Show us your bench vice(s)

[Spark plug]

My vice had an accident today while trying to chop an 1-1/2 nut off a bolt without damaging the bolt.

Disclaimer: forum members may find the following images disturbing or distressing, please look away now!

New vice needed me thinks

 

[MattF]

Took me a while to see the problem, with the photo being dark. How on earth did you manage to snap that?

 

[Spark plug]

I was giving the nut big licks with a 4lb hammer then "ting" the vice was not massively tight either as the blows where directed towards the rear jaw.

 

[CwazyWabbit]

Record cast iron vice by the looks of it, I'd go for one of the ductile iron or steel ones next time you animal

 

[Spark plug]

It was a record No.6, I don't know weather that would make it iron or steel?

What would people recommend for a good strong vice with at least 6" jaws?

 

[CwazyWabbit]

A No 6 would just be cast iron. I'd be looking for a No 36 or a No 112 if you wanted to stay with Record. If you were considering other makes then a Fortis or perhaps a Samsonia.

 

[Spark plug]

A No 6 would just be cast iron. I'd be looking for a No 36 or a No 112 if you wanted to stay with Record. If you were considering other makes then a Fortis or perhaps a Samsonia.

No not nessacarily a record just want quality.

 

[Burdekin]

I got this one from julianthegypsy and was in two minds whether I should paint it but I couldn't help myself. I cleaned her up and brushed on a few coats of Penguard HB. Will oil her up and take a finished pic when done.

 

[squazy84]

for comedic effect ill post this,and no I didnt put all the weld on them vises,we employed monkeys and they did it many years ago, that big vise just refuses to break,its had scaffolding tube on the handle and been hit with a sledge hammer regularly for 50 years

 

[squazy84]

ive never been able to remember what no it is but its record and i find it hard to believe its a cast model,surely it would have broken from the sledge hammer attacks if it were cast iron?

 

[CwazyWabbit]

That big vice is a Record 112 or the Fortis equivalent which is why it has not broke yet, they are excellent and unbelievably expensive new (yep you can still buy them).

It will be cast steel at that age, but the newer ones are SG Iron which is also excellent.

 

[CwazyWabbit]

Here's a Samsonia No 38 before Parkinsons thought of the Samsonia brand name and before they moved the Parkinsons to bolt through jaws.

I've not seen many of these.

 

[CwazyWabbit]

I got this one from julianthegypsy and was in two minds whether I should paint it but I couldn't help myself. I cleaned her up and brushed on a few coats of Penguard HB. Will oil her up and take a finished pic when done.

That's cleaned up nice for a Swindens, one of the few I've seen with it's spanner still

 

[Burdekin]

That's cleaned up nice for a Swindens, one of the few I've seen with it's spanner still

The casting is a bit rough but it is 63years old I suppose.

 

[CwazyWabbit]

I've yet to see a Swindens where the casting isn't rough ..... I have a feeling that appearance wasn't something they checked in QC, probably as most were for the military.

 

[MattF]

I've not seen many of these.

That's the first J I've seen in that style, that I can recall. I'm almost sure the others were F's. Glad to see it's there safe and sound.

 

[MattF]

I've yet to see a Swindens where the casting isn't rough ..... I have a feeling that appearance wasn't something they checked in QC, probably as most were for the military.

I'm guessing they slapped them a few times with the ugly stick, if any tried passing through QC looking a bit tidy.

 

[CwazyWabbit]

That's the first J I've seen in that style, that I can recall. I'm almost sure the others were F's. Glad to see it's there safe and sound.

It makes for an interesting timeline though.

We have ---
Two part static, old style slide and screws fixing jaws
Two part static, new style slide and screws fixing jaws
Single piece static, new style slide and screws fixing jaws
The birth of Samsonia!
Single piece static, new style slide and bolt through jaws.

 

[CwazyWabbit]

Oh, it's not perfect though, it's missing a jaw screw and someone has started drilling a bloody big hole in the slide

 

[MattF]

It makes for an interesting timeline though.

We have ---
Two part static, old style slide and screws fixing jaws
Two part static, new style slide and screws fixing jaws
Single piece static, new style slide and screws fixing jaws
The birth of Samsonia!
Single piece static, new style slide and bolt through jaws.

The history seems to be getting a bit clearer. Sod's law we'll probably find something soon which throws it out.

The missing screw is minor. How big is the hole in the slide? I'd be tempted to use the old method of drilling that out, tapping and then plugging with a threaded stub, if it's a large hole. A nigh on invisible repair, if done properly.