Hints for refinishing vise jaws

[LS6 Tommy]

I just got an older Littlestown #112 vise for cheap. It clamps straight, the swivel works well & the screw and handles are straight. I'm OK with doing the basic clean up, but I'm open for ideas on how to resurface the removable jaws pads. There's next to no teeth on them.

Tommy

 

[Fretters]

That's no bad thing, to be honest. Saves you having to try and counteract the damage they might cause on a piece with soft padding etc. In all honesty, I'd leave the well alone unless you actually need a fierce serrated surface, for some reason. They'll likely work just as well whether they're smooth or serrated, provided they're warp free etc.

 

[oldldh]

Use what you got!!!

They'll work fine...

Unless the jaws are broken/cracked etc...

Use what you got!!!

 

[ZRX61]

I usually just beadblast them to get any **** out that's stuck to the jaws & then buzz the edges on a deburring wheel to make them shine

 

[LS6 Tommy]

Thanks guys. I was kind of thinking about leaving them as-is & just truing them up a bit. I was toying with the idea of putting 3M non slip tape on them to get a little grab without being too aggressive.

Tommy

 

[zkling]

I'm not sure if those ever had teeth on them. All the Littco's I've seen were pretty smooth. Agree with Fretters. Those aren't a heavy duty vise anyways so if you are to the point where you worry about the work slipping from lack of teeth, I think you need to find a different vise. A no.25 was my first and for a long time only vise. So I've BTDT.

 

[thebeekeeper1]

I'm not sure if those ever had teeth on them. All the Littco's I've seen were pretty smooth. Agree with Fretters. Those aren't a heavy duty vise anyways so if you are to the point where you worry about the work slipping from lack of teeth, I think you need to find a different vise. A no.25 was my first and for a long time only vise. So I've BTDT.

I bought one a few months ago (forget the number, and it's not handy, but it has 4" jaws) and the jaw pads have just lines, no actual diamonds formed.

 

[tibwd]

Forgive me if I am hijacking this thread, but it is about vise jaws. I .have a kobalt vise, and the jaws are fastened by countersunk allen head bolts into the cast body of the vise. Never worked right, threads were horrible from the get go, should have taken back, but thought I could fix it = jb weld (first failed attempt) epoxy (second fail), and nowI have a ok vise with loose jaws!@# thinking of drilling through the vise and running longer bolts through with nuts on back. suggestions? - thanks-

 

[Jbizzle]

Forgive me if I am hijacking this thread, but it is about vise jaws. I .have a kobalt vise, and the jaws are fastened by countersunk allen head bolts into the cast body of the vise. Never worked right, threads were horrible from the get go, should have taken back, but thought I could fix it = jb weld (first failed attempt) epoxy (second fail), and nowI have a ok vise with loose jaws!@# thinking of drilling through the vise and running longer bolts through with nuts on back. suggestions? - thanks-

Total hijack! JK

What about slightly drilling over size holes and re-tapping? I am sure new hardware can be ordered online.