What are my options for fixing this vise nut?

[SweetD]

Guys,

I have a pretty cool old vise that I've documented before here on GJ, it was made by a company called Illinois Iron & Bolt Co. - it's old and rare, and beefy.

Problem is the main nut is damaged. Every once in a while I get to thinking about how I can get it repaired:










Is this repairable? Has anyone done a repair to something similar? Maybe I can fab up a replacement depending on the thread type (like if it's an ACME style thread for example)?

Any input or ideas are appreciated, thanks!

Dave

 

[zkling]

Do you have the missing piece? Are the remaining thread roots in good condition or partially sheared? What does the screw look like? Take some measurements of the thread profile.

 

[SweetD]

Do you have the missing piece? Are the remaining thread roots in good condition or partially sheared? What does the screw look like?

I do not have the missing piece.

The remaining thread roots are in good shape.

The screw is in good shape.

 

[SweetD]

Close up:



Dave

 

[zkling]

Do you have a lathe capable of threading?*

Here is what I would do and did once to repair a split nut.

Take detailed measurements of the exposed thread and compare with the screw
Grind a form tool on a boring bar to match the thread profile
Turn a copper slug the minor diameter of the thread
Use weld to fill up the missing portion, the slug acts as a backing while welding.
Carefully place it in the lathe 4 jaw and cut the thread profile. It is slow going since it is such an interrupted cut.

*Granted this is contingent on you owning or have access to a lathe that has the needed feed pitch for the thread.

 

[SweetD]

Do you have a lathe capable of threading?*

Here is what I would do and did once to repair a split nut.

Take detailed measurements of the exposed thread and compare with the screw
Grind a form tool on a boring bar to match the thread profile
Turn a copper slug the minor diameter of the thread
Use weld to fill up the missing portion, the slug acts as a backing while welding.
Carefully place it in the lathe 4 jaw and cut the thread profile. It is slow going since it is such an interrupted cut.

*Granted this is contingent on you owning or have access to a lathe that has the needed feed pitch for the thread.

Thanks zkling, I do not personally own the required lathe, but I have friends in low places that may be able to assist with your described method...

Dave

 

[Whitworth]

Turn a copper slug the minor diameter of the thread
Use weld to fill up the missing portion, the slug acts as a backing while welding.
Carefully place it in the lathe 4 jaw and cut the thread profile. It is slow going since it is such an interrupted cut.

Do not follow. Are you saying build up the broken section with weld and then re-machine?
Why not just machine a whole new nut ?

Seems more straight forward and less work overall.

Edit... Sorry did not see that funcky business underneath. Nevertheless I would advocate new round nut and machine separate key, attach either with welding or screws.

G

 

[drivesitfar]

SweetD: I've got a more than a couple vises that have either missing or broken vise nuts, but I've been researching the fix.

KMScott mentions to buy a long nut with the right threads from Acme and weld it base he would make for it. since you already own the base all you'd need to do is cut the old broken nut off and then weld the new nut to the old base.

another idea he had was to make a vise nut on a CNC or lathe. let me (us) know what your friends in low places think of ZK's method.

good luck and it looks like a cool old vise. do you like it as well as your old Prentiss vises?

 

[SweetD]

KMScott mentions to buy a long nut with the right threads from Acme and weld it base he would make for it. since you already own the base all you'd need to do is cut the old broken nut off and then weld the new nut to the old base.

do you like it as well as your old Prentiss vises?

My machinist friend has suggested the same idea about combining a long nut with the original base. This I think would be the "easiest" fix.

This Illinois Iron & Bolt vise is super-rare, and I really like it. But to me, nothing beats a Prentiss vise..."The Third Hand with the Mighty Grip":





Dave

 

[lilredex]

Looks more like a square thread. Take the screw and nut to a bolt supply house.....they may have a nut you can adapt and make work.

More info here:

http://www.practicalmachinist.com/vb/general-archive/cutting-square-thread-94695/

 

[drivesitfar]

SweetD: good idea. speaking of good Prentiss vises i picked up this Prentiss #22 that weighs 160 pounds and i think it will clean up pretty nicely. it also has a pretty heavy hand if my back doesn't go out mounting it to my bench.

take care and best of luck with picking the right new long nut and fixing your old vise.

 

[zkling]

Do not follow. Are you saying build up the broken section with weld and then re-machine?
Why not just machine a whole new nut ?

Seems more straight forward and less work overall.

Edit... Sorry did not see that funcky business underneath. Nevertheless I would advocate new round nut and machine separate key, attach either with welding or screws.

G

Here is why I suggested that method.
-OP states that the remaining threads are in good condition (surprising, but eh).

-If the OP had the machines and ability to make a new nut from scratch, well he or she wouldn't have asked the question in the first place.

-Furthermore, if someone is going to have basic machining capabilities at home, they are far more likely to have a lathe than a mill. The only conditional of that is, as I stated above and asked for dimensions, owing a lathe with the proper feed pitch. Which, with the high probability of it being a inch pitch, is likely even on an older machine.

I never said it was the best or only method, just a method.

 

[The Cobbler]

Looks more like a square thread. T

t's acme thread, we used to make them in High School metal shop to repair broken vises in the various shops. we used cold rolled, they didn't last very long. made for ongoing lathe projects