Cheap alternative to replacement Record hardened jaw plates?

John, I have got some manufactured soft jaws, they are some sort of red fibre in a tinplate holder that almost clips to the jaws of my Record No.23 . Sort of like a good idea totally wrecked by cost cutting.

Frank ( Donater of a queer little milling cutter at Harrogate)

I have nice ones in aluminium extrusions with magnets to hold them in place - an idea that works very well.

Unfortunately one went under a bench and I can't find it

Neil

That'll be the borrowers then Neil. Or suspect magnets???

Edited By Jesse Hancock 1 on 08/06/2015 22:25:02

I replaced the Hard jaws on my Vice at work 16 years ago. I made them from 2 offcuts of electrical copper plate about 16mm thick. Still there and have lasted surprisingly well. They really should be taken out and refaced.They hold work pieces very well and so far have never damaged anything from holding it in the vice. 3 others have since switched to the copper jaws when the copper was available.

Neil

Like many others I use ally angle or copper pipe opened up for soft jaws. The annoying thing is when the eventually 'curl up' from use.
My vice was also a foundling missing its hard inserts. The remaining jaw part was chopped off flush, and tops straightened up with a 10" grinder.
Might invest in a good vice one day.

I'll go along with the gauge plate for replacements. That is what I fitted to my milling/shaping vice and just skimmed the top edge with a fly cutter to finish them of. If you go careful they need not be hardened.

Gripped - sorted!

Rik

Can only agree with all the advocates for gauge plate, hardened or otherwise.

My experience of magnet retained Aluminium soft jaws is that they don't stay retained for very long. Then I hammered over the top and ends to retain them. They stay in place when gripping, but fall off as soon as the jaws are opened. NOT good for blood pressure or temper, but keeps the back supple picking the............things off the floor or bench!

Fibre jaws don't grip as well, and soon get mangled. I have a new boxed set on the shelf that I can never bring myself to use, for that reason!

Howard

Hi I have just sent back to a supplier on Ebay a set of 4 1/2" jaws for my No 4 Record, they were 4 1/2" long but not 1 inch wide Record/Irwin, so I need the original type before Irwin came on the scene anyone know were I can obtain a pair ?.

Peter.

This is an old post Peter. You may have to trawl round some of the old Record vise stockists in the hope they have original old stock still on the shelf. Searching several forums the same question seems to come up now and then with no real answer. As many people say you can make your own soft or hard jaws. Is it possible to turn the old jaws over and put the clean bottom face to the top ?

regards

I have a 6" Record vice some 46 years old and thought about getting new jaws for it until I saw the price ????

Needless to say, that,s as far as I went ! They are mad money, so I will think about mild steel or gauge plate, even if it has to be smooth.