David Piddington's Vise

Whatever happened to this vise? It was supposed to be available through Hemmingway but it is not shown in their catalog and I received no email response from them about it. I am interested in getting a set of castings.

Thanks,

Ed P

Ed,

Do you mean this one ?

... I think it's an existing Hemingway offering, which David Piddington described in detail.

MichaelG.

Or is it the two piece mill vice you are looking for?

Not that one Michael, a table length vice for the milling machine with separate static and moveable jaws - I'm also interested in this.

Rod

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Sorry, Rod

My psychic powers are slipping

MichaelG.

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P.S. ... If anyone with a big-ish mill is interested in a two piece 'book-end' vice [of the very highest quality], please PM me. I was saving it in case I could ever accomodate a Beaver or similar; but that's increasingly unlikely, so I think I should probably sell it.

Hemingway were very keen to see David's article appear, I suggest ringing or emailing them asking for the castings.

Neil

Ed when did you try to e-mail them? A lot of the ME suppliers are quite small companies, often one man bands so Kurt may be away particularly as its Easter Holiday time.

There is an excellent article and drawings to make a loose jaw vise for the milling table in an old ME magazine.I made this vise and it is one of the most usefull tools I have made.I have other vise but seldom use them in preference to this one .I loaned the magazine to a friend and I will ask him for the magazines issue number and will post it tomorrow.

Frank

Some years ago, whilst visiting Pro Machine Tools, at Barnack, I saw what I call an "Infinite Vice" on an Austrian Milling machine.

After returning home, I made one using three pieces of steel, about 1" square (25mm for metricians)

Two pieces had side cheeks (1/4" or 6mm plate) attached to make a snug fit on the sides of the table, and keep things square, drilled and counterbored to take two M8 capscrews going into Tee nuts, to clamp down. One of these, the moving jaw, had a centrally placed dimple made with a small centre drill.

The third piece had the Tee nut facility, but carried, centrally, a 1/2" UNF setscrew with a small ball bearing in the end, to act as the pressure screw. (Any fine thread will suffice. Metric coarse threads are not ideal for use as pressure screws)

In use, the "plain" one was secured to one end of the table, with the work against it, and the second dimpled one brought up to it, but not clamped down until the third piece had been clamped down and the pressure screw tightened onto the moving jaw. Finally, the the second, moving jaw, was clamped using the M8 capscrews and tee nuts.

It did not take long to make, and although not often used, is invaluable when needed.

Howard

Ooops! I didn't know David had more than one vise. I'm interested in the table length vise that started running in the July 2015 issue of MEW (#230). It's no where on the Hemmingway web site. I will email them again.

Ed P

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Clearly my problem, Ed.

Others obviously knew which one you meant.

... At least we're all on the right page now.

MichaelG.

Hello There --- whoever chances to read this

My name is David Piddington, he who has written extensively in our magazines. Unfortunately though I am adequate in making bits and pieces in metal I am b****y useless when it comes to using the Internet and forums for which there seem to be - like much else in computing -NO BOOK OF SIMPLE INSTRUCTIONS !!!

Therefore please accept my sincerest apologies at the lack of input by me and - to whoever reads this, please pass this initial message around the ether.

The mail I managed to open - AND reply to - concerns my design for the "Bed Length Milling Vise" described in MEW. I had long wanted such a vice but the smallest commercial one was too big, so I designed my own and made patterns. Having recently worked Hemingway's "Instrument Vice" I came to agreement with them that for getting me the castings (two sets} I would make two units, give him the second AND the design copyright.

Since then I have heard nothing more of the design, and typing this reminds me I haven't heard from "Hemingway" recently either.

I expect most of you will have heard that I have been diagnosed as having Parkinson's Disease of which I am not proud, nor ashamed of. There is currently no cure but certain drugs can extend my life for several years. The main factors I have affect my lower limb mobility, left arm and hand which latter has reduced to typing with one finger of my tight hand. 'Touch typing' (accurate that is) is no longer. I have also surrendered my driving license but through generosity of Birmingham SME friends I can still get to local meets and events. My last published 'how to do it' work was in MEW240.

Anyone in the East Birmingham area will be welcomed for a 'cuppa' and chat.

With Best Wishes

David,

Thank you for taking the time to clarify the Hemingway situation.

MichaelG.

Thanks for your response David, I wish you well. I emailed Hemmingway, but again, received no response. I guess I'm one of the few who really likes this vise. I'm disappointed I will not be able to build it.

Ed P

It has become apparent to me that some of the companies that supply the hobby simply refuse to respond to emails. One wonders, therefore, why they give email addresses at all.

Seems rather curious since Hemmingway appears to be a decent enough company and they are certainly still in business because I've ordered and received from them in the last few weeks.

Are you certain that the email address you are using is valid? The one they gave to me is:

[email protected]

Davids vice caught my attention in the magazine and noted the reference to Hemingway. I have checked their site a number of times for availability but no sign yet. Having been a customer of Hemingway I have found the kits to be well documented and maybe the peparation of drawings and organisng the kits takes time. Failure to respond to enquiries is poor but maybe there is a reasonable explanation.

Mike

Something similar to an endless vise, There are some pics in my albums entitled plate clamps, showing them in use and pics of the various parts. Materials used in construction were EN24t, 16t, and and Silver steel.

As mentioned earlier:

I have a pair of substantial 'Book Ends' which may be of interest; if only for DIY design inspiration.

More photos here 

MichaelG.

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They look a bit scruffy in the photo; but it's a mixture of light surface rust and the Waxoyl that should have prevented it. They have never been fitted to a machine, and have lain on or under my bench for about fifteen years.

Edited By Michael Gilligan on 14/04/2016 09:17:55