Show us your bench vice(s)

[GraemeVW]

What process did you use to get the black disc in the middle like that? Thank you.

Carsten

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I'd like to pretend I did something super posh, but all the black is just vht wrinkle paint. They were wrinkle paint from new.
I was going to do it the old way (I believe you paint it with enamel, then paint it with cellulose. I believe that's how wrinkle paint was always done) but it sounded like it would be hard to control the effect.

Tempted to do this fortis vice in dark red, or dark green, wrinkle. Might hide some of the worst of the casting as the fortis steel castings don't look that great.

Or, I might just spend some time tidying them up a bit and use normal enamel.

I painted my 1950s hydrovane compressor motor with it too. I like a bit of wrinkle paint

 

[25.4_mechanic]

vht wrinkle paint

Hehe, I read "vht wrinkle paint" and think to myself, what will be the equivalent of this in my country, even the word for it .... But lo and behold, they have their own store under this name here too.
The German word translates as shrink paint or ruffle paint.

With € 20,59 per spray can not exactly a special offer, but varnishes in general have become quite expensive - at least good for 178°C, that's nice too.

Thanks.

Carsten

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[25.4_mechanic]

I believe you paint it with enamel, then paint it with cellulose.

Have to read about the old process.

 

[25.4_mechanic]

Tempted to do this fortis vice in dark red, or dark green, wrinkle. Might hide some of the worst of the casting as the fortis steel castings don't look that great.

Good idea.
I made my old Guzzi in Balmoral Green metallic. Love it!
Everybody tries to tell me it's got to be red

The fortis in dark green wrinkle with the hardend steel parts polished to high gloss would be a stunner

Carsten

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[GraemeVW]

Good idea.
I made my old Guzzi in Balmoral Green metallic. Love it!
Everybody tries to tell me it's got to be red

The fortis in dark green wrinkle with the hardend steel parts polished to high gloss would be a stunner

Carsten

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It would wouldn't it!
It will probably go dark green in some way.
I've been jet washing the mud out of it. Looks like it's spent some time hurried. Seems it was probably green but has also been yellow, silver, red, and blue.
It also looks a little like the handle may have been plated, but I have my doubts. Looks way too shiny to be silver paint though. But that would have had to have been done before fitting. How would they have done the end knobs on the handle?
It's currently soaking in soap, try and loosed up some of the hard packed in mud.

 

[The_Yellow_Ardvark]

Good idea.
I made my old Guzzi in Balmoral Green metallic. Love it!
Everybody tries to tell me it's got to be red

The fortis in dark green wrinkle with the hardend steel parts polished to high gloss would be a stunner

Carsten

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Frost do a nice crinkle paint finish kit.

 

[MattF]

Good question about the decorations, I don't know when they were dropped however so far I believe we have only seen them on the vices that have used the spelling of 'vice' rather than 'vise'. They aren't present on my early model F that uses the spelling 'vise'
The step present on the front of the Handy vice is I believe to stop filing swarf falling onto the surface where the spindle contact the front face of the sliding jaw.

My No.5 has the spelling 'vice', but not the decorative slide inlay corners.

 

[CwazyWabbit]

My No.5 has the spelling 'vice', but not the decorative slide inlay corners.

Does yours have the Cocker Bros Limited on it?

 

[MattF]

Nope. This one:



I've posted the before photo so that you can see the writing more clearly.

 

[CwazyWabbit]

So it's looking like the decorative inlay disappeared with Cocker Bros.

 

[Vono]

So it's looking like the decorative inlay disappeared with Cocker Bros.

Sorry, what's "Cocker Bros" ?

 

[CwazyWabbit]

Sorry, what's "Cocker Bros" ?

Keep up Vono!
It seems the very early ones were manufactured by Cocker Bros Limited, see https://www.mig-welding.co.uk/forum/threads/show-us-your-bench-vice-s.52872/page-273#post-1939246

 

[CwazyWabbit]

Sorry, what's "Cocker Bros" ?

Not sure if this will be readable on here

 

[MattF]

Have you noticed how that drawing depicts a single piece body?

 

[CwazyWabbit]

Have you noticed how that drawing depicts a single piece body?

No! I'd completely missed that The drawing is from 1886.... damn it now I have to go back and look at the patents now and see what style body they have

 

[CwazyWabbit]

Have you noticed how that drawing depicts a single piece body?

Even the 1885 German patent shows a one piece body but has the decorations on the slide......


So I'm thinking the drawings aren't the most accurate as we also have pictures from the era showing bodies were two part (1889 Paris trade show)....

 

[GraemeVW]

I wonder if they had production trouble, went with the 2 piece untill they sorted it, then went back to the original idea.

 

[Vono]

Keep up Vono!
It seems the very early ones were manufactured by Cocker Bros Limited, see https://www.mig-welding.co.uk/forum/threads/show-us-your-bench-vice-s.52872/page-273#post-1939246

I must try harder
That's excellent, ta for the info

 

[GraemeVW]

I have this vice too, I think Arc Tourist posted a premier vice that looks identical but this isn't marked.
I also bought this for occasional jobs under the drill but it's awkward. You can't wind it in without the handle overhanging the edge. Means you can't clamp it down unless the handle ends up horizontal.

So where these just bench vices? Why isn't this one marked? Green paint but i see no military markings.

How do you tag a member? Arc Tourist, is this the same as yours?

 

[CwazyWabbit]

@GraemeVW just put the at sign in front of their name '@'