Where Do I Get "Soft Jaws" For My 5.50" Shpo Vise?

[SweetMK]

I bought a cheap set of soft jaws for my vise.

They are aluminum/rubber faced with a magnetic strip to hold them in place.

Well, they work great except for the magnet, if you "look" at them wrong, they fall on the floor.

Do you have a recommendation for where I can get great soft jaws for my 5 1/2" vise?

 

[jepp2]

I have used these for over 20 years and they have served me will. They never mark anything and the elastomer pad has never torn or degraded.

My main vise if now larger, so I bought a small 5" Sears vise, because I had "notched" them to fit another Sears vise I left behind in a move (stupid me).

 

[Moonman]

How about a CARPET SQUARE cut to fit and attached to (GLUE?) to wood backing?

Possibly LEAD SHEETING cut to fit?

Leather Pieces cut to fit and mounted?

 

[dfariswheel]

The elastomer jaw pads are the best.
They don't tear up, and the polymer allows parts to embed slightly into the surface so it "grips" the part much tighter than any other type of jaws.

 

[chief38]

I have a few different sets of "soft" vice jaws that I made up over the years.

One set is made of lead molded to the vise jaws and overlapped so they won't fall off.

Another set is made up of thick leather folded, glued and riveted on the sides so they stay put.

A third set is made up of thick rubber and that set is just held in place with pressure as the jaws are tightened.

These have covered all the bases for me and so I have never sought out a store bought set.

Chief38

 

[SweetMK]

I am going to the leather shop tomorrow!!

I never thought of leather, that will be a great start for me.

The ideas are great!! Thanks.

Also, I found the magnetic jaws I have do not stick well to my vise because I have serrated vise jaws.

The jaws are reversible, I reversed one and the magnet sticks much better!!

I tried to reverse the second jaw and the screws refused to move. I had a can of CLP, so I sprayed the screw and surrounding areas. We will see if it comes loose.

The screws are socket head (Allen Wrench), so I have my work cut out for me, getting those loose.

Any hints on how to get the screw loose, other than patience!??

 

[mkk41]

I simply use some aluminum angle. Depending on size & thickness , an 8ft length costs about $10 and will last awhile. Cut to length of your jaws , toss 'em when they get chewed up. Double-faced carpet tape holds 'em in place.

 

[Frank46]

Try either home depot or lowes for the polymer/magnetic vise jaws. Frank

 

[Prodigal Son]

I'd try MSC Industrial Supply or Enco. They are sure to have what you are looking for and more.

 

[Triggernosis]

Any hints on how to get the screw loose, other than patience!??

Before you start yanking on the screw, squirt some Kroil on it (Liquid Wrench will do in a pinch, but not as well as Kroil) and let it sit overnight. Then take a punch, or nail set, that is smaller that the allen head screw hole, and knock the snot out of the screw using a hammer and the punch...like you're trying to set a nail. Then try backing it out...also using a light tap on the allen wrench initially....not enough to strip the allen slots though.