Woden 190/8 Vice Restoration

[Dieselman 63]

This shows the washer from a Parkinson 8A. As long as it's wide enough that it doesn't fit between those uprights in the body, behind the half nut, you're sorted. Any bog standard mild steel washer will do. You preferably want a thick washer though, as a thin one will be inclined to bend if you pull the slide out with some oomph a few times.

View attachment 141266

What are the jaw dimensions on that Parkinson? This Woden has 5 1/4 jaws, which seems to be in between sizes 23 and 24 on Record vices.

 

[MattF]

6" on that 8A. The No.7 is similar size to yours. Best size for a general use vice, IMHO. Always thought the 6" ones are a touch much for general use, size wise. Handy when they're needed, but that's not oft. Must admit though, I have started using the 8A swivel jaw more of late, but that's mainly due to all of the clutter piled in front of the No.7.

 

[Dieselman 63]

6" on that 8A. The No.7 is similar size to yours. Best size for a general use vice, IMHO. Always thought the 6" ones are a touch much for general use, size wise. Handy when they're needed though.

I’m thinking of asking the uni if they’ll consider swapping their tired 35P for my refurbished 34P. The 34 is great but just a touch on the small side with only 4 1/2” jaws

 

[MattF]

You'll probably find, once you start using that Woden, that you use the Record less & less. You soon become used to having quick release. For smaller vices, I don't mind using plain screw types, but when you're using the larger opening vices, QR is a godsend.

 

[Dieselman 63]

You'll probably find, once you start using that Woden, that you use the Record less & less. You soon become used to having quick release. For smaller vices, I don't mind using plain screw types, but when you're using the larger opening vices, QR is a godsend.

It's certainly very handy on the woodworking vices. I've a 52 and 53A in storage waiting for their bench so some familiarity with the workings, though the spring arrangement is a bit different.

I went to uni today and sandblasted the halfnut and the screw. Both were a bit rusty in the threads and there was a lot of thick old grease that was more like plastic. I saved the handle from the blasting process, only giving it a buff up on the cloth wheel. This was a bit hit and miss, and the thing came out cleaner than I'd originally planned, but at least the knocks and dings are still there.

I put it all back together and gave it an oil. What a joy it was to have it turning with just my little finger! I don't have a washer the right size at home, despite having about a million in a bucket (typical eh?) so that will need sorting. So far so good though!

 

[angellonewolf]

have you not got a washer and drill out the center to make it fit

 

[Dieselman 63]

have you not got a washer and drill out the center to make it fit

...

 

[Tinbasherdan]

looks good! i gave one of those vices away the other week!

 

[Dieselman 63]

looks good! i gave one of those vices away the other week!

Hope you bent your knees when you picked it up! They are very heavy. Do you have a pic of the one you gave away?

 

[Tinbasherdan]

Hope you bent your knees when you picked it up! They are very heavy. Do you have a pic of the one you gave away?

I don’t

 

[Dieselman 63]

I don’t

Oh hope you got something good in return! Pre-war Woden made some amazing stuff, the crown jewel must be the floor mounted anvil vice. The catalogue has a silhouette of a man striking it with a club hammer!

 

[Tinbasherdan]

Oh hope you got something good in return! Pre-war Woden made some amazing stuff, the crown jewel must be the floor mounted anvil vice. The catalogue has a silhouette of a man striking it with a club hammer!

I stopped stubbing my toe on in the garage every time I walked through if that counts?

 

[Dieselman 63]

Had such a busy week just gone, absolutely no work done on this until today. I do however have a little Parkinson woodworking vice which I brought into uni piece by piece and then back home, and this vice is shaping up nicely. Perhaps I should start a little thread documenting its reconstruction, but I don't think I have any 'before' pictures.

Anyway, on with the big Woden. The Record is up for sale, no bids on that yet but it's happening hopefully. I decided that the Woden is better being bigger and easier with the quick release, and it's good not to get into the habit of hoarding vices. The spare cash can be used to begin my new collection of hoarding Moore & Wright equipment

In this pic the anvil is getting a tidy up. I worked hard with a series of files to get it flat and dent free. Pedantic maybe, but from experience this finishing work only happens once so I like it to be good.

I got the end all ground back flush too. These old clamps are great, they're patented 1888 and still work fine.

The sides and leading edges gained a filing

As did the slide, which was really quite dinged up. This was hard work but I wanted to reduce a bit of that grease damage.

And it came up well. The vice looks used but no longer abused

Lastly the back of the casting got a file just to get rid of that nasty seam line. I didn't go full bore on this as it's only going to get painted over again

As I write this, the slide is in primer. I have just the end to finish and then I can begin to play with topcoat on it.

Cheers

 

[Dieselman 63]

Sliding jaw is now in first topcoat. I really like the colour, it comes up a bit light in photos but it's actually a bit darker. Something that isn't blue, red or black makes a refreshing change

 

[Dieselman 63]

Also, I showed my mate the vice when I bought it - 'Is 'Steel' the brand name? Haven't heard of that one before' No, it's the material it's made of. 'Nah it can't be steel, that would be far too heavy' It is, they were guaranteed unbreakable 'It's probably just the brand name for their range of unbreakable vices, it won't be steel'.

Honestly it scares me that people can't take things at face value sometimes!

 

[MattF]

Took a photo of the setup inside the slide as I've just reassembled this:



This is the washer. You'll note it's a chunky, wide one:



With regard to that vice above, I had a childish moment when I was applying the finish.



Luminous paint.

 

[Dieselman 63]

Took a photo of the setup inside the slide as I've just reassembled this:

View attachment 142354

This is the washer. You'll note it's a chunky, wide one:

View attachment 142355

With regard to that vice above, I had a childish moment when I was applying the finish.

View attachment 142356

Luminous paint.

As ever, informative and fun posts from you!

Maybe I should paint my chuck keys in it, when I want them I’ll just turn off the lights

I will get some scrap stock and make one I think. Shouldn’t be too hard now I’ve got the dividers and (one of the three) grinders set up.

This photo is more true to life in colour btw

 

[Dieselman 63]

I decided to blast the rear portion purely because I can, and it’s easier. It’s a bit tricky moving heavy bits about without a car, but not impossible!

The blasting was okay, not my best work ever but it is clean enough to accept paint in this shot.

 

[Dieselman 63]

In primer now and back together with the sliding jaw at home. Man, these things are tricky buggers to put back together if you don’t know how! Once you learn the way though it all goes together nicely. I put the washer in and now it doesn’t fall to bits when you pull it all the way out. I haven’t had a proper vice for over two months now so I’m delighted to have this back at home. Paint can be sorted in a few weeks when I have time.

 

[slim_boy_fat]

What's the letter hiding behind the vice handle? A 'c' by any chance?