Help me identify this Boley vise

[autonaut]

Hi Guys.

A custumor of mine has brought me a vice. He knew my old Record Heady Duty was not good anymore. So he is offering to sell me his.

But i have a hard time identifying the vise. Anyone here know if they are any good?

My Heavy duty Record needs a new half nut, and possibly the.. screwrod?(or what it's called)
Maybe i should just order new spare parts for this vise instead? It has been in use for 50 years so i really appreciate it. What do you think?

I also have a machinist No3 Record vise with swivel base, but it does not open up far enough i feel, and is not sturdy enough for my daily use.

 

[autonaut]

Also, the Boley vise opens up backwards. Meaning i could get in trouble when trying to weld exhausts, or changing springs on machperson struts

On the front it says. G Boley, c125, din5115

Thanks in advance

 

[Craptain]

Terrible imported German ****! Just send it to me and I will take care of it. It is the big brother of the watchmakers vise I picked up last week.

Seriously they are excellent vises, but if it is not going to work for you then better off getting a different one or restoring what you have.

 

[autonaut]

Terrible imported German ****! Just send it to me and I will take care of it. It is the big brother of the watchmakers vise I picked up last week.

Seriously they are excellent vises, but if it is not going to work for you then better off getting a different one or restoring what you have.

It has a smooth operation.. That much i can say. Weighs a ton, very sturdy, and did i mention the smoothness?
What would you say is the value for such a vise?

 

[Fretters]

It's a Boley, what more can one say. They're not exactly reknowned for being tat merchants. They've always been a high end manufacturer. Price wise, whatever you're willing to pay. I'd merely say make an offer of what you think you can get a suitable, decent condition mechanics vice for. No point paying more than you would, regardless of whether that vice would be worthy of being in a toolroom or not. You want something functional, regardless of manufacture, so let your offer reflect that. He can only say yes or no.

That is one damn fine vice though, with a quality you won't likely come across often.

If you want to try and repair the Record, I'd suggest keeping your eye open for one which is knacked due to another fault or just listed for a low price, then nick the parts off that.

Terrible imported German ****! Just send it to me and I will take care of it.

 

[autonaut]

I have never heard of Boley.. Tried googling them without many results. I have a fetisch for german tools, so i'm kindda fond of it despite i might not be able to use it.
Thanks for the advice fellow GJ'ers

 

[Fretters]

You'll have more luck finding general info on them if you look for lathes instead of vices. This site should give you a general idea of their level of quality in their manufacturing.

http://lathes.co.uk/boley/

 

[drivesitfar]

Auto: i'm not familiar with Boley vises yet, but there isn't any quality issues that i can see. that looks like a great vise, but not one i would do any welding on especially over a wood bench.

i agree with Fretters that it might be easier to find parts for your Record from another used Record that might have broken jaws or different issues than the one you like to use. or find a nice used Record since i'm guessing that is the best option for your area and maybe use the smaller vise in the meantime.

if the Boley is a great deal you can always make a stand for it so you won't be welding over the top of your wood bench. or just buy it and use it for the small stuff because it looks like a keeper.

my Polish vise made by FPU has the similar action where the back jaw moves and one of my favorite vises.

 

[autonaut]

Auto: i'm not familiar with Boley vises yet, but there isn't any quality issues that i can see. that looks like a great vise, but not one i would do any welding on especially over a wood bench.

i agree with Fretters that it might be easier to find parts for your Record from another used Record that might have broken jaws or different issues than the one you like to use. or find a nice used Record since i'm guessing that is the best option for your area and maybe use the smaller vise in the meantime.

if the Boley is a great deal you can always make a stand for it so you won't be welding over the top of your wood bench. or just buy it and use it for the small stuff because it looks like a keeper.

my Polish vise made by FPU has the similar action where the back jaw moves and one of my favorite vises.

Nice vise. I like the sviwel base feature of it.
I have thought about making a stand for it, but i lack room in the shop already so i probably wont do it. At least not yet.

If the owner is willing to sell it "cheap" i will buy it and store it away for future use. It really does feel like a good piece of manufacturing. Super smooth operation.

 

[Zeke]

I don't understand why the moveable jaw in the back would make a difference. Can't you just add a block and space it out a couple inches?

 

[Monte]

yes they´re good. The backwards opening is standard among german style cast iron vices

e.g.:
Schlegel:

Leinen:

 

[autonaut]

I don't understand why the moveable jaw in the back would make a difference. Can't you just add a block and space it out a couple inches?

I could if i replaced to top of my workstation. Propbably a good idea also.
If not, it could become a problem when i fasten something to it that sticks out in the bottom.

 

[autonaut]

yes they´re good. The backwards opening is standard among german style cast iron vices

e.g.:
Schlegel:

Leinen:

How do i know if it is forged or cast? Casting lines/tracks?

 

[Fretters]

Pretty much all vices barring leg, (post), vices are cast.

 

[Monte]

How do i know if it is forged or cast? Casting lines/tracks?

the Boley, Leinen and Schlegel vices are cast. There are more cast vices like Bison from poland

or Gressel from Switzerland:

Drop forged vices are available for example from Brockhaus ("Heuer Front") www.schraubstock.de

and Ridgid www.ridgid.com

Drop forged vices are unbreakable.

 

[Fretters]

Drop forged vices are unbreakable.

Anything is breakable given the correct amount of abuse. That Heuer looks a combination drop forged and cast vice. Plus, drop forged is a vastly different process to forged.

 

[autonaut]

That Ridgid just gave me a hard-on.. I need that ridgid.

 

[Monte]

Anything is breakable given the correct amount of abuse. That Heuer looks a combination drop forged and cast vice. Plus, drop forged is a vastly different process to forged.

"The adjustable vices are guaranted unbreakable"
http://www.dolex-vices.com/bench-vices/adjustable-bench-vices/type-50/
Then i would get one of these

The Dolex vice is a forged/cast construction. The Heuer vice is a welded/drop forged construction (except the c-channel/cover)
http://www.schraubstock.de/en/vices/vice/
also "guaranteed not to break"
http://www.schraubstock.de/en/company/our-commitment-to-quality/

video:

<iframe width="640" height="480" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/qbZD4Po3L48" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

The hammer forging/hand forging was used in the past together with drop forging to create the vices. Today hand forging is only used for custom made items and single unit production.
<iframe width="640" height="480" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/dNWsR3BnAAI" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

 

[autonaut]

The last video is pretty bad ***..
Gotta respect german craftsmanship.

 

[autonaut]

If the Heuer vise came with a quick release it would be the perfect vise..

 

[PBCampbell]

I have a Brockhaus Heuer and a Peddinghaus Ridgid, now I'm on the hunt for a Dolex.

 

[Monte]

If the Heuer vise came with a quick release it would be the perfect vise..

the Heuer compact has a quick adjustment feature

<iframe width="640" height="480" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/hIQsQxN53i0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

as well as these Ridgids
https://www.ridgid.com/us/en/quick-acting-vises

 

[autonaut]

the Heuer compact has a quick adjustment feature

<iframe width="640" height="480" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/hIQsQxN53i0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

as well as these Ridgids
https://www.ridgid.com/us/en/quick-acting-vises

I did notice the ridgid had the quick release.. But the heuers has a cool look to them somehow, and the 140 can be tucked away with a swivel fold away!! Thats pretty cool also.

 

[autonaut]

I have a Brockhaus Heuer and a Peddinghaus Ridgid, now I'm on the hunt for a Dolex.

Which one do you prefer working with?

 

[theknurl]

I don't understand why the moveable jaw in the back would make a difference. Can't you just add a block and space it out a couple inches?

then the vise won't be solidly mounted which is a PITA

I grew up using my Father's Athol 615, it looks like its bolted to the wooden bench

actually there are 2, 1/2"x4"x4" angles that its bolted to, they are bolted to post in the wall, there are also 2 vertical 1/2"x4"x4" angles bolted to the concrete slab

it does NOT move

my Athol 614 1/2 is bolted with 1/2"x 13 cap screws tapped into the 3/8" steel plate top welded to 3"x5" I beams, 4" pipe legs with 1/2" gussets.....its 28"x121"

it moves around too much for my liking when I get it where I want it I'll bolt it to the slab



I've used the German style vises with the rear moving jaw....no thanks....you can't put big things vertical in the vise

 

[PBCampbell]

Which one do you prefer working with?

The Heuer has the impression of being a stouter vise, but the Peddinghaus has an enclosed screw which is important when filing/grinding and so on. The Peddinghaus(Ridgid) is also much easier to acquire in the US and at a not too bad of a price.

 

[superautobacs]

The last video is pretty bad ***..
Gotta respect german craftsmanship.

 

[miss_emma_jade]

that's a big boley vice. ive seen a lot of them, usually the 50mm and 65mm ones, on watchmakers benches. nice score.