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Need Help w/ American Scale Co. Vise Nut

Basic

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Feb 18, 2025
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Hi guys. I have an American Scale Company #78 vise that belonged to a good friend who passed a while ago. The dovetail/ ACME nut is broken from someone hammering on the handle. I need help finding/fabricating a replacement. I realize finding one from the American Scale Company is going to be almost impossible. but I see a number of vice manufacturers made vises with almost identical nuts, and thought one might work (even if I had to machine it a bit) One that looks very similar is Chas Parker. Welding and machining are not a problem for me, but I don't have the tooling to cut an internal acme thread on the lathe, and was hoping for a slightly less involved solution. Can anyone point me in the right direction to find a replacement? I would try to braze the existing one back together, but it's broken in 3 pieces, and there are chunks missing.

I believe this vise has a 1"-5 ACME thread. Please correct me if that is wrong.
 

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Oregon rock crusher

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I had to make similar but more extensive repairs to an American scale 78 branded Wilton a few years ago. I ended up making a nut to go with replacement spindle threds. As the dovetails in my vise were broken out as well I had to attach it differently. The repair was in the vise repair thread https://www.garagejournal.com/forum...&highlight=american*scale*pattern#post6821710 There may be other helpful post in that thread. Ed.
 
OP
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Basic

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wow, That is way more involved. It looks like the plate at the base of the nut was bolted to the vise body. Did the lack of "float" from getting rid of the dovetail as the main holding feature make much of a difference?

If not, you just gave me an idea for a relatively easy fix.
 

Oregon rock crusher

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The nut being fixed solidly to the base is not a problem as long as you get the nut straight with the spindle pull. Here is a site where you may be able to find the right threaded nut in longer lengths than what I could find at the time and avoid welding two together like I did. Ed.
 
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Basic

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Feb 18, 2025
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Thanks.
Your screw is 1-1/4"-5? Mine is 1"-5.

I just found that McMaster has a "Coupling" nut with that thread that is 2-3/4" long for ~$27.
 

tool_scrounge

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