak "American" as well.

 

[drivesitfar]

Fretters i'm learning more "Old English" since you have been posting than I have in years. I'll keep learning and sorry for not understanding that phrase. thanks Craptain for clearing that up.

by the way I forgot to post a picture of the Morgan handle that was tapped and has a bolt in it to hold the handle secure so here it is.

 

[Fretters]

As we come from the same part of UK I understand him perfectly. But I have been here long enough to speak "American" as well.

You're practically multi-lingual then. Cheers for explaining that one. It's be hoped I don't unintentionally drop into using the Tyke dialect at any point. It'd confuse the hell out of 'em.

by the way I forgot to post a picture of the Morgan handle that was tapped and has a bolt in it to hold the handle secure so here it is.

Is that the setup with the spring and ball bearing, for holding the handle central but still allowing it to be slid if necessary?

 

[drivesitfar]

no it's just a tap with threads and a small little bolt holding it in that position. you'd have to loosen the bolt to move the handle out of the center position. if I keep it in the restore i'll probably get a bolt with a head that uses an Allen wrench that will be painted the same color as the piece the bar goes through or if i'm leaving natural then a stainless bolt.

 

[Fretters]

I'd personally be half tempted to change that for a none stainless bolt regardless of which approach you go with. Stainless can have a tendency to gall. Nice looking vice, btw.

One thing I've been meaning to ask, (it just reminded me again looking at the jaws); Anyone know as to why was the general choice to use that slotted setup with the jaw inserts used so widely with the American vices? Was there a specific reason, or was it just one of those 'it became the normal' type things?

 

[Fretters]

Just wanted to say thanks for all of the suggestions/ideas. I think I've finally got in mind now how I'm going to do this. Going to combine several ideas to give it greatest flexibility whilst also retaining reversibility. I'll post info and photo's when it's done, (which knowing how quickly I tend to get round to doing things may not be any time too soon ).


Thanks all,

Matt