Show us your bench vice(s)

[dannysheff]

Wow. Just looked back at this. I did not expect to see any comments! Thanks for all the remarks.

On colour, I did seriously consider Paragon paint...

BS381C 110 Roundel Blue - Paragon Paints

However, as I was going to use it rather than show it or sell it and I really don't like the colour, I decided to go with green/red.

On the 'P' it is almost ground out, but the lighting in the first pictures has made it stand out more than it really does. I think all of the moving jaws were cast with a 'P' and they just ground it out as needed.

Here it is bolted to the floor and in use with some soft jaws I made from shoe heel rubber and and an aluminium shroud made from an old roller window blind cover. I also have a longer pair with no rubber which I use when I am [stick] welding to protect the vice from sputter.
View attachment 399991
I thought I'd mention the jaw screws as they were a right job to get out. I made an adaptor out of a couple of nuts for my impact driver and several bits out of stainless washers (these are the used, twisted ones) and whacked the screws until I won. One screw broke but I managed to tease the broken part out. The other three came out whole but as you can see, not really useable.
View attachment 399994

Interestingly for the time/place of production and the rest of the threads, the screws are 8mmx1.0mm screws rather than imperial. I got some new ones turned up
View attachment 399993

I believe I read somewhere that the date of the vice is between 1945 and 1960 - it has no patent or model/design number on it on the left hand side which I have seen on some pictures of record 34s. If anyone has any more information on dates or how I can date it I would be very grateful!

great stuff

if you look at cwazywabbit posts (eg a couple of pages back) - he shares a great resource of dropbox catalogues, incl Record, which may give dating clues.

and/or you'll get an answer from a Record expert here soon enough

 

[Arc Tourist]

Wow. Just looked back at this. I did not expect to see any comments! Thanks for all the remarks.

On colour, I did seriously consider Paragon paint...

BS381C 110 Roundel Blue - Paragon Paints

However, as I was going to use it rather than show it or sell it and I really don't like the colour, I decided to go with green/red.

On the 'P' it is almost ground out, but the lighting in the first pictures has made it stand out more than it really does. I think all of the moving jaws were cast with a 'P' and they just ground it out as needed.

Here it is bolted to the floor and in use with some soft jaws I made from shoe heel rubber and and an aluminium shroud made from an old roller window blind cover. I also have a longer pair with no rubber which I use when I am [stick] welding to protect the vice from sputter.
View attachment 399991
I thought I'd mention the jaw screws as they were a right job to get out. I made an adaptor out of a couple of nuts for my impact driver and several bits out of stainless washers (these are the used, twisted ones) and whacked the screws until I won. One screw broke but I managed to tease the broken part out. The other three came out whole but as you can see, not really useable.
View attachment 399994

Interestingly for the time/place of production and the rest of the threads, the screws are 8mmx1.0mm screws rather than imperial. I got some new ones turned up
View attachment 399993

I believe I read somewhere that the date of the vice is between 1945 and 1960 - it has no patent or model/design number on it on the left hand side which I have seen on some pictures of record 34s. If anyone has any more information on dates or how I can date it I would be very grateful!

You've discovered the best welding forum on the net, with many Vice / Vise enthusiasts happy to share their knowledge. Nice tip about fabricating the driver bit.

Edit: If you can find some, old stock One-Shot sign painters paint has lead in it, and holds up very well. Its my favourite paint for tools & machinery.

 

[Viceman]

Wow. Just looked back at this. I did not expect to see any comments! Thanks for all the remarks.

On colour, I did seriously consider Paragon paint...

BS381C 110 Roundel Blue - Paragon Paints

However, as I was going to use it rather than show it or sell it and I really don't like the colour, I decided to go with green/red.

On the 'P' it is almost ground out, but the lighting in the first pictures has made it stand out more than it really does. I think all of the moving jaws were cast with a 'P' and they just ground it out as needed.

Here it is bolted to the floor and in use with some soft jaws I made from shoe heel rubber and and an aluminium shroud made from an old roller window blind cover. I also have a longer pair with no rubber which I use when I am [stick] welding to protect the vice from sputter.
View attachment 399991
I thought I'd mention the jaw screws as they were a right job to get out. I made an adaptor out of a couple of nuts for my impact driver and several bits out of stainless washers (these are the used, twisted ones) and whacked the screws until I won. One screw broke but I managed to tease the broken part out. The other three came out whole but as you can see, not really useable.
View attachment 399994

Interestingly for the time/place of production and the rest of the threads, the screws are 8mmx1.0mm screws rather than imperial. I got some new ones turned up
View attachment 399993

I believe I read somewhere that the date of the vice is between 1945 and 1960 - it has no patent or model/design number on it on the left hand side which I have seen on some pictures of record 34s. If anyone has any more information on dates or how I can date it I would be very grateful!

the screws are 8mmx1.0mm screws rather than imperial

Screws are 5/16 BSCy (Cycle thread) 26t.p.i but as you have found out M8 X 1mm is a very close match

 

[MyBrotherJohn]

Screws are 5/16 BSCy (Cycle thread) 26t.p.i but as you have found out M8 X 1mm is a very close match

That would definitely make sense given the age and provenance of the vice. I went down to check the old screws and it is impossible to tell with a vernier calipers and I don't have a 5/16 BSC tap, M8X1.0 tap or a thread gauge to check otherwise.

In addition it it true to say, I had difficulty fitting the new screws and ended up filing some of the threads to make them fit. I put this down to a shoddy job as they were definitely not a match for the pitch of the old screws. Perhaps it was simply the wrong thread.

Food for thought. Thanks for the input. I guess you wouldn't have a reference or anything would you? Only other info on this is a thread in the link above MyTinyWorkshop from a user called Tempest500 who mentioned that they were M8x1.0. For convenience below.

 

[SteveB58]

That would definitely make sense given the age and provenance of the vice. I went down to check the old screws and it is impossible to tell with a vernier calipers and I don't have a 5/16 BSC tap, M8X1.0 tap or a thread gauge to check otherwise.

In addition it it true to say, I had difficulty fitting the new screws and ended up filing some of the threads to make them fit. I put this down to a shoddy job as they were definitely not a match for the pitch of the old screws. Perhaps it was simply the wrong thread.

Food for thought. Thanks for the input. I guess you wouldn't have a reference or anything would you? Only other info on this is a thread in the link above MyTinyWorkshop from a user called Tempest500 who mentioned that they were M8x1.0. For convenience below.
View attachment 400343

BSC appears an odd thread to select as a default, but at 26 tpi it can't be UNF or BSF as Mr Zues says these would be too coarse. Possibly something to do with ease of supply? Don't really know but, again would a metric thread be used back then in a British manufactured item? But as both have a 60 degree thread angle may be interchangeable. I've just restored a 1933 Rudge Whitworth and I don't own any BSC taps and dyes, so I've used UN or metric if one was needed. Didn't run into too many problems.
Steve

 

[dannysheff]

BSC appears an odd thread to select as a default, but at 26 tpi it can't be UNF or BSF as Mr Zues says these would be too coarse. Possibly something to do with ease of supply? Don't really know but, again would a metric thread be used back then in a British manufactured item? But as both have a 60 degree thread angle may be interchangeable. I've just restored a 1933 Rudge Whitworth and I don't own any BSC taps and dyes, so I've used UN or metric if one was needed. Didn't run into too many problems.
Steve

Rudge-Witworth - bike, mobike or speedway?

I believe a woman called Billie set a world record in the 1930s, on a Rudge bike, which still stood in the 2010s for most miles cycled in a year.

 

[SteveB58]

Rudge-Witworth - bike, mobike or speedway?

I believe a woman called Billie set a world record in the 1930s, on a Rudge bike, which still stood in the 2010s for most miles cycled in a year.

Its a push bike Dan, no desire to ever ride a bike with an engine. That said there is a Cyclemaster wheel in the shed waiting to be refurbed and put on yet another Rudge.

 

[The_Yellow_Ardvark]

Its a push bike Dan, no desire to ever ride a bike with an engine. That said there is a Cyclemaster wheel in the shed waiting to be refurbed and put on yet another Rudge.

View attachment 400456

That has brought smilles.
I had a Cycle frame clamp/vice made by Rudge.

 

[dannysheff]

and next entry to show-us-your(bench vice)=bike is my Sun of Worksop frame rescued from a skip about 1978 along with various other parts - in the end, enough to make two bikes cost only for a few bits not saveable (the other, very similar, lives at my sister's house in the Cairngorms) - trouble is - too many hills around here so I just go for a lap or two around the local watersports park with my grandson

I reassembled them and gave an amateur paint-job about 1980 - been going ever since. It's a very vague approximation of the 25 mi time trial bike I had wanted 15 years before that - never quite got down to the hour and gave up timing myself.

 

[SteveB58]

and next entry to show-us-your(bench vice)=bike is my Sun of Worksop frame rescued from a skip about 1978 along with various other parts - in the end, enough to make two bikes cost only for a few bits not saveable (the other, very similar, lives at my sister's house in the Cairngorms) - trouble is - too many hills around here so I just go for a lap or two around the local watersports park with my grandson

View attachment 400485

I reassembled them and gave an amateur paint-job about 1980 - been going ever since. It's a very vague approximation of the 25 mi time trial bike I had wanted 15 years before that - never quite got down to the hour and gave up timing myself.

We used to build bikes from bits from skips or bomb sites. I still bare the scars of failed brakes and bald tyres.

 

[CwazyWabbit]

Can't believe a Parkinsons Ball Base Vise sold yesterday for £183 on eBay https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/235008576439

 

[MattF]

Can't believe a Parkinsons Ball Base Vise sold yesterday for £183 on eBay https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/235008576439

Somebody really wanted that.

 

[GraemeVW]

Can't believe a Parkinsons Ball Base Vise sold yesterday for £183 on eBay https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/235008576439

What the hell!!!
And I got no interest in my 3 jaw fortis even at £150!
£183 makes me consider selling mine.

That's crazy!

 

[MattF]

£183 makes me consider selling mine.

Nowt would part me from my precious.

 

[GraemeVW]

Nowt would part me from my precious.

It is very handy! I've been using it quite alot.

 

[Viceman]

Screws are 5/16 BSCy (Cycle thread) 26t.p.i but as you have found out M8 X 1mm is a very close match

Just had some 5/16" BSCy countersunk screws made for my No. 34/35/36 vices but with 90 degree countersinks rather than the shallow taper, makes it easier to make your own vice jaws

 

[Arc Tourist]

Can't believe a Parkinsons Ball Base Vise sold yesterday for £183 on eBay https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/235008576439

I was watching that and was also surprised. But if you think that's a high price, there is a Wilton Baby Bullet vise currently on the bay of evil here in the UK with a starting price of £250.oo pounds ( Item # 256 084 313 971 ), which will be interesting to watch. There are also several in the USA going for an eye watering £1,932.44 and £1,401.02 and £1,159.42

 

[ranger08]

Just had some 5/16" BSCy countersunk screws made for my No. 34/35/36 vices but with 90 degree countersinks rather than the shallow taper, makes it easier to make your own vice jaws

View attachment 400578 View attachment 400579

who made them and how much?

 

[CwazyWabbit]

I was watching that and was also surprised. But if you think that's a high price, there is a Wilton Baby Bullet vise currently on the bay of evil here in the UK with a starting price of £250.oo pounds ( Item # 256 084 313 971 ), which will be interesting to watch. There are also several in the USA going for an eye watering £1,932.44 and £1,401.02 and £1,159.42

I've seen the baby bullet vise prices rise over the years, they were always high but now they are truly stupid...... There are a number of collectors with quite a few of them...... will there be a day when we see vise robberies?

 

[Arc Tourist]

I've seen the baby bullet vise prices rise over the years, they were always high but now they are truly stupid...... There are a number of collectors with quite a few of them...... will there be a day when we see vise robberies?

I have one on the power-arm base, which I bought new back in the mid 1970's, and also a 4" bullet machinist vice made in 1946; both have had very little use over the years.