Broken Wilton Bullet vise

[orchidlane]

All, I have a broken Wilton vise, is there a way to weld it or you think I can get the main body replaced ? thanks

 

[930dreamer]

I doubt that can welded but I've been wrong before.

 

[Kevin54]

It can probably be welded, but would more than likely cost you at least half of what a new one would cost.

If it were me, I think I would get in touch with Wilton, and see what they would recommend, or even see if they would give a hell of a discount on a new one. I would think that they would stand behind their vises. I wouldn't get ****** with them, but just explain to them what has happened. If the vise was not abused, you may have some consolation in making some sort of deal with them.

I know that over the years, at our shop, we had quite a few Wilton Bullets. Some of those were tightened down with Driller hammers to get things together or apart. The vises were definitely abused, but we never saw one crack like that.

Keep us informed as to what direction you go with it.

 

[383 240z]

It can be welded. However is it worth it is the real question. If you have the skills go for it. I am more interested in HOW it happened. I have one out in the shop with a few cracks in it I was given last year. It has a few similar cracks but nothing so severe as yours. I'll be tossing it in the sandblaster to clean it up, then the propane grill to pre-heat it. Then start burning brass rod into it. It will end up on one of my lesser used benches in the shop. Might bolt it to my welding table. Keith

 

[zTimbo]

If it was mine I would first contact Wilton and see what they have to say.

If they wouldn't replace or discount a replacement I would try welding it myself, I mean what do you have to lose???? If you can't weld it up yourself it might not be a feasible option.

 

[67carl]

I see what you did there...

Some days you're the dog, other days you're the hydrant?

 

[orchidlane]

Thanks for all the info, I will contact Wilton and see what they say, My Dad passed away a few years ago and it was in his home garage /hobbie shop,, in till I bought a rear swivel head vise a while back at a swap meet I didnt know they had such a big following, cant tell you what could of happened, but looking at the handle is does not show any abuse or the jaws,.. might find out how to weld it and just use it as a remembrances of my father. R.I.P he was a great dad and tought me everything I know today..

 

[spongerich]

I believe that the warranty is only 5 years, so I doubt that Wilton will replace it.
You MIGHT be able to braze it, but I don't think I'd trust a repair as large as that.

It looks like an organ donor to me. You can probably get $100 or more for the parts.

 

[fhemm20]

ive had trouble with wiltons warranty dept in the past. They make pretty good stuff, they just dont like to replace it when it breaks. good luck!

 

[zkling]

You could braze it no problem, but it would take a bit of work to get it prepped and heated properly. I wouldn't buy that, but if it is something you already have or were given, it would be worth a shot if you wanted a little learning project and had a good torch.

 

[600SL]

If it was mine I would first contact Wilton and see what they have to say.

If they wouldn't replace or discount a replacement I would try welding it myself, I mean what do you have to lose???? If you can't weld it up yourself it might not be a feasible option.

Yeah at the price of those vices they should be lifetime warranted.

 

[wrenchguy]

Don't 4get the vise parts thread. good luck.

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=88292

 

[bad_idea]

Got a stick welder? Buy some nickel rods and go to town. Would be a good project to try your hand at welding cast. The process sounds easy enough, never tried it myself.

Bevel the crack. Heat the piece to *** temp. Weld w/ nickel rod. Wrap in a fire blanket to control cooling.

 

[RStewart]

Looks like the hose clamp worked for your dad. Keep it as a nice memory, as is, if you have another vise.

 

[gipp]

Google "lock-n-stitch". Amazing the things these little screws can repair. You can use them with common hand tools.

 

[orchidlane]

I have a Tig welder, I'm going to check into nickel rod for it, I think I'm going to weld the crack so I can remove the hose clamp and then make a nice shelf for it in my garage, I'm still going to need to buy a vise so looking into a brand new 4 in Wilton bullet vise. any good deal out there.

 

[metalmagpie]

If you give up on it I'd be interested in some of the parts.

metalmagpie

 

[383 240z]

Here is how I fixed mine. Still in use on my welding/fab table

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=257334

 

[Milton Shaw]

JB Weld plus that clamp ought ought to hold forever.. HA HA.. Nickle rod and preheat and slow cool is what it's going to take to fix that one. Lots of luck.

 

[ard]

How hot should you preheat body to?? Like a temp range...

 

[Dr Stan]

Do a google search on welding cast iron. That should give you all the specs you need, including preheat temp. Or just look on Lincoln's or Miller's sites.

I think the preheat is less than 500 degrees so if you have an old kitchen stove it would work well as both a preheater and to slowly cool the casting. I do not recommend using a propane/butane torch but an outdoor gas grill should also do well.

 

[longez]

How hot should you preheat body to?? Like a temp range...

Anything below 1200F is okay; I use 600-700F and bring the castings up to temp slowly.

ard from Bimmerfest?

 

[ard]

Subsequent reading of links led me to 600-900F, and using a propane grill on high for an hour with item sitting on the old burner would be a tactic.

One and the same.

 

[TractorJeff]

Make sure you have the crack Vee'd out well and use a Grinder but then go back at it with a carbide in a Die Grinder to remove any potential carbon smear. Clamp it all back together before heating, not after as it will be REALLY hot to handle! Keep it out of any potential drafts which may cause uneven cooling stress cracks. Weld it, peen it to lessen the stress of the CI to Nickel cooling forces, then put it back in the propane grill on high, reduce the temperature every 2 hours to bring it back to normal SLOWLY! Once it is below 200 degrees, then let it cool wrapped in a welding blanket or sand that has been in the grill drying out and warming up!
As an FYI, Hobart makes a rod called "NomaCast" which will weld almost anything that doesn't like Nickel rod.

 

[matt_i]

+1 or 2 for the gas grill on high. My only other suggestion is to weld 1" long then peen the welded area with a hammer while still hot to impart compressive stresses. Heat some more, weld some more, peen some more until done. Also like the idea of ramping the temp down with gas grill controls and time.

The thread is ~3 years old, so hopefully the O.P. found a solution.

 

[G-ManBart]

That can be welded. Pre-heat it using a propane torch, then weld it with 7018 rod. It is ductile iron, which makes it easier to weld than grey cast iron. Once you are finished welding, bury the vise in sand to allow it to cool slowly. Make sure to disassemble the vise before welding.

This thread is 3 years old, so the OP probably either has the vise fixed, or replaced.

Welding ductile iron with 7018 is a terrible choice. There are lots of good high nickel rods that are much better.

 

[KDXSR5]

Old thread, I know, but I cracked my father's large Wilton bullet vice when I was in high school. I took it to a local welder and paid him to weld it up for me. No idea how he did it, but it worked and is still working today several years later. My advice to anyone else in this situation that doesn't already know how to fix it is take it to a professional if you want the first fix to last. Don't screw around with hokey fixes for a broken piece of expensive cast metal.