Thoughts on fixing vise?

[jives]

Thoughts on if this vise can be fixed, or otherwise modified for better performance. It is a Ken-Tool KT4800 Mechanics Vise, 8" wide jaws, cast iron according to manual. You can see that one of the horns of the dynamic jaw snapped off. Pics don't show that it broke along the line of the jaw face retaining screw. (The jaw face on the broken jaw is currently oak, the hardened steel face is laying on the anvil.) It has been working for me as-is, but wondering if there are other ideas to give it back its full 8". I do not have the broken piece.

As an FIY, there is a bit of a backstory. Several years ago I was looking for a large vise. Periodically checking CL and so forth. Came across this for $40. Pics showed it lying in the grass, with only the name and model number showing. I liked the large anvils, which would be helpful in the shop. Looked it up and found that it was an 8" Ken Tool that is sill being sold by Ken Tool. I was excited to go see it. There is was, buried in the grass, and when I moved it the broken jaw was revealed. Well, I did not have the heart to bargain on price as it was a worn down woman living in a broken down trailer home is a rural poor area of town. I paid full price and went on my way.

 

[will335i]

If they still make it the best bet might be reaching out to the manufacture to see if they will sell you replacement dynamic jaw for it.

Other option is if you have the broken off piece is to take it to a competent welder and have them attempt to repair it. Clamping force will be compromised and I would pay close attention to how you position items in the vice.

 

[Shiftless]

IMHO, You did the right thing handing over the $40 considering the situation. I have done similar things when buying old tools.
I wouldn’t waste time and money trying to fix that vise. It’s an inherently weak design prone to breaking just like that one did.

Use it as-is and keep looking for a vintage USA vise from a quality manufacturer from back in the day.

 

[strantor]

I think, there's no good way to replace what's missing, even if you had the missing piece. If it had no sentimental value, I'd toss it. But if I were dead set on repairing it, I'd cut off the whole top of the jaw and re-make the upper part of the jaw out of steel, drill/tap the lower portion, and bolt on the new upper portion.

 

[larry_g]

My first thought was to cut the other side of the dynamic jaw off to match, and then with a grinder grind off part of the 8 till it looks like a 3..

On further study, Can you grind or mill the broken face flat and perpendicular to the jaw face. Now make a jaw that looks like a L where the short arm of the L is the profile of the broken face and the long leg of the L is the new jaw face reaching to other end of the existing jaw. Run a couple of bolts in from the side that go into tapped holes in the flat surface where the broken face was.




Looking at the picture, make the wood jaw and the replacement jaw one piece and bolt through the new into the broken face after grinding the broken face flat.

 

[Boogerman]

Consider $40 donation. Look another vise, give this someone dislike.

 

[brownbagg]

its still a $40 vice, broken, it might last another 100 years as is.

 

[jives]

The vise is currently usable, after all, there is about 5" of jaw left. Obviously it requires some creativity in some holds. At this point I cannot use the hardened jaw face because there is only one retaining screw hole and it is mostly stripped. My plan is to re-tap (chase) the existing screw hole, tap a new hole, and then create some sort of support backing or brace for the 3" of jaw face sticking out.

I have found that 8" of holding width to be helpful in a number of instances. . .better than my Athol 613 1/2. I'd like to maintain that ability.

 

[Shiftless]

Athols are great vises. I have several.
Here’s your solution!
Athol made an 8 inch vise. Just get yourself an Athol #97 like this one
(picture courtesy of fellow GJ member Vise.)