soft metal vise caps
- Thread starter sand2aly
- Start date
There is a sheet metal fabrication book I got a while ago that has soft jaws as a first project. I think it is this one. https://www.amazon.com/dp/0895867575/?tag=atomicindus08-20
Fournier is the author.
Fournier is the author.
Mark in Indiana
Well-known member
Sane,
Welcome to the group.
It depends on how complicated you want to make them.
I use cut pieces of 2" x 2" x 1/4" aluminum angle stock for my personal shop vises.
Recently, I came across a 6' length of 1" x 2" aluminum bar stock that could be easily cut and milled to match the aluminum Wilton, off the shelf jaw caps that are pictured below. I plan to make these for the high end vises that I resell.
Welcome to the group.
It depends on how complicated you want to make them.
I use cut pieces of 2" x 2" x 1/4" aluminum angle stock for my personal shop vises.
Recently, I came across a 6' length of 1" x 2" aluminum bar stock that could be easily cut and milled to match the aluminum Wilton, off the shelf jaw caps that are pictured below. I plan to make these for the high end vises that I resell.
Attachments
drivesitfar
Well-known member
Sand: one of our members made a decent pair of copper jaws for his vise out of copper pipe and i think he said total cost was $5. take a look at this thread (Vise Repair 101) and i think it was a couple weeks ago on that thread where he mentioned how he made the copper jaws.
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=252830
many companies sell aluminim, copper, plastic covers if you want to go that route too.
also welcome to the forum and in case you didn't know there are more than a few of us that love our vises and you could say we have a vice for vises (and old tools).
cheers
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=252830
many companies sell aluminim, copper, plastic covers if you want to go that route too.
also welcome to the forum and in case you didn't know there are more than a few of us that love our vises and you could say we have a vice for vises (and old tools).
cheers
I have the same covers shown in your pic, and they work great on my 4" Wilton. The magnets are a bit weak, but essentially no issues with them. I also made a pair from aluminum billet for my 6" Paramo and installed neo magnets----they work fantastic. FYI, aluminum is pretty good for soft jaws, but copper grips the best in my experience.
This is a link to the write-up and pics.
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showpost.php?p=6039113&postcount=3460
pendragon1998
Well-known member
I make them out of 3/4" plywood.
Provincial
Well-known member
I have some 1/16" thick soft aluminum sheet that I make jaw covers from. I cut out a piece that covers the jaws, with enough material to bend flaps over the top and ends. I notch out an area so I can bend the top and sides, clamp it in the vise, and bend it. Then I repeat for the other jaw.
On some vises there is enough difference that I mark the covers by position.
These last quite a while if not abused. When they wear out, they are easy to replace. They do tend to work harden in use, but still don't mar the workpiece.
On some vises there is enough difference that I mark the covers by position.
These last quite a while if not abused. When they wear out, they are easy to replace. They do tend to work harden in use, but still don't mar the workpiece.
For working with metal parts??
pendragon1998
Well-known member
I like it for small metal stuff, especially threaded things. Ithey hold pretty well even for many larger metal items.
Zeke
Well-known member
I use soft metal, plastic and leather. Each is suited to different projects and I deal with a lot of fragile stuff. Cutting the first 2 out of angle is smart. But use what you have. Even a couple of steel ones are handy as you can beat the **** out of something saving the standard jaws. Like when folding a piece of metal over using a hammer.
I've got 3 big vises and 3-4 small ones and I use this Wilton 90% of the time. Hanging on a nail below on the post are a pair of 'caps' that are actually edge protectors for metal strap binding. You find those on the ground at any lumber yard.
I've got 3 big vises and 3-4 small ones and I use this Wilton 90% of the time. Hanging on a nail below on the post are a pair of 'caps' that are actually edge protectors for metal strap binding. You find those on the ground at any lumber yard.
66HertzClone
ALLIANCE MEMBER
chrisnazzy
Well-known member
Not to thread jack but some of you guys who've responded here may be able to steer me in the right direction on something. I am going to be changing a few hard handles soon on some brand me Snap On ratchets. My Snap On dealer years ago had brass or copper jaws like this on the vise in his truck but our new guy has no such thing (nor the experience). Looks like I'm going to have to come up with something on my own. I thought about cutting a slit down some rubber hose and wrapping it around the chrome handle. What do you guys recommend?
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bmwpowere36m3
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Just buy some soft jaws.... copper or aluminum will work fine.
rlitman
Well-known member
I have that yellow Bessey set. They're nice. A little squishy for some things, but not going to damage anything.
I also have a vise that I replaced the jaws with aluminum for times when I need a firmer grip.
I also have a vise that I replaced the jaws with aluminum for times when I need a firmer grip.
rlitman
Well-known member
When I want an iron clad grip on something smooth like that (or a rifle barrel for clocking a flash hider, or some job like that), and when I absolutely cannot damage the surface (blued or chrome, etc), here's what I do.
Take a scrap of 2x4 lumber, maybe 4" long (short enough that you can grab it in your vise the long way). Drill a hole through it that is just a little smaller than the diameter of what you want to clamp. Then saw through the block, splitting the hole in half. Finally, place each half of the hole around the piece you want to clamp (remember, it won't fit together, because the hole is a little too small), and clamp it up. The vise will compress the wood fibers until the piece bottoms out in a death grip.
bmwpowere36m3
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Were talking ratchets here... a basic set of soft jaws, grip the head or shank (don't crush the selector lever) and smack the handle off with a hammer of your choice.
If you don't plan to "save" the old grip.... I simply grab it [handle] in the vise, put a socket on the ratchet and smack the socket freeing the ratchet off the grip. Invert the ratchet, head down, on a table, put handle on and smack it home.
If you don't plan to "save" the old grip.... I simply grab it [handle] in the vise, put a socket on the ratchet and smack the socket freeing the ratchet off the grip. Invert the ratchet, head down, on a table, put handle on and smack it home.
chrisnazzy
Well-known member
This will be my first handle swap attempt. I've read about how to do it on several threads here. Thanks for the tips on vise clamping procedures.
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The best pair I ever used are made by Reed, of brass,and come in several sizes but they sure are expensive. Wilton makes a similar line in copper They both have ears that are "bend to fit" and will both work on most vises. I like the brass better. It is soft enough but not as easily gouged. Either one is probably more than you paid for your vise. I had the brass Reed jaws at work and got lucky and got new 6" Wilton copper jaws on line for a good price from some company that just had the one size. Some kind of surplus, I guess.
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General Geoff
Well-known member
Made out of 1" copper pipe cut into 5" sections, and split open lengthwise, flattened, then hammered into shape around the vise jaws. Total cost: About $5.00 and a half hour of time.
edit; I now see my homebrew jaws were already mentioned earlier in this thread!
They've been standing up to steady use perfectly fine, and are easy to pop off and reattach.
Last edited:
chrisnazzy
Well-known member
Nice! Great idea.
Made out of 1" copper pipe cut into 5" sections, and split open lengthwise, flattened, then hammered into shape around the vise jaws. Total cost: About $5.00 and a half hour of time.
edit; I now see my homebrew jaws were already mentioned earlier in this thread!
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