Refurbing a Vise - What Is This

[ptgb]

I picked up a really nice vise at a garage sale for $30. It just needs cleaned up and painted.

Took it apart today and found the swivel lock to be frozen solid. The handle on the swivel lock was already bent up and in getting the swivel lock free I really booger-ed it up. Had to use a cut off wheel to cut the handle off.

I was wondering if the little handle had a proper name and where I could find a new one. Any help would be appreciated.

This is not the actual vise, but an internet picture that points to the part I am talking about:

 

[metalmagpie]

lots of people call those a "tommy bar" or a "T-bolt". As you have noticed, the fastener consists of two parts, a tubular threaded piece and also a handle. If you cut off the handle, you will need to make a new one. The correct way to do this is to find a piece of steel the right diameter and length, and turn it down to shoulders on both ends. Then turn two "spools" that slide over the smaller dimension, butting against the shoulders. The sticking out skinny parts are hammered to swage the spools, locking them permanently in place.

If you don't have access to a metal lathe you might want to start looking for someone to help you.

metalmagpie

 

[bgarrett]

the handle is a piece of rod
cut a piece, weld on balls

 

[Hoot]

Parts were still available for mine, so I just replaced that two-piece assembly. I don't know if that is an option for your particular brand. Another idea might be to find a similar style/size of vice that is currently manufactured and see if that two piece handle is the similar. If so, you could order from that manufacturer.

 

[Modifieddriver]

Usually on many of those swivel base vises, there a carriage style bolt that threads into the swivel lock. Is that frozen up?

As for the T-bar, if ya' can't make a replacement part in your shop, ya' don't need the vise to begin with.

 

[rsanter]

i hate those things
leave it off and use a regular nut and washer

bob

 

[srmofo]

i hate those things
leave it off and use a regular nut and washer

bob

Same Here.

 

[wrench409]

i hate those things
leave it off and use a regular nut and washer

bob

I have a cheap-o vise that has one side stripped out.

The thing is, where does one obtain grade 8 carriage bolts to replace them with?

Thanks
<mytubeelement data="{"bundle":{"label_delimitor":":","percentage":"%","smart_buffer":"Smart Buffer","start_playing_when_buffered":"Start playing when buffered","sound":"Sound","desktop_notification":"Desktop Notification","continuation_on_next_line":"-","loop":"Loop","only_notify":"Only Notify","estimated_time":"Estimated Time","global_preferences":"Global Preferences","no_notification_supported_on_your_browser":"No notification style supported on your browser version","video_buffered":"Video Buffered","buffered":"Buffered","hyphen":"-","buffered_message":"The video has been buffered as requested and is ready to play.","not_supported":"Not Supported","on":"On","off":"Off","click_to_enable_for_this_site":"Click to enable for this site","desktop_notification_denied":"You have denied permission for desktop notification for this site","notification_status_delimitor":";","error":"Error","adblock_interferance_message":"Adblock (or similar extension) is known to interfere with SmartVideo. Please add this url to adblock whitelist.","calculating":"Calculating","waiting":"Waiting","will_start_buffering_when_initialized":"Will start buffering when initialized","will_start_playing_when_initialized":"Will start playing when initialized","completed":"Completed","buffering_stalled":"Buffering is stalled. Will stop.","stopped":"Stopped","hr":"Hr","min":"Min","sec":"Sec","any_moment":"Any Moment","popup_donate_to":"Donate to","extension_id":null},"prefs":{"desktopNotification":true,"soundNotification":true,"logLevel":0,"enable":true,"loop":false,"hidePopup":true,"autoPlay":false,"autoBuffer":false,"autoPlayOnBuffer":false,"autoPlayOnBufferPercentage":42,"autoPlayOnSmartBuffer":true,"quality":"default","fshd":false,"onlyNotification":false,"enableFullScreen":true,"saveBandwidth":false,"hideAnnotations":false,"turnOffPagedBuffering":false}}" event="preferencesUpdated" id="myTubeRelayElementToPage"></mytubeelement><mytubeelement data="{"loadBundle":true}" event="relayPrefs" id="myTubeRelayElementToTab"></mytubeelement>

 

[retDAC]

For Shop Fox parts, contact these people:
http://www.woodstockint.com/search/search.aspx?q=Shop%20Fox%20bench%20vise&cachebuster=5091729864943773

 

[balane]

For Shop Fox parts, contact these people:
http://www.woodstockint.com/search/search.aspx?q=Shop%20Fox%20bench%20vise&cachebuster=5091729864943773

That's not his vise in the photo. From the OP;

This is not the actual vise, but an internet picture that points to the part I am talking about:

 

[bazzateer]

Get a piece of steel bar to fit the hole. Cut threads onto both ends. Get two steel ball bearings of the right size. Drill hole halfway through in each then tap with thread to match the bar. Screw one ball on bar. Insert other end through the hole. Screw second ball onto bar.

Job's a good ' un.

 

[retDAC]

That's not his vise in the photo. From the OP;

This is not the actual vise, but an internet picture that points to the part I am talking about:

Yes but he didn't state whether the brand is the same so I covered it.

 

[Silver Heels]

I'd just put a bolt with a nylock nut on one end through it and call it a day

 

[coljar]

i hate those things
leave it off and use a regular nut and washer

bob

Same Here.

+1 for me too. I have 2 vises in my main shop. One with a fixed base and one swivel. I've rarely ever had to turn the one with the swivel base to do a job. That's why I like fixed bases better.

 

[brownbagg]

i welded my base solid so I would not have to deal with the bolt. I have never in my life needed to move the base. just mount the vice on a corner of the bench

 

[7th Kahuna]

My grandfather's Record vise used a piece of flat stock, maybe 3" long, 1" wide and 1/4" thick. In my opinion it is a far superior design to the more common rod shown in OP's image. If I were making one from scratch, that is the direction I would go in. The bar rotates over the top rather than sliding through. It was easy to grab and very rigid.

 

[metalmagpie]

I have a swivel vise, owned since the late '80s.

I have swiveled it *maybe* twice.

It's a feature I'm convinced I don't need. Adds weight & complexity and subtracts rigidity.

I'm listing my last swivel vise on CL tomorrow.

metalmagpie

 

[countryroad82]

i welded my base solid so I would not have to deal with the bolt. I have never in my life needed to move the base. just mount the vice on a corner of the bench

Did the same to my cheapo' vise. I hate a swivel base, it always no matter how tight I have the screws, will move when I'm wailing on something clamped in the vise.