Machining vise jaws

[plow]

Anyone done it? Mine are pretty raggedy.

 

[A_Pmech]

Sure, I've made plenty of them.

What exactly is the question?

 

[zkling]

Yep, back when I had my big shaper I use to make vise jaws all the time. Man I miss that thing. What exactly do you have in mind? Most I have seen/done are pretty simple. Two holes and not extremely high tolerance.

 

[7th Kahuna]

This had been on my mind as well. I picked up an old bench vise with a fatigued dynamic jaw. For $5 I figured I could use it to beat on if nothing else but I also wondered about milling the face of the jaw to close the gap caused by years of heavy used on it's right side. The jaw literally has a slight twist in it. I think the old Firestone plant got their money's worth.

 

[Ign]

Stock jaws are hardened. They can be machined but it ain't fun or easy. I did it with a fly cutter as I don't have any fantastic insert mills. Surface grinder is another option........but by the time you do all this better to make some new jaws.

 

[Daniel Dudley]

If the jaws don't have inserts, close them up and run a cutoff wheel between them. If you have steady hands, you could also cut teeth in them PDQ.

 

[Leaflessshadetree]

Why not put removable faces on it. Plastic or aluminum are good for lighter work where you don't want to mar the piece.
https://www.google.com/search?q=vic...vise+jaw+faces&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official

 

[EOC_Jason]

What vise is it? Mr. Scott makes a bunch for Wilton's and is starting to make ones for others...