Record vice handle material and replacement

[dan.taylor.1]

Hi folks,

I've a record No.25 that I've been fixing up, not a full refurb as it'll be getting used as soon as I'm done. It does however have a bent handle, which I can't leave as it'll annoy me...

I don't want to straighten it as it'll just bend again, even if I heat it. I want to replace it, but the question is what with. I'm sure as hell not paying the price record/Irwin want for one, and I haven't a lathe that's working at the moment.

I can fabricate one however. But done just use some 16mm ish round bar or does it need to be something more like en8 or stainless (would be nice as it won't rust like this one!).

Opinions welcome!

Cheers,

Dan

 

[Maker]

Why would the original one just bend again?

 

[dan.taylor.1]

Metal fatigue, surely it's always going to be weaker at the point it bent to start with.

 

[kcchan]

Why would the original one just bend again?

That's what I thought. Heat it and straighten it and it'll be fine.

 

[grim_d]

Straighten it then don't overtighten the vice like the previous owner clearly has.

I've never understood how they get so bent. I have a vice older than me with jaws worn from repeated clamping but the handle is straight.

Have a big record I used as a press before I got an actual press, not bent.

Are they putting scaffy poles on them?

 

[Maker]

If anything it'll work harden when you bend it back and be stiffer than it was.

 

[brightspark]

straighten it and dont abuse it . ive never bent one in 45 years

 

[dan.taylor.1]

Tbh it's pretty rusty so it's getting replaced anyway as there's no point trashing my hands more than I need to, I'm good enough at that without tools...

 

[angellonewolf]

agood lick with wire drill will sort it

 

[dan.taylor.1]

Has anyone a suggestion of what's best to replace with, I'm thinking en8 as its twice the yield strength of mild and I can get it easily. Two small larger bits for the end which I have in the form of some 25mm round, crack the tig out and job done.

Looks like 316 has only slightly higher yield than mild but won't rust.

 

[grim_d]

If you use the vice the handle won't rust anyway.

 

[brightspark]

Has anyone a suggestion of what's best to replace with, I'm thinking en8 as its twice the yield strength of mild and I can get it easily. Two small larger bits for the end which I have in the form of some 25mm round, crack the tig out and job done.

Looks like 316 has only slightly higher yield than mild but won't rust.

you have answered your own question then

 

[Maker]

Stainless would look quite nice but unless you're using a bit of pipe over the handle, you'll never yield even MS by hand, just use whatever you have avalible.

 

[gordon stephenson]

As Brightspark, I would straighten cold, Preferably with a press, Then don't abuse it,Worked in heavy industry all my working life and never bent a vice handle ever, If people are slipping tubes over the handle for extra pressure that is a definite not no in my book, My record 6"- 36P is over 45 years old and the handle is still as straight as it was when new.

 

[Parm]

I've got my grands Record vice, 6" jaws. He's been gone 35years and It was old then. Everything things straight as an arrow

 

[gordon stephenson]

If vice handles are bending from the use of a cheater tube, you have got to find another method of gripping the item.

 

[Wedg1e]

I'd best not post a pic of the handle on my old Record then, it has more bends than the Stelvio Pass... most of them not my doing

 

[Dieselman 63]

I have always wire brushed the screw of vices when rebuilding/restoring, but I always leave the bar rusty. Why? The bar will quickly polish up with use passing through the screw and build up a beautiful patina. A coat of oil every now and then brings the whole thing up lovely.

 

[galooph]

The bar on mine was well past its best when I got it, so I used some 316 and got a couple of ball ends off eBay.

 

[Gareth J]

If the bar is the weak point in the system and bends, it's the easiest bit of the vice to fix. In fact it still works even with a bent bar. If you strengthen the bar, will you put extra stresses on the rest of the system?