Show us your bench vice(s)

[SteveB58]

How do you imagine that they make such an intricate shape in steel? They cast it, that's how.

Oddly enough I'd always suspected that they were cast. However, I was not questioning the manufacturing process but the material used. I believe the 75 to be steel, and not iron.

 

[Arc Tourist]

It's tougher, so you end up with with a lighter vice.

As vice's are usually permanently mounted to a bench, I can see how that would be an important selling point.

 

[Seadog]

Steel has very good tensile strength so you need less of it for an equivalent product. It's not designed to be light, that just a benefit of using the matetial.

 

[Arc Tourist]

Steel has very good tensile strength so you need less of it for an equivalent product. It's not designed to be light, that just a benefit of using the matetial.

Was just kidding. I could see a bit of humour in your earlier reply, as a bench vice is not something one would generally carry around; so weight would not be an issue.

 

[Arc Tourist]

Heads up !

There is a large Pattern Maker's Vice currently listed on the bay of evil, which appears to be in mint condition. It will be interesting to see what it (£) goes for ?

Item # 155 851 831 995

 

[ranger08]

Oddly enough I'd always suspected that they were cast. However, I was not questioning the manufacturing process but the material used. I believe the 75 to be steel, and not iron.

75s were originally steel and the word “steel“ was in the casting, then later I believe they were made from ductile iron and the word steel was removed, not sure what the nut was made from? I believe the general vices had cast iron nuts
the catalogues never said what the nut was made from

 

[pressbrake1]

My final vice design. This is a one off for a collector but I’m going to have one for myself as it will be of use. Though I’m getting American enquiries again already
Essentially the same vice except jaw opens 18” and I’ve made the moving jaw slab side instead of a runner . Also got rid of cores
Put my name on it instead of the old mans , he’s now been five years so time to change over

 

[angellonewolf]

My final vice design. This is a one off for a collector but I’m going to have one for myself as it will be of use. Though I’m getting American enquiries again already
Essentially the same vice except jaw opens 18” and I’ve made the moving jaw slab side instead of a runner . Also got rid of cores
Put my name on it instead of the old mans , he’s now been five years so time to change over

View attachment 423663 View attachment 423664 View attachment 423665

what a beast do you supply and fit benchs for it

 

[The_Yellow_Ardvark]

East German Vice, as it came to me.

A google search told me the finish was "Gun Black."

I needed to get some TYA penetrating oil into the moving parts.

So I used this.

The gun black took the the cast parts very well.
The machine parts it was ok.

The gold leaf was just for fun.

 

[dannysheff]

My final vice design. This is a one off for a collector but I’m going to have one for myself as it will be of use. Though I’m getting American enquiries again already
Essentially the same vice except jaw opens 18” and I’ve made the moving jaw slab side instead of a runner . Also got rid of cores
Put my name on it instead of the old mans , he’s now been five years so time to change over

View attachment 423663 View attachment 423664 View attachment 423665

Had a feeling that, despite the trials and tribs, you weren't done.

------and I won't be surprised to see a further (even bigger, or?) - or related? eg a huge lambco&dad (like it) vise-stand

 

[JOEPRO]

I have my No 2 record vice which is a really exceptionally great quality bit of kit.



This was my first vintage vice a couple months back and really like it. £15 was all it cost.

For a while now I've been itching to get a couple more of them. I'm a serial hoarder of MB car parts and tools.

Tonight I bought a few more original record vices in different sizes which look in great condition, no dents or wear. And also the paint so I'll restore these few and I guess officially I'll soon have a small vice collection

 

[pressbrake1]

Had a feeling that, despite the trials and tribs, you weren't done.

------and I won't be surprised to see a further (even bigger, or?) - or related? eg a huge lambco&dad (like it) vise-stand

Unfortunately I’m hard wired to create as much as tya is to rub down and paint rusty stuff
I was on strong tranquillisers because of my heart but I’ve stopped taking them and I feel awake which I haven’t done for a long time . Now my mind is buzzing with ideas

I’m going to recreate a fabled railroad vice which I suspect was never actually made . Again it’s a private commission which takes the heat off from trying to make stuff commercially viable which it just isn’t

 

[JOEPRO]

Gonna need a bigger boat bench



(Picked up the No 23 tonight)

 

[JOEPRO]

Silly question- when restoring a vice if you want to add metal back to superficial areas can I use MIG or TIG to build it up and carefully grind back before painting?

Like the small cosmetic chip in casting here:

 

[Craig-SM]

Not worth fixing the chip

 

[Screwdriver]

First you need to establish whether it is cast iron or cast steel.

Cast steel easy peasy, cast iron is so dirty and full of inclusions/silicates that your weld will be glass hard. Braze is a better bet for castings, you might even be able to TiG braze it (it's a lot more difficult than it looks) or frankly, for a cosmetic repair, chemical metal. JB Weld is your friend.

 

[The_Yellow_Ardvark]

Silly question- when restoring a vice if you want to add metal back to superficial areas can I use MIG or TIG to build it up and carefully grind back before painting?

Like the small cosmetic chip in casting here:

View attachment 424212

Something like that.
Just a bit of JB weld will do.

 

[premmington]

Something like that.
Just a bit of JB weld will do.

TIG braze - DC in Argon.

But when I did my Record 23 up - I went over a few bits with "chemical metal" and a sander before painting.

I did TIG braze my drill press table up - filled a few holes ups - yes it did turn out a different colour - but it was quick and easily shaped - turned out OK (better).

 

[dannysheff]

Unfortunately I’m hard wired to create as much as tya is to rub down and paint rusty stuff
I was on strong tranquillisers because of my heart but I’ve stopped taking them and I feel awake which I haven’t done for a long time . Now my mind is buzzing with ideas

I’m going to recreate a fabled railroad vice which I suspect was never actually made . Again it’s a private commission which takes the heat off from trying to make stuff commercially viable which it just isn’t

View attachment 424186

great

 

[pressbrake1]

Hand made