Need help with a Bench Vise

[One Arm Ricky]

I know next to nothing in regards to bench vises. I am wanting to refurbish mine but cannot find a model number. Looking to purchase some replacement parts. Its a Jet 5in. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[1982fxr]

What parts?

In my experience, those are not a common vise at all and I think old enough that Jet won't have parts. Is something broken with it?

 

[One Arm Ricky]

The jaws are in bad shape, and the handle is worse. I do not have the knowledge or tools to make replacement parts.

 

[One Arm Ricky]

What parts?

In my experience, those are not a common vise at all and I think old enough that Jet won't have parts. Is something broken with it?

I received this vise as partial payment for tearing down an old workshop several years ago. It was in this shape when I got it. I just finished my new shop and wanted to fix this vise up before I attach it to my bench.

 

[mike93lx]

Unless you can find parts from another vise that are available and interchangeable, you'll be into it for more than the vise is likely worth to have anything made.

What's wrong with the Jaws? Could a file clean them up enough to be serviceable?

On the handle, I'd probably try to set it up to hammer it straight enough and then leave it be

How nice do you want this?

 

[One Arm Ricky]

The jaws might be salvageable with a file. I plan on trying that first. I have an email out to Jet, waiting on a reply. I just want it to work properly, smoothly, and look good. Im planning on a full disassembly, cleaning, sand blasting. Polish everything then paint. Any idea how old this thing is, the value, where to find a model or serial number?

 

[Boogerman]

Think about 30 yrs old, worth $40 to $50 cleaned up fixed shiny new. $15 in present shape. Usable vise if careful, not particularly valuable.

 

[mike93lx]

Think about 30 yrs old, worth $40 to $50 cleaned up fixed shiny new. $15 in present shape. Usable vise if careful, not particularly valuable.

I know nothing about Jet vises but I would be inclined to agree with this. Even if a little low, it seems like the right order of magnitude

 

[Vwpower]

That handle can easily be repaired.

 

[One Arm Ricky]

That handle can easily be repaired.

What would be the best way to go about it?

 

[The Cobbler]

not to discredit your treasures by any means, but you have a made in China low end vice .
you can straighten the handle with some force & properly placed supports while hitting it.
a buff & spray paint will make it look great. myself, I wouldn't look at doing a restore on it

 

[The Cobbler]

looks like that pin on the handle will knock out...
put the handle on a flat surface , high side up and hit it with a hammer until you get it looking straight

 

[The Cobbler]

or wedge it in to a solid hole & pry it back in to shape with a pc of pipe

 

[One Arm Ricky]

not to discredit your treasures by any means, but you have a made in China low end vice .
you can straighten the handle with some force & properly placed supports while hitting it.
a buff & spray paint will make it look great. myself, I wouldn't look at doing a restore on it

Thanks for the advice. Honestly it's not really a "treasure" to me. Im really just wanting to make it look better, and function smoother.

 

[Shiftless]

not to discredit your treasures by any means, but you have a made in China low end vice .
you can straighten the handle with some force & properly placed supports while hitting it.
a buff & spray paint will make it look great. myself, I wouldn't look at doing a restore on it

I agree with the Cobbler.
Not everybody can find a nice Reed or Starrett vise to start with. I have found that a wire wheel on the faces of used jaws often makes them quite useable. Stripping, filling, priming and painting that low value vise would be a learning experience. Go for it and post results or questions that one of us more experienced guys might be available to answer.

 

[Boogerman]

Agree with Shiftless; clean up and fix and use it. You don't need have boutique vise to effectively work; this one will do job.

I have 11 vises set up in use in my shops, Morgan, Wilton, Columbian, etc; but would cheerfully use this one if it's what I had. I've had and used worse. If you ever get a boutique vise come your way, pass this on to someone else who needs a vise for them to use it.

Fixing the handle like The Cobbler said will be quite effective. Or, look at the vise repair thread and people talk about lots of more elegant ways to make a new handle.

 

[One Arm Ricky]

I agree with the Cobbler.
Not everybody can find a nice Reed or Starrett vise to start with. I have found that a wire wheel on the faces of used jaws often makes them quite useable. Stripping, filling, priming and painting that low value vise would be a learning experience. Go for it and post results or questions that one of us more experienced guys might be available to answer.

I definitely will. Looking forward to the project. I only have 1 hand, lost my left hand when I was 13 years old. Its going to be fun, and hoping to learn a lot in the process.

 

[The Cobbler]

^^^ Kudos to you for taking on the project with only one arm.

 

[Ole Slewfoot]

the value, where to find a model or serial number?

The model is cast right in the side, "5".

A sign it might be higher grade Asianium, they did at least have the pride to cast the cool jet logo on the other side.

I'd wager that vice is strong enough to straighten the handle. Of course you'll need a suitable temporary handle, maybe socket extension with a bit of pipe over it for length.

I set up so the particular bend I'm working on is like a rainbow where each pot of gold is a block of softwood(2x4), with another at the press point on top. With this bridge arrangement you can go a bit past straight(it will spring back a bit), the bar crushing into the wood keeps it from squirming, and as the wood densifies it moves and elongates the pressure point(less chance to make a bunch of smaller squiggles).
Also keeps from adding teeth/bashmarks to your workpiece.

Usually 2 screws of some kind hold each jaw.
If they don't readily unscrew, take a good fitting driver and hammer it straight into the fastener for awhile and try again. At least from what I see in the picture, a kiss from the wire wheel will render those jaws better than just "serviceable".

Edit; just read the one arm thing, that makes setup more of a challenge for sure. I wrecked a rotator cuff and I'm still adjusting.

Tape your blocks in place I guess.

 

[One Arm Ricky]

The model is cast right in the side, "5".

A sign it might be higher grade Asianium, they did at least have the pride to cast the cool jet logo on the other side.

I'd wager that vice is strong enough to straighten the handle. Of course you'll need a suitable temporary handle, maybe socket extension with a bit of pipe over it for length.

I set up so the particular bend I'm working on is like a rainbow where each pot of gold is a block of softwood(2x4), with another at the press point on top. With this bridge arrangement you can go a bit past straight(it will spring back a bit), the bar crushing into the wood keeps it from squirming, and as the wood densifies it moves and elongates the pressure point(less chance to make a bunch of smaller squiggles).
Also keeps from adding teeth/bashmarks to your workpiece.

Usually 2 screws of some kind hold each jaw.
If they don't readily unscrew, take a good fitting driver and hammer it straight into the fastener for awhile and try again. At least from what I see in the picture, a kiss from the wire wheel will render those jaws better than just "serviceable".

Edit; just read the one arm thing, that makes setup more of a challenge for sure. I wrecked a rotator cuff and I'm still adjusting.

Tape your blocks in place I guess.

Thank you for the advice!

 

[slowtwitch73]

Those Jet vises are actually pretty nice.. inline with Jet in general.. not your typical Chicom junk.

 

[Shocker]

I believe this was made in Taiwan.

 

[Joemctag]

Those Jet vises are actually pretty nice.. inline with Jet in general.. not your typical Chicom junk.

Jet was quality-controlled stuff you could rely on. Hoists, machine tools, etc. Jaws look good; hasn’t been abused. Handles are soft mild steel and get bent with cheater pipes, hammers. It’s to be expected. Easy to straight en so it well slide all the was through. I wouldn’t hesitate to mount it where you can use it.

 

[Renegade1LI]

Looks in good shape, jet has always had a line of decent stiff. Clean up, straighten handle, some paint will look and work great. You can probably find some generic replacement jaws that will work. Use it, enjoy it.

 

[Renegade1LI]

Here's a set on Amazon

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0002JT604/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[AreBeeBee]

You can also find online soft pads for the jaws for objects that would scar easily if gripped firmly by the bare metal jaws, whatever their state. The soft jaws adhere with magnets. Just goog soft vise jaws and you'll find several types and sizes.