Show us your bench vice(s)

[JD_]

Does anyone now an (incomplete) overview of old models Sheffield Record vices?
Any comments on the one I posted earlier?

There's a link to scans of some old catalogues somewhere, mostly Buck & Hickman, featuring lots of different vices. There are a couple of C & J Hampton catalogues among them, and a Parkinson catalogue if memory serves. Hopefully someone can provide you a link to download them as they must be floating around somewhere in cyberspace.

That Record No. 6 you posted looks in superb condition. Likely original paint, too. I don't know anything about the Irwin Records, but that one looks like a later English-made casting to me. It should have 'MADE IN ENGLAND' embossed on the other side. For the right price you should definitely jump on that. Unfortunately I can't tell you what the "right price" is.

 

[Fal]

Hi all I am new to the Forum and have been reading through the “Show us your vice“ thread with interest , been looking to pick up a decent vice for a Little while now because I have found my modern 3 1/2” record Vice to be a bit inadequate for my needs when working on bigger stuff and wanting to give it a bit of welly with the big hammer
I wanted something sturdy with at least 6” jaws, then I noticed a Fortis Steel 12 vice popped up on the Facebook market place early Saturday morning, the guy wanted £25 for it and it was only about 35 minutes away
so I decided to go and grab it ,
As can be seen from the photos it came with out any quick release mechanism, I have since de-Greased it and stripped the whole thing down to the Bare metal with a wire brush attachment on the drill and sanding pad on the 4 1/2 inch wizzer
‘ does anybody know where I might be able to pick one of these up ? ‘
it might be a bit of a long shot so I have started to think about how I can make one of these , I’ve got some 3mm mild steel I can cut for the flat rod and I came across a Slightly over sized spring that might do , as for the other bits Like the leaver and 12mm rod I think I could cobble them together too , if anyone has any suggestions they would be welcome
Thanks

 

[Guzrik]

There's a link to scans of some old catalogues somewhere, mostly Buck & Hickman, featuring lots of different vices. There are a couple of C & J Hampton catalogues among them, and a Parkinson catalogue if memory serves. Hopefully someone can provide you a link to download them as they must be floating around somewhere in cyberspace.

That Record No. 6 you posted looks in superb condition. Likely original paint, too. I don't know anything about the Irwin Records, but that one looks like a later English-made casting to me. It should have 'MADE IN ENGLAND' embossed on the other side. For the right price you should definitely jump on that. Unfortunately I can't tell you what the "right price" is.

I does have Made in England embossed on the other side and it indeed looks in good condition, I have more pics and a movieclip from it.

If anyone is interested; I have more pics.
In short: I want it. But the price is now down to 150€ (132GBP) and I think that is still outrageous money for a vice.
I am telling my wife it would be a better investment than keeping the Euro's, but is that true?
So for me it depends a bit wether this is one off the good Sheffield made ones, or a more modern less desirable(?) Irwin vice?

 

[Arc Tourist]

I does have Made in England embossed on the other side and it indeed looks in good condition, ……………………………………………...
In short: I want it. But the price is now down to 150€ (132GBP) and I think that is still outrageous money for a vice.
I am telling my wife it would be a better investment than keeping the Euro's, but is that true?
……………………………………...

Unfortunately, the Covid-19 pandemic is going to create desperate financial times for many people. I think the high asking prices for a lot of second hand items are going to drop because of this.
If you are not in a hurry, you may be able to find what you want at a more reasonable cost in the near future.

 

[Guzrik]

True, just hope its not gone be me having to sell off my new mill
Or maybe our Euro collapses and i have to put "all" of my money into tooling

 

[Dr.Al]

Today I worked out that I have 15 vices (most either inherited, bought second hand or found in a skip):

• 4 bench vices
• 3 leg vices (one of which is incomplete and will be given away soon)
• 2 drill press vices
• 1 cross vice
• 1 machine vice
• 1 "screwless" tool vice
• 1 hobby vice
• 1 somewhat daft miniature vice (no idea what this is for really - came from the OH's Dad - I used it once to hold some screws for painting)
• 1 woodworking vice

Just for fun, here's the biggest bench vice (which still needs painting) with the miniature vice sitting on top of it:

 

[Arc Tourist]

Today I worked out that I have 15 vices (most either inherited, bought second hand or found in a skip):

• 4 bench vices
• 3 leg vices (one of which is incomplete and will be given away soon)
• 2 drill press vices
• 1 cross vice
• 1 machine vice
• 1 "screwless" tool vice
• 1 hobby vice
• 1 somewhat daft miniature vice (no idea what this is for really - came from the OH's Dad - I used it once to hold some screws for painting)
• 1 woodworking vice

Just for fun, here's the biggest bench vice (which still needs painting) with the miniature vice sitting on top of it:

View attachment 228268

Amazing how they multiply, isn't it.

 

[slim_boy_fat]

Amazing how they multiply, isn't it.

It happens in the dark.....

 

[Arc Tourist]

It happens in the dark.....

Yeah your right, at night while surfing ebay.

 

[SteveB58]

Yeah your right, at night while surfing ebay.

Lager+eBay=new 'surprise' toys

 

[dobbslc]

Jack Daniels + Christmas = buying back an old race bike I'd sold 2 years previously and really regretted. I still have that bike 18 years later

 

[rosinante]

Hi chaps , I have a fully working Steelrack vice , Q what are they worth , need a ruff idea before I market it ,weighs a lot , opens about a foot jaws 9 ins wide , , woodworking vice ,

Cheers

 

[tom2207]

Amazing how they multiply, isn't it.

Its all that Vice ,,,, lol

 

[The_Yellow_Ardvark]

View attachment 229073 View attachment 229074 View attachment 229075 Hi chaps , I have a fully working Steelrack vice , Q what are they worth , need a ruff idea before I market it ,weighs a lot , opens about a foot jaws 9 ins wide , , woodworking vice ,

Cheers

That's a tough question.

This similar version cost £8, £! auction fees. A few hours labour and some old rattle can paint.



Sold at the same auction house for £150.

Yet some go for less than £40.

Look on Tool sites, The bay, auction houses to get a ball park figure.

 

[JD_]

As can be seen from the photos it came with out any quick release mechanism, I have since de-Greased it and stripped the whole thing down to the Bare metal with a wire brush attachment on the drill and sanding pad on the 4 1/2 inch wizzer
‘ does anybody know where I might be able to pick one of these up ? ‘
it might be a bit of a long shot so I have started to think about how I can make one of these , I’ve got some 3mm mild steel I can cut for the flat rod and I came across a Slightly over sized spring that might do , as for the other bits Like the leaver and 12mm rod I think I could cobble them together too , if anyone has any suggestions they would be welcome
Thanks

I've made up the pieces to replace/repair QR systems before. It's pretty straightforward fab. Even forged the little levers that press onto the shaft for the paddle (nomenclature?). I know I'm just boasting about my mule in a paddock full of racehorses but I just mean it's a nice little job. Definitely worth it for a Fortis No. 12 casting in good condition. Very stout vices. Fortis QR is easier to do since the lug on the spring keys into the slot in the end of the lever shaft rather than having a tensioning "nut" like Records and Parkos (at least the ones I've seen). It means you have to pretension it on assembly but that ain't tea bag.

 

[JD_]

Today I worked out that I have 15 vices (most either inherited, bought second hand or found in a skip):

• 4 bench vices
• 3 leg vices (one of which is incomplete and will be given away soon)
• 2 drill press vices
• 1 cross vice
• 1 machine vice
• 1 "screwless" tool vice
• 1 hobby vice
• 1 somewhat daft miniature vice (no idea what this is for really - came from the OH's Dad - I used it once to hold some screws for painting)
• 1 woodworking vice

Just for fun, here's the biggest bench vice (which still needs painting) with the miniature vice sitting on top of it:

View attachment 228268

Very nice. I had exceeded that at one point and came to the sobering conclusion that I had a bit of a problem and might want to cut back a bit, since most where quite large. Not that there's anything wrong with a healthy collection if it makes you happy, but my priorities were getting a bit skewed, personally speaking. I'm just down the ones I use now and happier for it, but I stress that it's just me. You do you.

 

[Arc Tourist]

Lager+eBay=new 'surprise' toys

A lot of Coffee + Ebay = An occasional good purchase, for me

 

[Dr.Al]

Very nice. I had exceeded that at one point and came to the sobering conclusion that I had a bit of a problem and might want to cut back a bit, since most where quite large. Not that there's anything wrong with a healthy collection if it makes you happy, but my priorities were getting a bit skewed, personally speaking. I'm just down the ones I use now and happier for it, but I stress that it's just me. You do you.

I'm not particularly interested in collecting vices and I must admit I was surprised when I realised how many I had. The two drill press vices are useful as one is on the drill press and the other I use as a portable angle grinding holding stuff vice so is more of a grinding vice than a drill press vice. The 3 leg vices I only have because I found them in a skip and couldn't bear to see them go to metal recycling. Ditto one of the bench vices (which is also the biggest one, so will definitely end up being used). Two bench vices and the daft miniature one came from the OH's Dad and again I didn't want to see them go to the tip. If you discount the 3 "extra" bench vices and 3 leg vices which were free and acquired more to save them than to acquire them, I've only got one of each type of vice.

That's reasonable, isn't it?!?!?

 

[The_Yellow_Ardvark]

I've only got one of each type of vice.

Bet you haven't!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[JD_]

I'm not particularly interested in collecting vices and I must admit I was surprised when I realised how many I had. The two drill press vices are useful as one is on the drill press and the other I use as a portable angle grinding holding stuff vice so is more of a grinding vice than a drill press vice. The 3 leg vices I only have because I found them in a skip and couldn't bear to see them go to metal recycling. Ditto one of the bench vices (which is also the biggest one, so will definitely end up being used). Two bench vices and the daft miniature one came from the OH's Dad and again I didn't want to see them go to the tip. If you discount the 3 "extra" bench vices and 3 leg vices which were free and acquired more to save them than to acquire them, I've only got one of each type of vice.

That's reasonable, isn't it?!?!?

Not for me to judge really, can only comment on my own situation, but I don't see why not. I'm a bit curious as to what sort of money you might want for one of those leg vices now, although I've nowhere to put one I do really fancy- no, must resist!