How to UN weld vise jaws

[skipskip]

I have a Wilton 8140 bullet vise that someone has welded the jaws on.

I'm on the fence whether to restore it or no, and if I can get the welded jaws off it will be worth the trouble, other wise off to the flea it goes.


JAN 149 by skipskip, on Flickr

I'm really looking for a discussion on how to "un-weld" things, as opposed to whether this one is worth the trouble.

what are my choices?

Grinding comes to mind, what else?

Thanks

Skip

 

[Ruger_556]

Air-arc... Basically the reverse of welding.

 

[A_Pmech]

LOL!

In my shop I'd mill them off. Without machine tools, I'd cut them off with a 1/16" cutoff wheel just inside the jaw groove and pry the remains out.

 

[zkling]

Good hacksaw, some good files and a tall glass of patience. I'm serious on this, not trying to be a smart a$$. That way you will minimize over cut and heat input into the actual jaws.

 

[gtermini]

LOL!

In my shop I'd mill them off. Without machine tools, I'd cut them off with a 1/16" cutoff wheel just inside the jaw groove and pry the remains out.

Suicide wheel is most definitely the way to go here. Try to part the weld right down the seam while staying out of the base metal. Get the bolts out if they're still in and gently use a hammer to break the pre cut weld.

Greyson

 

[rsanter]

Why do you want to,remove them?
To replace them?
If so I would go for milling them off. You may also be able to use a cutoff wheel. Cut just inside of the weld seam and only a little down. If you then put a cold chisel in the cut and beat on it a bit they may break free

Bob

 

[ajchien]

Are the screws still in?

I have a 3.5" bullet that had jaws welded on. No screws in. I used a cutoff wheel to initially cut into the jaws. A 3 lb hammer and a cold chisel allowed me to knock the jaws out.

Weld had gone into all the screw holes. I drilled the weld out, with a 3/16" bit, and then put a 1/4-20 tap in there, and miraculously the tap pulled out all the residual weld, leaving the original 1/4-20 threads intact. I was really happy.

 

[G_P]

If they were welded with a DC machine you can reverse the polarity and it will unweld it.


Lol J/K I couldnt resist!


In all seriousness if you really want to do it cut out as much of the old jaws as you can and then get to grinding prying and filing. Hopefully they only welded what can be seen in the pic and did not weld the bottom of the jaws.