Show us your bench vice(s)

GRW · Jul 6, 2021

The_Yellow_Ardvark said:
From B&Q? They were made by B&D.

Yep, B&Q almost certainly (ex-wife worked in a branch for several years.... & I'm sure I've now had the Bench Grinder longer than the wife )

GRW · Jul 6, 2021

oxoseven said:
I took the advice of various members of this site and had ago myself. Considering the vice was half buried on an allotment for a couple of years to my knowledge, it was quite easy to do once the screw was free. I used a wire brush on my old drill to clean it up, all the screws except one came out and were reused. It feels quite smooth when tightening and the qr is precise. The handle is a bit bent but l,ll keep it like that, l don,t think l,ll ever use it so it won,t matter.
After all that can l now call myself an engineer?
First vice l,ve owned in 77 years.

My No9 Parky has just had a quick once over with an electric wire brush so I could see what I had under the gack that was on top (it came out of a farm barn/workshop). It needs a strip-down etc. but it's QR mechanism and tightening all seem fine (As far as I can tell without having it bolted-down).

The Record 35P I stripped-down tonight. So far I'm happy that it seems solid and with what seems very little use under the grime and surface rust.
The screw and nut seem spot on and no wear, and the handle and tulip shaped handle boss has cleaned pretty well.
So I'm hoping with the 2 main vice sections cleaned and re-enamelled painted up it'll be a really nice vice for use.
(Bit worried about disturbing the jaws tbh- esp. After the warning that they'll be swine to get free)

The_Yellow_Ardvark · Jul 6, 2021

Red'n'Black said:
A 3 1/2" Woden, started using it as a kid so early 1970s at a guess. Gathering dust at home so I took it with me when I moved out:

View attachment 299091 View attachment 299092

And a 4" Record, inherited from my father-in-law. This one is in a lot better condition, or was before I got it and kept it in a damp shed. Will get treated to some ACF50 before this winter.
View attachment 299097 View attachment 299102

The Woden could do with a fettle, it makes a horrible chattering noise when the jaw is moved. Any tips?

Invert, strip the half nut out and clean

The gold highligts indicates a show room or a show vice.

JMS1972 · Jul 9, 2021

Barking Mat said:
The fractal vice has really pushed up the standards here, makes me want to make one, but fairly sure I'm not suitably skilled.

Could always print one

Arc Tourist · Jul 9, 2021

Interesting. If precision tolerances can be sorted, I wonder if the parts might be used as a basis for investment casting ?

Barking Mat · Jul 9, 2021

Arc Tourist said:
Interesting. If precision tolerances can be sorted, I wonder if the parts might be used as a basis for investment casting ?

I'm with you. How do you make castings / moulds from 3D prints in steel.

This is really making me think...

I'm making an appointment with my local 3D printing company.

Then the local foundry.

Screwdriver · Jul 9, 2021

Very happy to see my favourite 3D YouTuber has jumped onto the bandwagon. This thing could run and run.

The_Yellow_Ardvark · Jul 9, 2021

Barking Mat said:
I'm with you. How do you make castings / moulds from 3D prints in steel.

This is really making me think...

I'm making an appointment with my local 3D printing company.

Then the local foundry.

Need to have them made bigger than the finished item, as metal shrinks

Barking Mat · Jul 9, 2021

The_Yellow_Ardvark said:
Need to have them made bigger than the finished item, as metal shrinks

So moulds of 3D prints, then...

Need to talk to a foundry...

Screwdriver · Jul 9, 2021

The_Yellow_Ardvark said:
Need to have them made bigger than the finished item, as metal shrinks

Yes but they'll all shrink so...

SteveB58 · Jul 9, 2021

Screwdriver said:
Yes but they'll all shrink so...

I have friends who were pattern makers and they had a special rule for measuring timber when making patterns; metals don't all contract in the same rate. It wasn't unknown to make a pattern using the wrong rule, and mistakes not realised until a casting had been made.

Screwdriver · Jul 9, 2021

It looks so simple but having struggled myself just to model this thing, the clearances for a good fit are horrendously complex.

And there's a LOT of parts....

Barking Mat · Jul 9, 2021

Screwdriver said:
It looks so simple but having struggled myself just to model this thing, the clearances for a good fit are horrendously complex.

And there's a LOT of parts....

Well we don't like things easy, or simple, do we ?

Arc Tourist · Jul 9, 2021

Screwdriver said:
It looks so simple but having struggled myself just to model this thing, the clearances for a good fit are horrendously complex.

And there's a LOT of parts....

Actually, there are only 5 "critical" parts, but progressive multiples of them. 2, 2, 4, 8 and 16 pieces.

Screwdriver · Jul 9, 2021

Arc Tourist said:
Actually, there are only 5 "critical" parts, but progressive multiples of them. 2, 2, 4, 8 and 16 pieces.

Irrelevant. Casting is not a precision process at the best of times. There are still 32 parts and they ALL have to fit.

CwazyWabbit · Jul 10, 2021

Everything cast will still have to be machined, the casting process just saved you having to remove so much material.
This job would still be easier making from stock as you'd have easier ways to hold the part and no problems with inclusions or hard spots.

Seadog · Jul 10, 2021

Why did I wake up this morning with thoughts about machining the parts overloading my frontal lobe?

Anyway, it became obvious that they can be machined on a lathe very easily. A carrier could be made to load several pieces at a time, and it would be a fairly simple operation to machine both the groove (internal) and dovetail (external), before reversing the fixture to complete the operation. In fact, with the right tooling you could probably do both sides without turning the fixture around on a turret machine.

dannysheff · Jul 10, 2021

Arc Tourist said:
Interesting. If precision tolerances can be sorted, I wonder if the parts might be used as a basis for investment casting ?

Good thinking - and investment casting can get very close (see high pressure section turbine blades in jet engines - main surfaces not machined) but that's not cheap.

A normal foundry won't do investment. A precision foundry will, but pricy. An art foundry will, but prob not the high precision needed.

And then your 3D printing material can't be any old plastic - must be a fully melt-out-able wax type -- no good if crud left in the mould on burn-out.

And then I'd say it still won't be precision enough for this type --- redesign the vice?

Ah well - maybe some other project?

MattF · Jul 10, 2021

dannysheff said:
Ah well - maybe some other project

Don't mess with pipe dreams.

JMS1972 · Jul 10, 2021

dannysheff said:
Good thinking - and investment casting can get very close (see high pressure section turbine blades in jet engines - main surfaces not machined) but that's not cheap.

A normal foundry won't do investment. A precision foundry will, but pricy. An art foundry will, but prob not the high precision needed.

And then your 3D printing material can't be any old plastic - must be a fully melt-out-able wax type -- no good if crud left in the mould on burn-out.

And then I'd say it still won't be precision enough for this type --- redesign the vice?

Ah well - maybe some other project?

It's possible to investment cast bog standard PLA see the VegOilGuy on the YouTubes ...

Or there are special resins for SLA printers designed for Investment casting.

Ah well maybe this project

Show us your bench vice(s)

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