Show us your bench vice(s)

[MattF]

Very short drying time.

 

[Arc Tourist]

Short drying time as Matt says, and the nice part is that it self levels to eliminate brush marks. I've found it to be very durable.

 

[Arc Tourist]

I was rummaging around in my storage unit today and came across a "Vulcan" Chain Vise. It was one of several tools that was left in an old 1964 Ford truck I bought at auction back in 1978. The truck had a toolbox utility bed with a vise mount bracket on either side of the tailgate. The truck was built like a tank, and beat you half to death to drive it, but it was instrumental in helping me get construction jobs when others interviewed only showed up with a hand held toolbox.

I haven't used this chain vise much over the years, but once I get my workshop built I think I'll mount it on a small piece of angle iron so it can be clamped in a regular vice. These vice's don't take up much room for the large sizes of pipe they are capable of holding, and real handy when the need arises. Here's a photo, painted with my favourite green, of course.

 

[InTheHighlands]

Talking about vice colours' does anyone know what colour Fortis vices were sold as? I've a feeling it was green, but I'm not sure where I got that from.
Any suggestions as to pain in an appropriate colour would be good!

 

[Arc Tourist]

I don't know about original Fortis colour, but unless you plan to sell it or are a conservative collector, consider a colour that you personally like; after all, you are the one who has to live with it.

 

[Dieselman 63]

I don't know about original Fortis colour, but unless you plan to sell it or are a conservative collector, consider a colour that you personally like; after all, you are the one who has to live with it.

Sound advice. I usually like taking machines back to original colours, but I can't bear Fobco cream, so it's going green! As you say, it's only you who has to live with it so make it a bit easier on yourself!

 

[The_Yellow_Ardvark]

She is finished.
All cleaned up.
The rust was not as bad ad it seamed, the hot solution in the de rusting tank removed the caked on grease.

That meant she came to bits easy and not force was needed.

The rear spring did die, but in a box of springs I found one what was pressed into use.

The finish is bee's wax from a local bee hive mixed with white spirit and boiled linseed oil. I warmed the metal in the oven, tip don't get found out. The wax/oil was worked in with a brass wire brush.

She is now hidden away waiting for a bench to arrive.

 

[brewdexta]

I found these while tidying up today.

First is a Taiwan made quick release vice from Axminster I bought back in 2003 but never got around to making the bench, it was still in the box.

Next is the vice my uncle gave me in response to buying the above "monstrosity" as he called it. It's a big old 53E, it needs a bit of TLC as the slides are a bit rusty.

To be fair, the Taiwanese vice isn't bad, and the handy slide up dog on the front jaw would be useful opposite a row of dog holes on the bench.

One of these will end up in the downstairs barn bench for general joinery and the other possibly on a kids bench, so probably the green one for the kids.

Cheers
Andy

 

[Arc Tourist]

I have a 53E which I got in California a couple of decades ago. It is a great vice, and came back to the UK with me when I shipped a lot of my belongings here in a Seatrain container.

 

[Dieselman 63]

The 53A is the forefather of the 53E. You don't realise just how huge they are until you're holding one thinking 'I'm gonna need a bigger bench!'

 

[winchman]

Whats the best way to straighten a vice handle?

 

[Dieselman 63]

Whats the best way to straighten a vice handle?

With a bigger, more powerful vice!

Seriously though, I try to do them cold.

 

[winchman]

I was thinking two V blocks in the press?

 

[Arc Tourist]

I would say, by rotating it so the high spot is between two V-blocks, and using an arbor or hydraulic press to straighten it.

 

[winchman]

Just need to get of the chair and do it yet its one of the massive records but I can't find my post about it, its missing the quick release and jaws, not sure if its best to keep it or move it on to be honest?

 

[winchman]

Just found it again its a record 112, I need Jaws and part of the quick release mechanism, any one have any bits?

 

[MattF]

Which bits are you missing from the QR assembly?

 

[Maker]

Whats the best way to straighten a vice handle?

Screwdriver (I think) posted some pictures straightening on in a fly press.

 

[MattF]

I was thinking two V blocks in the press?

That's the way. Try to use softer material on the ram, so you're not marking the handle.

 

[winchman]

Which bits are you missing from the QR assembly?

Here is what I have

Let me know if you can help.
I need a set of jaws too