Show us your bench vice(s)

[StevieO]

We share the same passion.




and I didn't took it wrong, between the two of us, under four eyes

Prost skål, kippis!

Carsten

--

Zum vol Carsten....

 

[ranger08]

Hi Matt
One is Steel the other is Pearlitic Iron
Guess that's the main difference.

Looks like they would clean up really nice though.

Wasn’t even ductile iron on the 20 series back then, just good old grey cast iron

 

[StevieO]

Wasn’t even ductile iron on the 20 series back then, just good old grey cast iron

You are correct Ranger - Cast Iron they were right up to the last cat I have at 1967

 

[cr500dom]

Wasn’t even ductile iron on the 20 series back then, just good old grey cast iron

You are correct Ranger - Cast Iron they were right up to the last cat I have at 1967

Steel & cast iron.

Hi Matt
One is Steel the other is Pearlitic Iron
Guess that's the main difference.

Looks like they would clean up really nice though.

Thanks guys So which one is “better” For a vice ? Cast Steel or Cast Iron

 

[StevieO]

Thanks guys So which one is “better” For a vice ? Cast Steel or Cast Iron

Hi
I think that’s a very interesting question.

Masses of Cast Iron vice exist in use worldwide as I guess the bulk of production was Cast rather than SG Iron or Ductile Iron or Steel. Record changed many but not all products to Pearlitic Iron for increased strength whereas others made Steel castings which are much stronger yet also more expensive.

They also made vice from both Cast Iron & Cast Steel eg. Woden, Parkinson, Fortis, etc. Some made Steel vices from hot rolled steel sheet like the Leader series from Record which are cut and welded together.

Bottom line yes Steel is much stronger than all Iron variations but at higher cost.

In use. What’s the difference? We have Cast Iron vice still in use for over 100 years.

I reckon it all depends whether you bash the vice to death during use or not as to whether you should choose Steel not Iron.



Hope that helps


SteveO

 

[SteveB58]

Ahh perlite, a mixture of ferrite and cementite. Takes me back to my apprentice learning about such things, I'd almost forgotten al about them.

 

[CwazyWabbit]

Thanks guys So which one is “better” For a vice ? Cast Steel or Cast Iron

I'd go with the steel one, it's less likely to crack than grey iron.

 

[SteveB58]

I'd go with the steel one, it's less likely to crack than grey iron.

If iron is more likely to crack why are there so many old leg vices out there?

 

[MattF]

If iron is more likely to crack why are there so many old leg vices out there?

They're wrought iron, not cast iron. Totally different in characteristics.

 

[SteveB58]

They're wrought iron, not cast iron. Totally different in characteristics.

Ahh, the clouds clear, thanks Matt.

 

[ranger08]

thing is, steel is hard to cast as there are many rejects, cast iron and ductile iron is perfect for casting, makes a fine looking object, ductile having a higher tensile strength than cast grey
cast iron has very little tensile strength, i know ive over tightened the underneath bench clamp screw on a clamp vice and "ping"
steel is high tensile can take shock or hammering etc however it bends
picture is of a record steel 35, constant cranking of objects on the edges of the jaws have bent the front jaw and jaw plate into a semi circle type shape

 

[SteveB58]

thing is, steel is hard to cast as there are many rejects, cast iron and ductile iron is perfect for casting, makes a fine looking object, ductile having a higher tensile strength than cast grey
cast iron has very little tensile strength, i know ive over tightened the underneath bench clamp screw on a clamp vice and "ping"
steel is high tensile can take shock or hammering etc however it bends
picture is of a record steel 35, constant cranking of objects on the edges of the jaws have bent the front jaw and jaw plate into a semi circle type shape
View attachment 344002

While I don't doubt this may be the case I am a little sceptical. Jaw plates are hardened and are unlikely to distort to this extent, IMO. I'd want to measure and examine the plate for wear and distortion.

 

[Arc Tourist]

Don't think I've shown this here before, but this is my smallest bench vise. Jaws are 1 3/8" wide and its very well made for what it is, and as it took up little space, it resided in my overseas field kit for the gun range; occasionally useful where a third hand was necessary.

 

[SteveB58]

Lovely Record 75 on ebay, currently only £2, buyer collects Cambridge area. Needs work, could keep you busy for a while.

 

[SteveB58]

Intriguing vice on a well known 4 lettered auction site. Anyone any ideas as to age or manufacturer?

 

[Arc Tourist]

What intrigues me is the main frame would appear to be forged, not cast, judging by the bend in the tail section ?

 

[The_Yellow_Ardvark]

A few more Vices to my collection.

 

[dannysheff]

How to find harmony in the greenhouse.

These Vonos (10 1/2 WS woodwork swivel jaw QR, and no.3 swivel base QR bench top) had spent long enough outdoors and needed a home. Luckily we have a largish greenhouse, which already had a vice (fine, but plain Record 2) so one day when my wife was busy elsewhere I installed a 'potting bench extension' which to me is a 'Vono bench'. Any one need a plain 2 with a very fine service 'Record'?

Late autumn, after the tomatoes and grapes have been eaten and the greenhouse is back to its proper use as a workshop, I'll clean up these two, but they work fine for now

 

[dannysheff]

---- A-a-nd, on the allotment. I finally gave up holding on to a bench as a gift for one of the family who was too indecisive, and am keeping it myself.

Again a one make bench with two vices, but in this case they all came as a unit (bought a few years ago from the handyman's workshop in a rather grand Yorkshire farm which was being turned into a hotel - the seller was the owner who told me his grandad had bought the bench with vices as one item from a catalogue).

Wards W&P Anvil W2 9in QR ww, and Wards Anvil no 2 bench type. The bench is a tropical hardwood, very solid, but I had to saw a few inches off the right hand end as it had been hacked about and had some rot.

I have seen a near identical bench in a Melhuish London catalogue (1920s) - note the woodscrew which holds the top to base, next to a modern no10 2in screw, now that's what I call a .....

I had move a lot to get this slotted in to the (large) allotment shed, but it couldn't stay outside (in pieces, getting wet etc) any longer.

I'll fit it together as soon as I find where I put the rest of the giant woodscrews (even make today's coachbolts look small) - also due for a fettle in the autumn. For some reason, I do like the old square headed bolts, screw and nuts, seem to go with a classic vice.

as we're multiligual these days, I know allotments (US community gardens) are jardins ouvriers in French - is it Schrebergarten or? auf deutsch? and why?

 

[Vono]

How to find harmony in the greenhouse.

View attachment 345403View attachment 345404

These Vonos (10 1/2 WS woodwork swivel jaw QR, and no.3 swivel base QR bench top) had spent long enough outdoors and needed a home. Luckily we have a largish greenhouse, which already had a vice (fine, but plain Record 2) so one day when my wife was busy elsewhere I installed a 'potting bench extension' which to me is a 'Vono bench'. Any one need a plain 2 with a very fine service 'Record'?

Late autumn, after the tomatoes and grapes have been eaten and the greenhouse is back to its proper use as a workshop, I'll clean up these two, but they work fine for now

Those Vono's look brilliant (I am slightly biased though )
The colour you've got the pattern makers one in looks great and judging by traces on mine i reckon not too far off the original.