New Record Vise

[Foreman05]

Hey all,

I am new to the forum and new to the world of vise restoration! I stumbled onto some vintage tool restorations videos on YouTube and have been addicted for a few weeks now. I recently found a Record SQ6 vise for sale locally here and will be picking it up tomorrow morning. It is a "Made in England" (thanks forum) vise so i'm super excited. It could use some work from the pics but should be worth $40 and a 2.5 hour round trip. I will post up some pics tomorrow and thank you all for the wealth of vise info on here!

 

[Snapped-off]

Definitely post up some pics.

 

[lilredex]

Welcome to GJ and welcome to the Record club.

Here is my No.6....

 

[Mr_B]

can't go far wrong with a record for 40 bucks.
I missed out on a record automotive model locally few years back, never seen another one .
Enjoy the restore .

 

[Foreman05]

Here she is, it has some surface rust but no bad pitting that I can see right now. Has a pretty decent cut in the top of the jaw, might need to find a guy who welds because id like to polish that part. I need to dig around on here for a good paint match and a new set of jaws. It is a quick release and has a rotating base which is nice and both work freely but could use some grease. Let me know your thoughts and ideas.

 

[lilredex]

I wouldn't worry too much about that slit behind the jaw....just fill it with JB Weld and paint/polish over it.

Here are some ideas on paint for your Record.

https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=80347

 

[ZRX61]

Mine.

 

[Foreman05]

ZRX that’s exactly how I want this one to turn out. Another one popped up online right after I bought mine, almost new condition for $100

 

[Foreman05]

Thanks for the link lilredex, my Dads favorite truck btw

 

[PCO6]

Foreman05 - That's a nice vice! I've bought several jaw sets with screws included at Acklands-Grainger. I think in the US they are know simply as "Grainger". I'm not familiar with Irwin jaws but it wouldn't surprise me if they would work too. Maybe someone else can weigh in on this. The prices were quite reasonable at about $40 CDN. They even had Record clip on soft jaw sets.

Good luck with your new vice!

Here's my N0.6 with soft jaws attached.

View media item 34048

 

[Dave455]

Good find!

The logo style suggests it’s a later model, but still British made, and decent quality. The swivel base is a bonus too!

Yes, shame about the nicks in and behind the jaw. Obviously owned by someone fairly careless. I wouldn’t bother with new jaws unless you can get “new, old stock”.

I think you will probably find it cleans up pretty well though.

Should you wish to repaint any parts the paint is generally enamel paint in the British Standard Colour “Roundel Blue”, but even Record varied the colour over the years.

 

[ZRX61]

ZRX that’s exactly how I want this one to turn out. Another one popped up online right after I bought mine, almost new condition for $100

I buzzed the jaws with a fiber deburring wheel after I removed them. The top of the slide & anvil etc were buzzed with 3M roloc discs.
Paint is just some rattlecan rustoleum metallic blue from Lowes.
Hardware & handle were glass-beaded & then wire wheeled to put the shine back.

 

[Foreman05]

Finally got around to working on this vise, never thought I would be wet sanding a vise with 2000 grit sand paper lol

 

[Foreman05]

I wish I would have finished the rest first but had to see how my filing skills were.

 

[dutchgray]

They were never polished like that out of the factory. Will be a good user when you are done.
It is one of last English made models and the quick release type of that vice is rare here, compared to the standard model, I have a 4" standard that I bought from a scrap yard, never used still with the paper labels on, just rusty from being outside for a while, I ought to clean it up sometime.

 

[Vono]

Nice vice.

My SQ4 says hello.

I'm assuming the SQ6 has the quick release worked by rotating the handle backwards like the SQ4 does?

The finish on mine is 100% original if that's of any help to you. If any more pictures would assist just say.

Cheers

 

[Foreman05]

Yes same quick release operation. I have to double check once I get it back together but it seemed like you can’t just keep rotating the handle CCW to go full open you need to pull the vise open using the quick release right?

 

[Vono]

Hello

Yeah you turn the handle 360 degrees anti clockwise & then pull.

See photo of the instruction sticker.

Cheers

 

[Foreman05]

I was under the impression you could crank it out like normal as well but it didn’t seem like it.

 

[Foreman05]

That’s awesome yours still has the stickers

 

[Vono]

Hello

No, it won't wind out like a conventional vice, you just turn 360 anticlockwise & pull, it winds in like a conventional one.

You can once it's been spun 360 anticlockwise also push it closed, but mine sometimes doesn't like that & you can hear a graunch from the thread etc so I always just wind mine in like a normal vice in order to maybe not damage anything.

I bought it new, years ago so I've done my best to preserve the sticker (I've stuck it back on a couple of times).

Not that common with that release mechanism, really don't see many of these SQ's about at all, even in the U.K.

I do like the swivel base on yours.

Best of luck with it

 

[Foreman05]

Thanks, in very lucky to find this vise. For whatever reason I was kinda drawn to Record and was very excited when I found one in decent shape, quick release and a swivel base.

 

[Foreman05]

Some updates

 

[Foreman05]

More

 

[Foreman05]

Last ones for tonight

 

[Foreman05]

If I could do it over I thing I would have stopped after wet sanding with 320 grit. I really liked the sheen with that, it was kind of a satin look. I would have also bought a new high quality file, my main file I bought used and it was a bit abused in the center section thus making my job much harder.

Its been a fun process, now I need to tape up the shiny parts and strip some paint, body fill and then prime/paint.

 

[Vono]

Good job so far.

 

[Foreman05]

Some updates. Finally got it in two coats of primer and wet sanded. Wire wheeled the handle, screw and rotation bolts. I’m torn on the paint wish I had either completely sanded the vise for a smooth finish or maybe went with a hammer finish.

 

[Foreman05]

Got it done and I’m pretty happy with the way it turned out. I brought down the shine from mirror to a satin finish. The super shine didn’t look like I wanted. Overall pretty fun and addicting hobby. I have my eye on a reed 204r now.

 

[Vono]

Good job, well done

 

[Canoe50]

Good job, well done

I'll second that!

 

[Foreman05]

Thanks guys, next time file down the casting marks, wire wheel, hammered paint and shine up the handle. Seems the way to go

 

[hammer4]

Thanks guys, next time file down the casting marks, wire wheel, hammered paint and shine up the handle. Seems the way to go

Hi Foreman05, great clean up on the Record SQ6
I Have recently acquired one from a family friend, however the quick release mechanism nut is damaged or missing some part, any chance you have or could take a photo of the Split Nut release mechanism?
Would definitely appreciate any diagrams /images to get this vise running again.
Thanks

 

[dnschmidt]

My Record vise story is a bit odd. When I first moved to Phoenix I dropped into Sam's Club to buy some stuff (filing cabinets and tool storage cabinets). They were selling the real deal Record vises (made in England) for cheap money. I bought two and I wish I would have bought four. One of the best deals I ever got.