Fine tools horribly abused
- Thread starter Shiftless
- Start date
So the static jaw was blasted off and filed down to become a non-hardened jaw (missing insert)? I can almost see the logic of that (jury rig fix, not justification of how it broke). but WTF is the hole in the bullet housing//? Did he hit it with a hammer there? seems a weird place for damage unless it was dropped...yikes. Def. not a long term investment !
Lassen Forge
Well-known member
I'd machine the static jaw, drill and retap it, and mill up a replacement jaw for it. I mean - the damage is done, so you wouldn't be killing it... and you'd have a pretty decent vise when you were done.
That hole in the back - maybe he got pissed at a project and shot it?? Damn that's ugly... but again, not fatal.
Still... for $50 it's salvageable. Heck, machine a set of bronze jaws and make it a velvet touch special... Practice your fill weld techniques on the back of the bullet. Might even look... somewhat... decent...
That hole in the back - maybe he got pissed at a project and shot it?? Damn that's ugly... but again, not fatal.
Still... for $50 it's salvageable. Heck, machine a set of bronze jaws and make it a velvet touch special... Practice your fill weld techniques on the back of the bullet. Might even look... somewhat... decent...
Not to mention the saw cut clean through just in back of the anvil surface. (which of course, NONE of us ever pound on, right)
One probable fatal flaw is the big cracked off piece near the back end is right next to one of the holes that retains one of the 2 pins that locate the main vise nut. Without that pin, and being retained on only one side, the nut might float around too much to keep in alignment.
lassen:
There is alway the weld of the JB variety too. Maybe perform the steps you outlined and paint it industrial gray.
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BDT/NWMN
Well-known member
The worse thing about buying something like that is that Someone might think that "I" have been using it..
rodsnratfinks
Well-known member
That's one thing I don't like about used tools. Tools that have been exclusively in my care nearly always stay nice looking, though the polish may fade. Tools I've obtained from others, however, often have tons of unnecessary dents, burn marks, heat heat damage, grind marks, paint, mushrooming, rust, etc. It blows my mind how often I see people with $20k invested in tools, but they use screwdrivers as chisels and pry bars, extensions as punches, grind on pliers screwdriver tips, hammer on wrenches.
Packard V8
Well-known member
Maybe a sub-category for "worst owner's mark ever"
jack vines
jack vines
rodsnratfinks
Well-known member
^That's awful!
Jazz1
Well-known member
Mark in Indiana
Well-known member
More of a tragic story of neglect than abuse.
Here's are B&F pictures of a 100+ year old reed that had been sitting on the ground behind a barn. When I got it, there was NO movement of ANYTHING on it. It was a fun & challenging restoration.
Here's are B&F pictures of a 100+ year old reed that had been sitting on the ground behind a barn. When I got it, there was NO movement of ANYTHING on it. It was a fun & challenging restoration.
Attachments
Nice save Mark. 
I like your gold paint with the black highlighted lettering. Did you use a tiny brush or the paper towel wadded up method?
Is that a 204?
If so that is quite a coincidence in that I have a 204 on my bench right now in primer waiting its final coat of Rustoleum Regal Red which seems to be closest to the original paint color. Unfortunately I don't have a hot black oxide tank to properly restore the handle and nose ball so I will just polish those to the best of my ability.
jazz:
If you are a hammer, everything starts to look like a nail.
I suppose once you have a welder, everything starts to look like a job for a welder!
I like your gold paint with the black highlighted lettering. Did you use a tiny brush or the paper towel wadded up method?Is that a 204?
If so that is quite a coincidence in that I have a 204 on my bench right now in primer waiting its final coat of Rustoleum Regal Red which seems to be closest to the original paint color. Unfortunately I don't have a hot black oxide tank to properly restore the handle and nose ball so I will just polish those to the best of my ability.
jazz:
If you are a hammer, everything starts to look like a nail.
I suppose once you have a welder, everything starts to look like a job for a welder!
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Mark in Indiana
Well-known member
Shiftless,
Thanks for the kind words.
Easiest method for lettering that I've found is using a Sharpie magic marker for black and paint pens for the other colors.
It is a 204. It had to sit in a kerosene tank for a couple of months + a few weeks of ATF/acetone applications, while I was restoring other vises. It still took over 5000# in a press to separate the stationary & moving bodies.
The handles and jaw faces were just wire brushed, ScotchBrite polished, then clear coated.
Thanks for the kind words.
Easiest method for lettering that I've found is using a Sharpie magic marker for black and paint pens for the other colors.
It is a 204. It had to sit in a kerosene tank for a couple of months + a few weeks of ATF/acetone applications, while I was restoring other vises. It still took over 5000# in a press to separate the stationary & moving bodies.
The handles and jaw faces were just wire brushed, ScotchBrite polished, then clear coated.
yamaha0343
Well-known member
Maybe a sub-category for "worst owner's mark ever"
jack vines
I know that guy, he's a diver.
justme-
Well-known member
Ronda or of the dp vice in which school metal shop
66354dream
Well-known member
I always love these tool abuse threads, in the real world we don't always have the right tool for the job and getting the job done is way more important than abusing a tool.
Sometimes I envy those of you who are blessed working in a fully equipped shop all the time, the rest of us are out in the field working with at times limited tools and equipment.
When you are working piecework or in the automotive world book time then it is more important to manage your time and get the work done than worry about using a ratchet as a hammer, or wasting time running back to the truck for the "right" tool.
And one of my favorite quotes "If you can't fix it with a hammer it's a electrical problem."
Sometimes I envy those of you who are blessed working in a fully equipped shop all the time, the rest of us are out in the field working with at times limited tools and equipment.
When you are working piecework or in the automotive world book time then it is more important to manage your time and get the work done than worry about using a ratchet as a hammer, or wasting time running back to the truck for the "right" tool.
And one of my favorite quotes "If you can't fix it with a hammer it's a electrical problem."
No picture but a story. When I worked at New Britain in the early 70s I bought my father in law a set of Husky combos from 3/8 - 1 1/4. 10 years later we were visiting him and he told me the wrenches did not have a size that fit the valve cover on his Pinto properly so he had to GRIND ONE OUT TO FIT. I did not try to explain metric to him. When we cleaned out the house after his death my wife asked if I was going to take the wrench set. I said definitely not.