Found another old vise... Any ideas?

[mike_dmt]

It looks like a leg vise. But the jaws are seriously out of alignment from what I see in the pics. Not to mention the cast base is busted up.

Still neat. Any ideas?

 

[Shiftless]

It looks like a leg vise. But the jaws are seriously out of alignment from what I see in the pics. Not to mention the cast base is busted up.

Still neat. Any ideas?

Looks to be missing a few parts.
The bastardized jaws are another big negative.
Are you looking for a user?

If so, I would pass...

 

[mike_dmt]

User? Yes and no. I am really waiting for something functional and unique at the same time.

At the same time, I have an eye out for stuff I have no idea about, like this one. Is it foot operated?

But, yeah, it looks pretty ratted out. Which isn't always a bad thing. Ultimately, at the end of the day it has to be usable, either to me, or the next guy.

 

[SweetD]

It's cool and large, but beat. I would pass unless you are looking for a display piece that is kind of unique.

Dave

 

[Shiftless]

Foot operated means to hold it tight, you have to keep standing on the foot pedal?
Does that suit you?

 

[KMScott]

The jaw pockets are not out of alignment, just the jaws are all trashed. Maybe they are not original and replaced with soft steel. These vises are big, one I seen had 10" wide jaws. Vise collectors would love to have that one. This grey foot operated one is owned by a GJ member.

 

[larry_g]

I would have to assume that is for some type of production, not general shop use. The jaws may be specialized for the parts being clamped. It may also be a press for some operation in a production environment.

lg
no neat sigline

 

[ZRX61]

Whoa, saw an identical one all restored for sale just a couple of days ago. Didn't get the price.

 

[1930]

Id be owning that vice, condition is almost unimportant to me in this scenario.

 

[Shiftless]

I was wrong!
After a bit of Internet research, I now realize that these foot vises are highly collectible and are worth serious money.
Here is one for sale in the Los Angeles area, 5 inch jaws, asking $550
(I realize that a guy can ask anything he wants...)

 

[blazemaster83]

I was told that vise style is for a farrier. At first glance it looks like a really cool tool. After thinking about it more, I just don't know how much use it would get in my shop.

My questions are:

How much force is applied when it's closed?
How large do the jaws open up?
Do you need to keep your foot on it, or is it a cam action?

Also you need to bolt it to the floor, or a large piece of plate.

Unless I find one at a garage sale cheap, I think my 5" bench vise will do fine.

 

[Shiftless]

Force?

Just looking at the one I posted earlier, the mechanical advantage looks to be about 10:1
So if you weigh 200 pounds and you put your whole weight on that pedal, you could theoretically generate about 2000 pounds of force closing the jaws. That's a LOT of force!
Anybody with real life experience operating one of these is certainly welcome to add to this.

 

[larry_g]

Force?

Just looking at the one I posted earlier, the mechanical advantage looks to be about 10:1
So if you weigh 200 pounds and you put your whole weight on that pedal, you could theoretically generate about 2000 pounds of force closing the jaws. That's a LOT of force!
Anybody with real life experience operating one of these is certainly welcome to add to this.

I'm thinking your off by a factor of 10x. Each lever is ~10/1 so the advantage would be 100/1. That is not counting the near infinite force that the cam action of the foot pedal will generate as it goes over center. It also make sense that this a farriers vise looking at the 4 slots in the plate/table attached to the column.

lg
no neat sig line

 

[Seppala]

I was told that vise style is for a farrier.

I think your right. I've seen that type of vise on static display in museum blacksmith shops. I believe it was used to draw clips on horseshoes.

 

[Hephaestus29]

Looks to be in good shape to me, you
could replace the jaws and paint it.
I think it's bad ***.

 

[Hephaestus29]

It looks like a leg vise. But the jaws are seriously out of alignment from what I see in the pics. Not to mention the cast base is busted up.

Still neat. Any ideas?

Put it out in the front yard and use it
for a skull crusher tonight.

 

[notlob]

That is not counting the near infinite force that the cam action of the foot pedal will generate as it goes over center.

Wow - that is one powerful vise! Does it use dilithium crystals? What happens if it meets the "immovable object"?

 

[dutchgray]

You would certainly have to be careful with one of those to avoid mashing your fingers.

 

[larry_g]

Wow - that is one powerful vise! Does it use dilithium crystals? What happens if it meets the "immovable object"?

It's simple physics, look it up.

lg
no neat sig line