Restore vise jaws

[Nmhuntr]

Ok so if the cost of new jaws in too much how would you repair/clean/restore a set of jaws to their best? Would you try to find a machinist to resurface them? What if the jaws are not removable?

Just looking for what your experience has been

Thanks

 

[paulsomlo]

Not removable? You need a milling machine. Removable? Make a new set out of mild steel or aluminum.

 

[lilredex]

Not removable? You need a milling machine. Removable? Make a new set out of mild steel or aluminum.

Or, go to Grainger/Amazon, etc. I just bought new ones for a Record six incher for $26 CDN.

 

[Roberts210]

I've bought sets for 3", 4" and 3-1/2" Wilton vises over the years. I kept searching until I found inserts that sold for a good price. Oddly the most expensive were the WWII 3" inserts--all the sellers wanted way more than I wanted to spend, then one day I saw a seller was cleaning out his inventory and I picked up a pair cheap.

 

[paulsomlo]

Is this for one of your Wiltons? If so, just buy the correct size bar of either mild steel or aluminum, cut it to length, drill and counterbore. The soft jaws I made for my 1750 cost me about $5.

 

[Shiftless]

Many times all it takes is cleaning with a wire wheel to remove the crud clogging the teeth. They won’t be like new of course, but almost always this helps a lot.

 

[1982fxr]

We need pics

 

[PierceA]

Take a Dremel hand held grinder. Put the small cut-off wheel on it. It is a carborundum disc about 1.25" diameter.
With a steady hand, or make a clamp on or magnetic-held guide, carefully clean out the grooves in the jaw checkering.
It is tedious, but can be done. The jaws are usually hard steel, so the cut-off disc will still work well, better than a hand file.
And with this method, you can even out the more worn areas of well worn jaw faces.

This method also works on Reed vise jaws which are cast into the jaw towers and not replaceable without machining. [except for the very last few years of oval-badge Reed 'R' models].
Reed vise jaws are checkered with a curved pattern, and with care, a hand held Dremel will work very well to clean out and deepen the grooves.

PierceA

 

[1982fxr]

Take a Dremel hand held grinder. Put the small cut-off wheel on it. It is a carborundum disc about 1.25" diameter.
With a steady hand, or make a clamp on or magnetic-held guide, carefully clean out the grooves in the jaw checkering.
It is tedious, but can be done. The jaws are usually hard steel, so the cut-off disc will still work well, better than a hand file.
And with this method, you can even out the more worn areas of well worn jaw faces.

This method also works on Reed vise jaws which are cast into the jaw towers and not replaceable without machining. [except for the very last few years of oval-badge Reed 'R' models].
Reed vise jaws are checkered with a curved pattern, and with care, a hand held Dremel will work very well to clean out and deepen the grooves.

PierceA

 

[fishwatcher]

Ok so if the cost of new jaws in too much how would you repair/clean/restore a set of jaws to their best? Would you try to find a machinist to resurface them? What if the jaws are not removable?

Just looking for what your experience has been

Thanks

If you can’t remove the jaws, tape off other nearby parts of the vise. Wire brush or wire wheel (get a drill attachment for cheap) to get crud off.

In my experience (limited) Krud Kutter for rust is useful to get rid of rust during clean up. Use sandpaper of increasing grades and then use micro mesh papers to polish.