Restoring a post leg vice

[Screwdriver]

That looks good, in the long run can you not make something similar with U channel ?

Thanks. I guess I could but I'm still not sure how firm a footing I can get with the floor as it is so I am building to the lowest common denominator. No point having a massively solid stand on a wobbly floor, similarly, I wasn't about to chop up £200 of steel plate for a £20 vice...

I tacked it up (outside!!) but it's started raining so time for another cuppa. Once it has a decent angle iron base, I can tack on some rebar supports to really firm it up. Hopefully I can get at least one good floor bolt right at the back so I can nail it solidly to the floor. The tripod base means it shouldn't wobble, the huge mass means it should work for hitting things and if I put a small (!) foot plate at the front, I can also pull hard on it for twisting.

Time for another skip run I reckon, see what's about. People start chucking stuff out as soon as they see the sun.

 

[MattF]

That wooden frame won't take long to start working loose if you're belting things in it. Screws alone aren't upto that task.

 

[Screwdriver]

That wooden frame won't take long to start working loose if you're belting things in it. Screws alone aren't upto that task.

It's screwed and glued. It will end up being stiff enough for my purposes.

 

[Screwdriver]

Base screwd on and side cheeks for the top added to accept the wide vice mounting plate.

Almost a shame to clad the top but it really needs a metal top to avoid getting scorched.

Close up underneath showing the supports are firmly embedded in wood!

I have sccoted it about in the area it will live and there are some nips and tweaks to be done.

I left the triangular legs a bit long (just in case) so I can cut to required length. I might cut and shut the angle iron so I can fold it to make the ends come straight out so it will fit better in more positions. I can also fit a couple of outrigger "legs" to reduce the possibility of it "hinging" along the straight part of the triangle. A few inches of "stabiliser" tabs will reduce the tendency to tip over tremendously. Then all that's needed is a bit of bracing and it's good to go.

 

[Screwdriver]

I was looking forwards to getting out to the shed. Tidied up the top of the stand which looks great incidentally but not before the Powerfix belt sander decided now is a good time to die. I think it blew its gearbox... I should have the receipt somewhere.

Then I thought I'd just cut up a bit of "thin" plate which had been in use for some time as a sacrificial anode in my electrolysis tank. All the gear, glasses, mask, ear defenders even a dust filter and it was a fairly laborious chore, no helped by the awkward guard fitted to the Bosch angle grinder. It was loose, rattling and stuck in the wrong position and yet still wouldn't move so I gave it a gentle tap with a hammer, then just got mad with it, gave it a good smack before just throwing the blasted thing away. Unbelievably poor design, no wonder people take these stupid things off.

I can feel the tension rising even now. It occurred to me at the time that maybe I am just not cut out for this blacksmithing malarky because the next thing I needed to do was put a few simple bends into a steel sheet. Couldn't be bothered to set up the flypress, you can hardly get to it because the workshop is such a disaster zone. So I stuck it in the monster vice (yup, loose) then started twatting it with a hammer. Eventually put the vice into the stand and used it without any fixings.

I'll be damned it works beautifully! Even without the vice bolted in and with the stand in a random location on the floor, it's strong, sturdy and quite happy for me to smack it with a 2 1/2 lb hammer.

And smacking things with a big hammer feels GOOD! In fact, I worked out all of my frustrations and ended up with the above. Turns out it's about 4mm plate but thinned at the edges so it doesn't look it.

 

[Parm]

Don’t forget, you’ll need a table near the anvil, somewhere to keep hammers, tongs, wire brushes etc all to hand

I’ve had a few lessons from a member at my home forge, one of the first things he did was set up the working area

 

[Screwdriver]

Space is the one thing I don't have.

It's cramped in there not helped by the brick/bath thing right next to the door. I need to knock up a swage block stand but first, I really need to get everything out so I can finish off an RS250 and get started on the Bridgeport. The weather is nearly here so I can almost start thinking about doing stuff outside. Good job too because between the Bridegport, the main welding table and my new four foot T slot table (!), all my sheds are being turned inside out...

 

[octo0072000]

I notice most of these Leg vices all seem to be missing the ball at the foot that was to spread the load on to the floor

 

[Olderisbetter]

The leg vice i have needs a stand, I left it outside for a bit after i cleaned it up a rust convertor it just need a waxing or some oil rubbing in.

 

[Screwdriver]

Given the choice, I would much prefer a permanent spot and fix it to a tree trunk size post, buried deep in the ground. Having said that, the stand works surprisingly well, for example, bending rebar cold or just beating odd bits of metal into submission.

The sheer mass of these big vices and their ability to withstand a pounding makes them a really handy tool to have around for all sorts of general purpose use. So far I have just as often been using it as an anvil (the jaw is a good height for smaller parts) even though it's parked right next to an anvil!

 

[Screwdriver]

Update on the foot burn. For the past few weeks I have had to wear an hilariously expensive type of silicon plaster. They are superb from a medical/engineering perspective but a bit of a chore to keep on all the time and keep replacing. The skin is growing back slowly and while there was once a missing patch the size of a 10p coin, it's now down to the size of a ha'penny.

It looks for all the world like a gigantic popped zit so there will be no photos you'll be glad to hear. I reckon it will heal up fully in the next week or two.