REED 106 vice questions

[ffast65]

Need some help with an early reed 106. She is degreased on outside, derusted, primed, and painted industrial gray enamel. I was just going to clean the lead screw the spindle nut before relubricating with some moly grease. When I removed the collar, and then the spindle, I was surprised no bronze washers were on either side. Is this normal for large reeds?

or should I be putting one under the head, and then under the collar when I reassemble? I am planning to use this one, so want it correct as jaws and rest are in pretty good shape for its age/prior use.

also, how do you get the end balls off the handle? they are lose/spin free, and the handle is bent in two areas. I would like to straighten

 

[rusty65]

Ok for the washer question no they would not have came from the factory with them and most reeds from my experience have the collar fitted very well so the only reason to add one would be due to wear. And the old reeds before the split nut gen had cast on ball ends so you should be able to just heat them up and drive them off. Like how Keith Rucker does it on his Wilton vise restoration and if you have watched go ahead and look that on up YouTube. It's Keith Rucker at vintage machine works he was a great video on making a new vise handle as well.

 

[ffast65]

Thank you. Based on this I lubed the spindle and will try to get these off.

Best,
Paul

 

[Shiftless]

ffast:
If the ball ends of your handle are already loose, I don't think you need to heat them. I suppose that the only reason they don't slip right off now is that the very ends of the handle are swaged over. How about grinding or filing a bit off the end of whichever is more damaged already? I bet that will let you remove the ball quite easily.

More help is available on the Vise repair thread.