Old Barn rebuild

[depatty]

Selected the one with the least rust and using the torch got it hot enough that the oil/grease in the threads started smoking and flaming on, so decided not to go any further with heat. Put a fair amount of pressure on it but it still feels rock solid, no movement at all. At this point, unless it breaks loose as or after cooling tis time for the kerosene bath. If I can find the kerosene. If not will go buy a couple of gallons of diesel.

 

[depatty]

Heat + impact did the trick on the first one. Took a while to cool down and I then turned it sideways in the vise and used a hammer and steel rod to bounce the screw back and forth a while and it started moving just a little at a time. Took about 3 minutes to get it totally broken loose and out after it first started giving. Added a good coating of grease and put it back together. Moves freely now. Still got to bolt the top plate back on. Put the next one in the vise, applied heat, and am letting it cool now. Here's some pix of the first one.

After heating and cooling down.

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Just starting to break loose.

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And out!

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Here's the machine that the vise is bolted to.

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Has had a Bridgeport milling head added.

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It's made by the Rockford Milling Machine Co in Rockford Ill USA. Side door on the base.

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And a blurry picture of the transmission that was added at some point to replace the jackshaft drive.

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Gonna go and see if the second one is cool enough to start beating on.

Later,
Dave

 

[rburke65]

It's only about 5% acidic but you could try cider vinegar.....inexpensive! Maybe too mild...IDK.

 

[depatty]

It's only about 5% acidic but you could try cider vinegar.....inexpensive! Maybe too mild...IDK.

Thanks for the suggestion! In the past I've used vinegar to clean tools and assorted rusted metal objects but I doubt that it would have gotten far enough up in the threads to do any good. I switched to electrolysis and have found it smells MUCH better and the metal items are a lot easier to clean up after the rust is gone, but in this case I don't think that would have worked either. As the bodies of these are made of malleable iron I don't think the amount of heat I used will affect the strength much if any.

On the 3 that were locked up solid, after heating and letting cool, then beating on a rod put through the head with the body of the jack in the vise, it took between 3 and 5 minutes of beating back and forth to get any movement in any of the 3. Once broken loose and out, the screw threads were completely dry from about a half inch in from each end (where the oil had penetrated), so there was an inch and a half of solid rust holding them in place.

Will sand blast and paint them when I get the barn somewhat finished as I need them for quite a few future projects.

Put one in place and used it to jack a 2x4 into place so I could screw it to 2 others. The jack worked much easier than the other ones I have been using. Got to get 3 more posts cut to length and will put them about 6 feet apart and lift the whole side one turn at a time. Or that's the plan.

Dave

 

[Smokeshow69]

Hey what model of craftsman vice is that? Is it a 5196? There has been a bit of talk about those on the vise thread. They can be valuable. The model number for that vise should be on the front of the forcing screw next to the handle.

 

[depatty]

Hey what model of craftsman vice is that? Is it a 5196? There has been a bit of talk about those on the vise thread. They can be valuable. The model number for that vise should be on the front of the forcing screw next to the handle.

Didn't even realize that it was a Craftsman vice till you pointed it out!

Just went down and looked and had to brush the front of the screw off to see anything. Shows to be a Model No 5197.

If I recall the history of where that one came from, it was left in the garage from the previous tenant that my dad opened in 1966 or 67. He and my grandfather had built the building just after WWII and my grandfather ran it until he retired in the mid 50's and then rented it out till my father took it over. The vice is broken and has been welded in several places. We had it on the bench that came down with the side wall of the barn, and I took it off when I cut the bench up to replace the wall. Needed it to hold the jacks so it ended up on the milling machine.

Thanks for pointing out that it's a Craftsman vise. I'll see what can be done repair wise after a few more irons get taken care of...

Dave

 

[depatty]

Was going to work on the barn today but it's so pretty out there that I kinda got sidetracked. Been to the woods and hauled back a chunk of oak to use as a base for a couple of vises and an ASO (anvil shaped object) that I've been needing to mount to use in conjuction with the barn repair. Now to clear somewhere to put it so I can get on with the barn.

 

[depatty]

Only got a couple of pix today.

My ASO. Made at a foundry in Anniston Alabama, about 7 miles from where I live. Still a piece of ****. Ex bought it for me about 25 years ago. I've welded all over the top surface with hard rods and ground it somewhat flat again. Works to beat on things on anyhow.

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The new anvil stump. Cut this tree down in early November I think. Took the hand trucks up the hill today and after tieing the stump to them managed to get it to the trailer. Unhooked the tractor and pulled the hand trucks up the ramp and onto the trailer using a strap and the tractor. Lighting killed oak about 5 years dead but still quite wet and heavy! Got the trailer down the hill and into the field below the barn, then unhooked and used the boom to move it into place. Put a piece of cement down to set it on. Used wedges to stablize it on the cement.

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Will get more pictures of the stump in place with anvil mounted and post vise attached tomorrow.

Dave

 

[depatty]

Got some pictures of the stump, ASO, and vise this morning and finally sitting down to post them.

Stump in place with ASO and vise mounted.

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Closer look at the top of the ASO.

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Better look at the vise.

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And closer.

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Other side.

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End on.

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Jaws open.

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Made the spring and most of the mounting hardware.

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Swedge tool I made some years ago. Not real pretty but works quite well with red hot iron.

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Gonna try to get the forge back up and going before too much longer. Need it going to make some of the hardware for the barn repair (at least that's my story and I'm sticking to it ).

Dave

 

[Bib Overalls]

Watching this one. Those old backwoods boys can turn nearly nothing into a thing and a thing into something useful.

 

[ffast65]

thats a hell of a challenge.. All I can see is a fun project

 

[CNGsaves]

Keep up the hard work saving the old barn. You're pulling out some diamonds in rough with your anvil and vises !!

If you uncover a 30's . . 40's . . or . . 50's pickup truck you don't want, let me know !!

Seriously, on the Craftsman vise, I'd like 1st dibbs if you ever want to sell it.

 

[1Garageman]

I am subscribing to this thread! Looks like a lot of hard work ahead of you!
Good luck!

 

[BuickFarmer]

The vice and anvil stump turned out great. Maybe I missed it but what kind of tree is it from? and educate me on the anvil...the long bar, is it made to go into the ground some for to give better leverage and stability. I have one but have always wondered about it.
Keep up the great work, and thanks for taking time to get pictures and post updates.

 

[Alan Douglas]

I thought it rested on a floor.