Morgan Chicago #40 vise restoration

[Eloquaint]

Greetings,
I don't have a garage yet but it is in the works. In the meantime I've caught the vintage vise vice. I have an automotive project that requires a vise and refused to buy foreign made model. I picked up this Morgan Chicago #40. It seems to be in pretty nice shape.

I have a few questions for fellow vise vicers. When using carbon graphite as an electrolysis anode where are you getting it? I see some scrap on ebay and new on Mcmaster but someone had mentioned you could get it at a welding supply. That seems like the flux would interfere if there were any? I don't weld currently (pun intended?) so I'm not really sure what it looks like.

The jaw pads are not in great shape. Where are you guys getting new ones or what route are you going if you're having them made or making them. I imagine the cross hatching is rather tricky.

Thanks in advance, I'll post more photos of the results as I work on it. I'm debating between a gun bluing/oil finish or blue paint.

<a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/osrewpVSSSW2oBQakr1D0eP1B2fJw3bs1sFXzJomde4?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-w2TjMjp71qQ/TzQLUlF9HxI/AAAAAAAAAP4/CjWpw66mttk/s800/1.JPG" height="617" width="800" /></a>

<a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/h9OCAamQs3QnrlKhsTiiFuP1B2fJw3bs1sFXzJomde4?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-PSDCMT_B8bw/TzQLPF0AhgI/AAAAAAAAAPg/Zl6OZyVFlF4/s800/3.jpg" height="773" width="800" /></a>

<a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/XCrC1jc8YO-1ehmYYhx-CuP1B2fJw3bs1sFXzJomde4?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-WUED3ZE6Pww/TzQLR-2FlEI/AAAAAAAAAPo/JMqXxbCi-Bg/s800/4.jpg" height="438" width="800" /></a>

<a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/HBdsBvfGMIX0avxvaAwpTuP1B2fJw3bs1sFXzJomde4?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-AQTae63WlM4/TzQLUNJtRII/AAAAAAAAAPw/0te2OOYs0As/s800/55.jpg" height="800" width="753" /></a>

<a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/L-nwLF24jhbQvRiVLA7gyuP1B2fJw3bs1sFXzJomde4?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-7nhs6OQKm_E/TzQLVvaB2RI/AAAAAAAAAQA/bfok88KE8gk/s800/2.jpg" height="555" width="800" /></a>

 

[ZRX61]

Electrolysis? For what purpose? There's hardly any rust on that vise that couldn't be sorted with a bit of scotchbrite in about 5 minutes..

new jaws are available from Morgan.

 

[ndnchf]

Why do you need carbon graphite as an electrolysis anode? I've been using scrap steel or rebar for anodes in my electrolyis tank for quite a while and they work great.

 

[Eloquaint]

Well, the carbon graphite seems to last longer as a sacrificial anode and makes less of a mess apparently. I haven't tried it yet though. I think you are right though ZRX61, it's not necessary on this vise. I guess I was thinking more for the cleaning/ paint removal aspect. I do have some old tool boxes I'd like to electrolysis though. I guess I'll just grab some of the graphite scrap off ebay.

 

[ZRX61]

Easiest way to get the paint off that vise is plastic media blasting, then buzz the handle with a wirewheel to make it shine, then lightly hit the slide with a DA sander, about #220 grit.

 

[ZRX61]

3 Morgans here, with before/after pics:
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.1527127710914.78155.1616311739&type=3&l=0c3da0b03c

 

[Eloquaint]

Thanks for the info, I'll give that a shot and post the after photos!

 

[metalmagpie]

Anyone got a way to order just one part that Baldor bundles with a bunch of others? I need the back cover, the "bullet" part of a bullet vise. They make you order that as part of a bundle that includes a (very expensive) main leadscrew nut! I figure the stamped sheet metal part should cost no more than five or six bucks and they want like $50, ow!!