Another Old Vise

[sometoyotaguy]

I've had this as a beater vise outside, but I'd like to try to clean it up a little bit, and hopefully square up the jaws.

Here are some pics. Any suggestions on squaring things up? Could it have been bent at some point in its life?

 

[toomanytoyzz]

I'm assuming that was caused by beating on it too much. You can see the grind marks almost exactly line up with where it's out of square. Getting it square again may be a challange without using heat. Heating it may cause it to brittle, may not. If it was me I'd leave it alone and find another one to bend/hold thinner stuff. This is obviouslymy two pesos.

 

[lilredex]

You could play around with some sheet metal shims behind one (or both) of the jaws to bring the grip back into line. Have done that before...........


Don't heat it up!

 

[sometoyotaguy]

You could play around with some sheet metal shims behind one (or both) of the jaws to bring the grip back into line. Have done that before...........


Don't heat it up!

That's not a bad idea. I'd probably have to drill out the jaw screws, but that wouldn't be the end of the world.

 

[lilredex]

If you oil up those screws and use a quality hex bit, in a socket, then use the other jaw to apply pressure on the socket.......they might just come out.

Try that before the screw head gets buggered up with screw drivers etc.

If they are slotted types and the above doesn't work, try a small center punch on the edge of the slot to start the unscrewing process.

 

[back2class]

close the jaws on a 1/4" piece of stock where the joints first touch....wack it on the open/opposite side with a lead hammer or on the side of the moving jaw. Should tweak it back. Other than that...regrid the jaws to make them square. Not worth a ton of effort on that little thing though

 

[Packard V8]

Take it apart and check the screw and the slide for straightness. If one or both are bent, playing with the jaws is a waste of effort.

jack vines