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Wilton Bullet: Jaw screw question

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yeldogt

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Picked up a Bullet Vise at a farm auction years ago (10++) -- The replaceable jaws are held to the vise w/ two screws -- they look to be randomly drilled? This surprised me because it would seem like a quality product would have had standardized jaws that could be easily replaced.

I was going to do something with it about 5 years ago -- dug it out and took it up to my independent to use his cleaning basin. It's in fine shape -- although I'm missing two of the jaw screws and one of the three screws that holds the locking ring.

With more time now with the lockdown -- I'm going to strip the many coats of paint and put it to use.

What's the story with the Jaws?
 
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RTM

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On the vise repair thread, there is a discussion of making new tapered jaw screws by spinning down Allen head screws with a grinder and drill. Irregular... some has already replaced even, poorly?
 
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Shiftless

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yeldogt said:
Picked up a Bullet Vise at a farm auction years ago (10++) -- The replaceable jaws are held to the vise w/ two screws -- they look to be randomly drilled? This surprised me because it would seem like a quality product would have had standardized jaws that could be easily replaced.


What's the story with the Jaws?
Click to expand...

I have about a dozen Wilton bullet vises and they all have quite precisely made jaws with precisely drilled mounting holes.

It sounds like a previous owner did a poor job making replacement jaws. Can you post a picture of the problem so we know exactly what you’re referring to?
 
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yeldogt

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RTM said:
On the vise repair thread, there is a discussion of making new tapered jaw screws by spinning down Allen head screws with a grinder and drill. Irregular... some has already replaced even, poorly?
Click to expand...

It did not look like that was the case ...will give a closer look
 
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yeldogt

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Shiftless said:
I have about a dozen Wilton bullet vises and they all have quite precisely made jaws with precisely drilled mounting holes.

It sounds like a previous owner did a poor job making replacement jaws. Can you post a picture of the problem so we know exactly what you’re referring to?
Click to expand...

Thanks -- I had to assume with the quality of the vise that had to be the case.

It's odd -- because the vice is in great shape and the jaws look to be well made and not too messed up ... except for the screw holes/

I will take a picture ....
 
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yeldogt

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Well -- I went to the house yesterday and took a look. It does seem that maybe someone drilled the area -- it looks a little suspect. sort of ... But why? I also can't get the screw out of the other jaw..

I think it was painted with a spoon
 

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coljar

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I've been studying the pictures and in the first picture, the serrated jaw hole on the right matches the sliding jaw hole. Maybe it was the guy's first day, I don't know. I'd just strip it, repaint it and go with new screws. I'm doing a 6" bullet right now and I had to drill out all 4 screw heads. Once I got the jaws off, the remaining studs screwed out with great effort. They are Allen headed 5/16" bolts which, luck had it, I had in stock.
 
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yeldogt

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SSdave: agree ..something is up

Coljar: From the factory are both jaws serrated?

The one still attached to the stationary is quite serrated .... the other not so. I'm wondering if maybe the movable one was replaced at one time? Although the jaw for the movable side has no signs of being home made -- seems like someone able to make the jaw would know how to drill matching holes.

I'm going to work on the other screw -- it's soft ...so I may have to drill. I don't have the ability to fill and retap -- so my safest move is to clean up and reuse the jaws as they are.

So the original screws are Allen head?
 
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larry_g

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yeldogt said:
Well -- I went to the house yesterday and took a look. It does seem that maybe someone drilled the area -- it looks a little suspect. sort of ... But why? I also can't get the screw out of the other jaw..

I think it was painted with a spoon
Click to expand...

In looking at your middle picture it looks like someone has ground the top of the movable jaw off. It looks like the face for the jaw is shorter than normal and the top of the jaw is flat, not rounded like it should be. Once you get all the paint stripped off you may be able to see what is going on better.

lg
no neat sig line
 
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coljar

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yeldogt said:
SSdave: agree ..something is up

Coljar: From the factory are both jaws serrated?

The one still attached to the stationary is quite serrated .... the other not so. I'm wondering if maybe the movable one was replaced at one time? Although the jaw for the movable side has no signs of being home made -- seems like someone able to make the jaw would know how to drill matching holes.

I'm going to work on the other screw -- it's soft ...so I may have to drill. I don't have the ability to fill and retap -- so my safest move is to clean up and reuse the jaws as they are.

So the original screws are Allen head?
Click to expand...


Both are serrated the same unless they're smooth jaws for various applications. Sounds like one is not original like you said. I have ones that have the original screws that are Phillips and ones that have the original Allen screws for the jaws.
 
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yeldogt

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Where do I find the model number ?

The jaws are 3.5 wide.

My guess is the jaw on the movable part of the vice was damaged. Rather than fixing with the proper part someone tried to retrofit using what looks like a block of steel.

I would like to fix this properly .. somehow
 
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yeldogt

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I did some searching on the vise and did find a ver faint 671 .... so I guess this vise is from June of 1971.

The link above to the guy selling jaws -- looks like he is no longer making these. From what I can tell mine must be the 3.5 3/4 x 1/2. My screw spacing is 2 3/8 and it looks like the earlier 3.5" 5/8 x 7/16 would have been 2" spacing

I don't see a model number .. but, there is a lot of paint
 
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