Show us your bench vice(s)

[StevieO]

It did. Reading StevieO's last post pushed me over the edge, and I had to make an offer, which I was surprised was accepted. No worries, it won't be basturdized by a refurbishment, just carefully cleaned and lubricated. Not sure what jaw size size a #4 Fortis has, but judging by the tape measure in the photo I'm thinking 3 1/2" ?

Nice one Arc
Gotta ask that seller for commission

 

[Arc Tourist]

Nice one Arc
Gotta ask that seller for commission

You are an exceptionally good salesman. Don't do it again !

 

[Barking Mat]

You are an exceptionally good salesman. Don't do it again !

Nice.

 

[Arc Tourist]

Green is nice.

I think I found a subliminal reason why resistance was futile.

 

[SteveB58]

Apologies for this not being a vice related post, but Vono did ask for updates, so blame him!
Drill was stripped and soaked in Evapo Rust for about 36 hours which got rid of all the rust, after washing in water and a light wire brushing it was reassembled. Had to do something about the follower wheel and I used a redundant Millers Falls No2 drill crank and it works, the wheel turns lifting the thingy moving the feed down. Well pleased with that. Unsure if it should be painted so just oiled at present. Next step is a plank to mount it on, then ????

 

[pressbrake1]

My vice against a record of 5.5 -6” jaw

 

[Vono]

Apologies for this not being a vice related post, but Vono did ask for updates, so blame him!
Drill was stripped and soaked in Evapo Rust for about 36 hours which got rid of all the rust, after washing in water and a light wire brushing it was reassembled. Had to do something about the follower wheel and I used a redundant Millers Falls No2 drill crank and it works, the wheel turns lifting the thingy moving the feed down. Well pleased with that. Unsure if it should be painted so just oiled at present. Next step is a plank to mount it on, then ????

View attachment 362660 View attachment 362661

Happy to be blamed for updates & pics of that beauty

What a lovely bit of kit, absolute quality.

 

[Vono]

My vice against a record of 5.5 -6” jaw

View attachment 362669

Good god

 

[StevieO]

My vice against a record of 5.5 -6” jaw

View attachment 362669

What vice is it?

 

[pressbrake1]

What vice is it?

I make them

 

[Arc Tourist]

Got a surprise delivery today. Wow that was fast, and I like the way the vice was packed, with plastic bottles jammed to the shape in the box and then the air tight cap's shut; superb ! The vice has got some great patina and has had some honest use, but not abuse. I sent a message to the seller asking about its history and got a reply saying that it was part of his uncle's collection, which he had acquired locally ( Lincoln ?) and that he had this particular one for a number of years. The vice has three inch wide jaws, and they operate smoothly almost to the end of opening, so I think a cleaning and relube of the screw & nut is all that's needed. Here are a some photos for size comparison with a Record size O and a Parkensons ball base vice.

 

[CwazyWabbit]

Love the stand/base, never seen that before.

 

[StevieO]

Got a surprise delivery today. Wow that was fast, and I like the way the vice was packed, with plastic bottles jammed to the shape in the box and then the air tight cap's shut; superb ! The vice has got some great patina and has had some honest use, but not abuse. I sent a message to the seller asking about its history and got a reply saying that it was part of his uncle's collection, which he had acquired locally ( Lincoln ?) and that he had this particular one for a number of years. The vice has three inch wide jaws, and they operate smoothly almost to the end of opening, so I think a cleaning and relube of the screw & nut is all that's needed. Here are a some photos for size comparison with a Record size O and a Parkensons ball base vice.View attachment 362941View attachment 362942View attachment 362943View attachment 362944

That’s even better than I thought.
I absolutely love the Fortis sweeping curve on the fixed part that leads up to the jaws. Almost straight out of an Art Deco piece.

The Apple Green colour is gorgeous and the original transfers are amazing- never seen them before.

And what a stand!!

Superb Arc. So glad that you got it…

 

[Arc Tourist]

That’s even better than I thought.
I absolutely love the Fortis sweeping curve on the fixed part that leads up to the jaws. Almost straight out of an Art Deco piece.

The Apple Green colour is gorgeous and the original transfers are amazing- never seen them before.

And what a stand!!

Superb Arc. So glad that you got it…

Thanks, It won't be boogered up or repainted. Only thing is I need to go through my parts drawer and find an old thin washer of the right thickness to add under the clamp handle, so that it locks in a more horizontal position rather than a vertical one; just a minor improvement.

 

[Arc Tourist]

I have still thus far in my research still never found a fortis catalogue, ...............................................................

Yesterday I typed Fortis vice into the search box on the model engineering forum, and just one thread came up with about 28 posts. One of the posters mentioned that " Graces Guide " shows a Fortis Catalogue dated 1950 . So far I haven't been able to chase it down, but at least its a lead.

 

[Vono]

Glad it got there safely.
What a gorgeous thing, really lovely.
Will the clamp handle not be in the way if it's more horizontal ?

 

[Arc Tourist]

......................... Will the clamp handle not be in the way if it's more horizontal ?

Don't think so, but its easily removed if it becomes an issue.

 

[Arc Tourist]

Did a little disassembly investigation today, and happy there are no problems The screw and nut look and function fine. Was interesting to find that there are felt wipers to clean the ways, like on a lathe carriage, to keep filings swarf and other debris from scarring them. Also on the under side of the vice I noted two small nubs which are at the same level as the mounting bolt pads. I wouldn't think that they add anything to stability, but maybe are for indexing on another type of post or platform ?

 

[SteveB58]

Had to tap a butterfly nut this afternoon and the easiest way to hold it was in a small vice which was held in my 75. Anyone else do this? I use the smaller vice for making bone guitar nuts or bridges and find it useful for making keys. Must confess that I do undo the wrong vice occasionally sending job and vice to the floor.

 

[Arc Tourist]

Had to tap a butterfly nut this afternoon and the easiest way to hold it was in a small vice which was held in my 75. Anyone else do this? I use the smaller vice for making bone guitar nuts or bridges and find it useful for making keys. Must confess that I do undo the wrong vice occasionally sending job and vice to the floor.

View attachment 363234

I have a vice just like the orange one in your photo. I presume you have a drill press ? If so, I have a clamping tip for you if it has a square or rectangular table ?