LVSteve
Member
We had Record vises and tools in the shop where I had my first job. They weren't exactly new when I got there, but they all worked just fine.
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Getting jaws off an old vise
- Thread starter oldbrownhat
- Start date
OP
"O how the mighty have fallen". I think the old Record UK (C & J Hampton) were made until about 2000, at which point they were bought by Rubbermaid, then Irwin. Several years ago Lee Valley Tools still had a few UK- made ones but they're long gone now.
The new "forrin-made" ones are probably just fine for general use, though, just like the off-shore ones from Yost and Wilton, who also make some in the US, and the prices reflect this. The quality of the casting is what seems to be the main difference and unless they're used hard and/or regularly it probably doesn't make a lot of difference for most of us.
My main vise (vice) is a very heavy un-named 5" one that just says "JAPAN" on it, which I got in a 2nd-hand store for about $50 several years ago. Every once in a while I see an old Columbia or other US-made vise and have been tempted to pick it up "just because". (ie because I like old tools!)
My other next-door neighbour has an Australian-made DAWN vise which I cleaned up for him. I'd never heard of them but I think they're still around and seems to be qood quality.
LouisianaJoe
Member
I have used vinegar on rusty tools to dissolve the rust. I restored a very old hand saw this way. Make sure you rinse it good after use.
Another option is to drill out the screw with a bit that has a slightly larger size than the screw threads. Then tap new threads and use a larger screw to attach the new stuff.
Another option is to drill out the screw with a bit that has a slightly larger size than the screw threads. Then tap new threads and use a larger screw to attach the new stuff.
OP
I think the screws are beyond remediation now. As to re-drilling & tapping one size larger, that would mean probably 5/16" (or metric
) plus drilling out the jaw plates (which just pass a 1/4" screw) and they are really hard, R58-60 according to the places in the UK that make new ones over there. I'd prob. need cobalt chucking reamers to enlarge them.I've drilled out one jaw and even the thin fragments of the old screws are being recalcitrant. I may be able to re-tap over them or use a #7 bit to clear out the remnants before retapping. I have to make sure that the new hole/threads are exactly where the originals were, though. I may be able to clamp the old jaw plate in place to act as a guide.
This is more work than I had anticipated, but as long as I learn something useful, it's not time wasted. At least that's what I'm telling myself...
One of my vises has the jaws welded in place. Guess why.
A bit late...I have an old US made vise that I took the jaws off of. They would not budge. Living on a farm I had a fair amount of old engine oil I used to paint the equipment with. Kept things somewhat free. Put the vise in a 5 gal can with a couple gallons of old crankcase oil and hyd oil with a chaser of kerosene. lit some charcoal in an old steel wheel heated it up pretty good for a few days(7). put it on a old granny sack and wiped it off. sucker came apart fairly easily. Quick light sandblast paint oil and together again Still working 40 years later
OP
Finally got the new jaws on this afternoon and the vise back together. Those screws were four of the most uncooperative, ornery bits of metal I've ever put tools on.
I got the screw remnants drilled out and re-tapped, but "due to an over-abundance of caution and too much fussing" the holes on the dynamic jaw ended up a tad too high, and as there is a ledge on which the jaw plate sits, it wouldn't go on. So I had to take about .035" off the bottom of the jaw plate. Since I don't have a milling machine this meant it had to be done a mano, initially with 80 grit on my angle grinder, then with large files, which was pretty time-consuming. (I really like those Skrooz wooden file handles.)
The other jaw was straightforward as I (presumably) had learned something, so I got the remnants drilled out and retapped without problem. The new jaw fit OK and I got the vise back together and bolted to the table.
I think if I ever have to do this again with pooched screws, I'll just mark the center of the old screw and let the hardened jaw plate guide the drill to keep it centered.
I got the screw remnants drilled out and re-tapped, but "due to an over-abundance of caution and too much fussing" the holes on the dynamic jaw ended up a tad too high, and as there is a ledge on which the jaw plate sits, it wouldn't go on. So I had to take about .035" off the bottom of the jaw plate. Since I don't have a milling machine this meant it had to be done a mano, initially with 80 grit on my angle grinder, then with large files, which was pretty time-consuming. (I really like those Skrooz wooden file handles.)
The other jaw was straightforward as I (presumably) had learned something, so I got the remnants drilled out and retapped without problem. The new jaw fit OK and I got the vise back together and bolted to the table.
I think if I ever have to do this again with pooched screws, I'll just mark the center of the old screw and let the hardened jaw plate guide the drill to keep it centered.
Attachments
OP
HF and lots of other places. Made "overseas" and OK for most purposes, including mine. But this was an old, English-made Record that I was given and I figured was worth a bit of work - even if it required more work than I expected. Also, it was bolted to the welding table and another vise might not have had the same hole spacing.You do know that Harbor Freight sells vices.
Besides, I like old tools and hate to see one in disrepair
