Show us your bench vice(s)

[dannysheff]

Thanks, Arc -- yes that's one of the unusual designs -- a bit like a drill press vice but could also function as a regular small bench vice with those 3 mounting holes -- does it run smoothly? looks like it could 'chatter' with that very simple guide. I think I have also seen the same design with one of the well-known gun-makers names on it (?) - went for quite a lot (for that reason only, I guess).

The other Premier in my vague memory might have been an unusual quick-release woodworker?

Anyway, I like the less usual types, so -- nice find arc.

Any online search for 'vice, premier' just seems to get various useless politicians and adding 'bench' just adds a few lawyers.

 

[Arc Tourist]

.........................................

Or look on the square under the name.
It may have a stamp.

There is a very faint stamp in the square. It appears to read " M / 100 ".
Sorry, best macro photo my camera was able to do.

 

[Arc Tourist]

Thanks, Arc -- yes that's one of the unusual designs -- a bit like a drill press vice but could also function as a regular small bench vice with those 3 mounting holes -- does it run smoothly? looks like it could 'chatter' with that very simple guide. I think I have also seen the same design with one of the well-known gun-makers names on it (?) - went for quite a lot (for that reason only, I guess).

The other Premier in my vague memory might have been an unusual quick-release woodworker?

Anyway, I like the less usual types, so -- nice find arc.

Any online search for 'vice, premier' just seems to get various useless politicians and adding 'bench' just adds a few lawyers.

It operates quite smoothly. There is a little wiggle with the loose jaw, which would be about average for any vice.

 

[SteveB58]

Don't know anything about them, but I acquired this one not long ago. The jaws are 4" and it could be mounted horizontally or vertically. I got it because it seemed it would be good as a drill press vice for larger items.

View attachment 274791

Surely for a drill press you'd want the movable jaw at the front?

 

[Arc Tourist]

Surely for a drill press you'd want the movable jaw at the front?

Not really, I would want the part to be drilled towards the centre of the vice frame for stability. The only difference with the premier vice is that the handle pulls the jaws tight, whereas other drill vice handle's push the jaws together on the workpiece. Here are a couple of close photos for a visual reference.

 

[dannysheff]

That I do.

That I do. I was looking at the remnants of yellow paint on yours, which is no doubt the same colour that mine is finished in.

View attachment 274114

Looking at my old Buck and Hickman 1930 catalogue (1150 pages plus 50 index, doesn't include the machine tools -separate cata --- way to go, Axminster) I see Swindens were then offering their vices in 2", 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8" versions -- the 2" has 2in flat jaws and 1 3/4in pipe jaws, weighs 8lbs, (the 8in is 150lbs) - advertised as of 'special alloy steel and practically indestructible' - so I wonder why London company made the steel weld-fabricated "The Herbert" as a (more expensive?) competitor at this time or a little later.

Anyway, am I right that the 4in is by far the most usual?

 

[MattF]

Anyway, am I right that the 4in is by far the most usual?

Aye.

 

[Onoff]

Just scored this:

 

[Barking Mat]

Just scored this:

View attachment 276334

You need a bench mate.

Very nice.

 

[Arc Tourist]

I thought I had a good amount till one job came in and I needed all of them, plus the vise grips, so I got more clamps, I see no issue apart from where to store them that I can get at easily when needed. If I remember I'll snap a pic of mine.

Just scored this:

View attachment 276334

That looks unabused, should clean up like new.

 

[Vono]

Just scored this:

View attachment 276334

A number 6, very nice.

More pics needed.

 

[dannysheff]

Heads up for anyone south of London -- there's a rather rusty vice under eby title "old vice" looks like a pretty rare Entwistle and Kenyon bench vice -- possibly with the even rarer swivel clamp a la Record 74 - says parts only so may be missing the little movable rack section, but my guess is it's just rusted up.
I have one without the swivel, looks v similar but not quite the same.
Shame if it just went for the starting £0.99, but who knows -- too far for me, but if it were round here I'd be keeping quiet about it - as it is, would be nice if one of you guys could go for it.

 

[Seadog]

Well south. Deepest darkest Kent.

 

[dannysheff]

Go on, youngster, you can tie it to the back of your bike.

 

[Blue Chips]

This is an old Peter Wright blacksmith leg vice/vise that I cleaned up and built a stand for some time ago. I can’t find a “before” picture of it, but here is an “after” photo. It was in what I would call good overall condition when I bought it and only had a light “patina” of surface rust, grease, and dirt, so the cleanup work was primarily cosmetic, other than a very minor bit of truing of the jaw faces and adjustments to the pivot bolt. I disassembled it, cleaned it with solvent, and gave some of the parts a light grit blasting before applying a thin coat of high-temperature BBQ paint, which has held up well.

The threads and box were in nice shape, with very little wear. I try to keep them clean and well greased.

Instead of mounting the vice on a bench (bench space is at a premium in my small shop), I decided to build a portable stand for it so that I could roll it out with my other blacksmithing stuff when I want to attack unsuspecting pieces of hot metal.

The bottom plate is 1/2-inch steel, and I added two adjustable feet for leveling it if the ground happens to be a bit uneven. It does not rest on the casters/castors until you tip it back onto them. The idea with the bottom plate is that you would stand on the plate when using the vice to provide more stability. I added a mid-point support for the leg, not because it really needed it, but I’ve seen a number of these old vices that had a kink in the leg, possibly from using the vice for cold-bending long, heavy items. I certainly wouldn’t abuse the vice like that, but I succumbed to my tendency to over-engineer things and added the support anyway. I placed some spacers under the mounting plate to allow for a future 3/8” steel working surface that I might add at some point. The brackets on the side are for hanging hammers, tongs, etc. If I were to built this again, I'd use larger castors, placed farther apart.

My standard disclaimer: I do not guarantee the safety, efficacy, or applicability of any of my designs or ideas that I have described here in this thread. Any use of my designs or ideas is entirely at your own risk.

I'm always open to suggestions for changes or improvements.

Blue Chips

 

[Arc Tourist]

This is an old Peter Wright blacksmith leg vice/vise that I cleaned up and built a stand for some time ago. I can’t find a “before” picture of it, but here is an “after” photo. It was in what I would call good overall condition when I bought it and only had a light “patina” of surface rust, grease, and dirt, so the cleanup work was primarily cosmetic, other than a very minor bit of truing of the jaw faces and adjustments to the pivot bolt. I disassembled it, cleaned it with solvent, and gave some of the parts a light grit blasting before applying a thin coat of high-temperature BBQ paint, which has held up well.

View attachment 276492

The threads and box were in nice shape, with very little wear. I try to keep them clean and well greased.

View attachment 276493

Instead of mounting the vice on a bench (bench space is at a premium in my small shop), I decided to build a portable stand for it so that I could roll it out with my other blacksmithing stuff when I want to attack unsuspecting pieces of hot metal.

View attachment 276494

View attachment 276495

The bottom plate is 1/2-inch steel, and I added two adjustable feet for leveling it if the ground happens to be a bit uneven. It does not rest on the casters/castors until you tip it back onto them. The idea with the bottom plate is that you would stand on the plate when using the vice to provide more stability. I added a mid-point support for the leg, not because it really needed it, but I’ve seen a number of these old vices that had a kink in the leg, possibly from using the vice for cold-bending long, heavy items. I certainly wouldn’t abuse the vice like that, but I succumbed to my tendency to over-engineer things and added the support anyway. I placed some spacers under the mounting plate to allow for a future 3/8” steel working surface that I might add at some point. The brackets on the side are for hanging hammers, tongs, etc.

View attachment 276502

View attachment 276501

View attachment 276500

My standard disclaimer: I do not guarantee the safety, efficacy, or applicability of any of my designs or ideas that I have described here in this thread. Any use of my designs or ideas is entirely at your own risk.

I'm always open to suggestions for changes or improvements.

Blue Chips

Very nice indeed !

 

[redlig]

This is an old Peter Wright blacksmith leg vice/vise that I cleaned up and built a stand for some time ago. I can’t find a “before” picture of it, but here is an “after” photo. It was in what I would call good overall condition when I bought it and only had a light “patina” of surface rust, grease, and dirt, so the cleanup work was primarily cosmetic, other than a very minor bit of truing of the jaw faces and adjustments to the pivot bolt. I disassembled it, cleaned it with solvent, and gave some of the parts a light grit blasting before applying a thin coat of high-temperature BBQ paint, which has held up well.

View attachment 276492

The threads and box were in nice shape, with very little wear. I try to keep them clean and well greased.

View attachment 276493

Instead of mounting the vice on a bench (bench space is at a premium in my small shop), I decided to build a portable stand for it so that I could roll it out with my other blacksmithing stuff when I want to attack unsuspecting pieces of hot metal.

View attachment 276494

View attachment 276495

The bottom plate is 1/2-inch steel, and I added two adjustable feet for leveling it if the ground happens to be a bit uneven. It does not rest on the casters/castors until you tip it back onto them. The idea with the bottom plate is that you would stand on the plate when using the vice to provide more stability. I added a mid-point support for the leg, not because it really needed it, but I’ve seen a number of these old vices that had a kink in the leg, possibly from using the vice for cold-bending long, heavy items. I certainly wouldn’t abuse the vice like that, but I succumbed to my tendency to over-engineer things and added the support anyway. I placed some spacers under the mounting plate to allow for a future 3/8” steel working surface that I might add at some point. The brackets on the side are for hanging hammers, tongs, etc. If I were to built this again, I'd use larger castors, placed farther apart.

View attachment 276502

View attachment 276501

View attachment 276500

My standard disclaimer: I do not guarantee the safety, efficacy, or applicability of any of my designs or ideas that I have described here in this thread. Any use of my designs or ideas is entirely at your own risk.

I'm always open to suggestions for changes or improvements.

Blue Chips

That really looks the"biz",

 

[dannysheff]

great stand, chips, --- all looks immaculate -- good job you took those photos before doing the dirty job of smithing.

I'll bet your anvil and swage block look pretty good too.

 

[MattF]

Finally got round to changing the chain on the pin on the Parkinson. Found a short length with finer links ages ago, but I've only got round to changing it today. The smaller links look more fitting than the previous chain, (shown draped over the body), IMHO.

 

[Blue Chips]

I'll bet your anvil and swage block look pretty good too.

Thanks. I'm in the process of making a roll-around dolly to go under my anvil stand. Will post photos if/when that gets done.

Finally got round to changing the chain on the pin on the Parkinson. Found a short length with finer links ages ago, but I've only got round to changing it today. The smaller links look more fitting than the previous chain, (shown draped over the body), IMHO.

I should add chains to more of my machine tool pins, handles, and keys, as they have a way of growing legs and walking away when I'm not looking. By the way, I really like the way the Parkinson jaws can adapt to irregular shapes...very nice feature!