Show us your bench vice(s)

[MattF]

Look by the side mounting holes for the old GPO marks and a number. Yours is red, it may be an old GPO one.

That's a colour Parkinson commonly used. It was more maroon/burgundy than red. Not sure if it was just on earlier models or what. Nicer than that orangy/brown colour they used.

Can't beat a nice Parkinson.

 

[The_Yellow_Ardvark]

That's a colour Parkinson commonly used. It was more maroon/burgundy than red. Not sure if it was just on earlier models or what. Nicer than that orangy/brown colour they used.

Can't beat a nice Parkinson.

If there are GPO markings on the fixed jar by the bolt holes.
They were over painted in Post box red, for the GPO.

 

[lewlux]

Hi folks, iv recently acquired a vice that has a solid base with a threaded hole in between the two bench mounting holes that i assume is just another fixing point as it has some threaded bar in it. Anyway the slide doesn't wind in or out, but if you undo the handle it will then pull open an same shut wise and once against something like a block of wood it does nip up and hold it. My question is, is this some sort of qr or is it more likely broken somewhere ?

Its jaws are aprox 6'' wide and its got a small square anvil type plate.
This is my other one that ive had for nearly 30 years and although its been stored for the last few im happy to see it back on a bench ready for use

And finally one that i inherited from my dad that he liberated from the docks iirc,anyway its in need if fixing and a resto if i ever get around to it. The vice does up to a certain point then slips' and wont go any tighter which id imagined to be thread related ? any thoughts on this or the yank one much appreciated.
Love the thread by the way,half way through so far an hooked lol

 

[MattF]

The US one would likely have had a swivel base, originally. With regards to it not opening & closing, there'll either be a collar on the leadscrew which is loose, else a pin missing from the leadscrew if they've used the spring & washer method we use.

 

[Arc Tourist]

As Matt said, the US one would have had a swivel base. I remember having a small Columbian that used a bolt with a shoulder, that when snugged down, held the base on with just enough slack for it to turn. What does the raised writing on your vice casting state, can't see from the photo ?

 

[GSR]

The QR trigger should be more upright angle as well

Half hour fiddling this morning and it fully opens

and guessing this is the reason the quick release isn’t more upright

 

[MattF]

You easily straighten that bar, if the urge takes you. They're only mild steel.

 

[SteveB58]

Half hour fiddling this morning and it fully opens View attachment 255694and guessing this is the reason the quick release isn’t more upright
View attachment 255696

Hope you are going to replace those fixing bolts, give it some welly and you'll loose bolts, job, vice and bench.

Might have been here before but, as an apprentice I was always taught to put the bolts through the bench nuts uppermost. This is because if they do loosen it is both easier to spot and to tighten, as you should always hold the bolt and tighten the nut wherever possible.

Lovely vice though.

Steve

 

[MattF]

Hope you are going to replace those fixing bolts, give it some welly and you'll loose bolts, job, vice and bench.

Might have been here before but, as an apprentice I was always taught to put the bolts through the bench nuts uppermost. This is because if they do loosen it is both easier to spot and to tighten, as you should always hold the bolt and tighten the nut wherever possible.

Lovely vice though.

Steve

Glad someone else works on the nut topside principle. People usually suggest I'm weird, for doing that.

 

[SteveB58]

Glad someone else works on the nut topside principle. People usually suggest I'm weird, for doing that.

Nuts were always topside, on engine mounts, vertical pipework flanges, absolutely everything all with 2 threads over the bolt.
Steve

 

[Arc Tourist]

Just like when joining structural steel, bolts should have no threads within the sheer-plane. The same principle will provide a superior attachment when used between a vice base and its table holes.

 

[SteveB58]

Just like when joining structural steel, bolts should have no threads within the sheer-plane. The same principle will provide a superior attachment when used between a vice base and its table holes.

I had always been told that it was British Standard. However while working for a firm that assembled diesel generators I got a dressing down for putting the engine mounts in this way. I had to put them in, to my mind, upside-down with a full bolt diameter of thread over the nut.

 

[dannysheff]

Good to hear from you guys who went through a proper apprenticeships, (I didn't) and I can see most of the reasons (which I hadn't considered much before) -- but there may be reasons to do otherwise? - a length of bolt sticking up on a work bench can get hit (not good if you then have to disassemble) and a length of bolt sticking up can get in the way of a bench operation or catch on something. I also tighten the nut, not the bolt head, usually, but if both are against steel/iron, in a larger hole, with a washer, does it make a significant difference (I usually move both slightly when tightening)? I can see some of the stress/strain reasons for best practice, but again, we're not talking about high pressure boilers here. (I have re-assembled large 30,000psi gas pressure vessels, but stuck closely to the manual, torqueing etc).

Educate me.

 

[Arc Tourist]

In business, install according to specifications. If for personal use, install using common sense. My viewpoint is that anything that could possibly injure me most likely will at some point, so as far as vices go, I bolt them down with heads up; and with lock washers topped off by Nylock nuts, I don't think there is a need to worry about the vice becoming loose. Socket head cap bolts are nice.
.

 

[lewlux]

Thanks ArcT and Matt i will investigate furthur and take a better pic an post at something other than fag packet size

 

[slim_boy_fat]

I've got mine bolt head up, on the basis that it the nut's going to come loose it'll drop to the floor, leaving the bolt still in place through the bench so that it can't move/twist.

That said, I reckon I'd detect the slack on the vice before the nut made it's bid for freedom.

Those bolts @GSR has used do look a bit small to me, for that size of vice.

 

[MattF]

But, if your nut works loose, you'd visibly notice when it's mounted up top.

 

[Arc Tourist]

But, if your nut works loose, you'd visibly notice when it's mounted up top.

A wise man once said, ...………………………………………………………………………………….....nothing.

 

[slim_boy_fat]

But, if your nut works loose, you'd visibly notice

I think that'd be the least of your worries by that time.

 

[MattF]

Matt, interested in an offer for it - I am an avid swiviller

You were the one who enquired last year about it, as to whether I may be willing to part with it? Just making sure I'm not mixing you up with someone else. Don't want to risk upsetting anyone.