How to refurbish a bench vice?

I have a 4" Record bench vice in generally good condition but there is wear near the mouth of the bottom face of the square hole that guides the moving jaw. The moving jaw is an upturned 'U' shape so only sits on two narrow lands and wear seems confined to the fixed part only but it is a pain as it allows the jaw to drop so when closing the jaws touch at the bottom first. (so a 'vee' shaped gap when viewed from the side)

I don't know how the rectangular hole is machined in the first place (massive broach?) but equally, I don't know a method that I could use to remove the jaw up and down play.

What would be the best way to restore the vice?

Ian P

Hi Ian,

I liberated one of these from the local recycling centre, when they were a bit more relaxed about promoting 'reuse' over 'recycle'. Mine is worn to give some sideways play, not much but enough to be irritating. Still a lovely vice and the thick end of £100 for a new one.

I have been considering fitting a shim inside teh rectangular hole, perhaps you could do something similar?

Neil

As it looks like the wear is mostly at the front of the opening the shim would need to be tapered. Also unless I make the gap bigger the shim would be (at a guess) 0.5mm at the thickest end so securing in position would be tricky. The shim would be subject to extreme crushing force so I doubt adhesives would work.

The ideal would be machine the whole worn face and put a piece of gauge plate on it. I have considered using the lathe as a makeshift planer as I could put the casting across the saddle and traverse it end to end with a long stationary boring bar holding a cutter. I have not worked out how to get into the two corners though.

Ian P

Edited By Ian Phillips on 17/10/2012 22:06:21

Graham

I considered doing something along the lines you used but declined as I do not have any grinding tackle as well as the fact that when gripping small items the front jaw moves laterally slightly (up and down as well as side to side).

Meanwhile I'm working on a plan to use the lathe as a planer.

I have not put a lot of thought into it but what is the advantage of a rear moving jaw vice?

Ian P

Edited By Ian Phillips on 18/10/2012 10:51:16

The accuracy of a vice is greatly overlooked and it is a pleasure to work with a accurate one,

small or large.

The only make I know which has a adjustable guide is Heuer, but they are not cheap.

Niko.

Re the rear moving jaw vice question. I can see one major disadvantage that would stop me getting one. A conventional vice when installed correctly, has the face of the fixed jaw on the same plane as the front face of the bench. It means that long lengths of stock, or large sheet material can be held vertically in the vice.

Out of interest I Googled images to see what one looked like and then realised I already had one! Mine is a 47mm wide watchmakers vice made of cast iron with dovetail slide, with a stationary screw and revolving nut. I wouldn't be without it.

Ian

Ian,

About 50 years ago I was given a tired Record no.36, with the same problem. I replaced the jaws & it's been used for all sorts of non-accurate work ever since. This is one big vice: 6" QR jaws, 25" front to back & would cost (in 36T form) nearly £900 to buy new at Buck & Hickman......

The front pads are badly worn, the rears less so and there is also wear on the sliding surfaces underneath the moving jaw. My plan is to level them up with a custom-made tool in my shaper (which is not yet battle-ready after rebuild) and then Araldite the necessary thickness of gaugeplate to build the pads back up again. A countersunk head screw in each should ensure location.

Adrian

Resurrecting an old thread rather than start a new on similar subject. I am refurbishing two record vices no1 and no2. I have found paragon paints do the record blue vice colour (known as roundel blue) but it comes in a number of finishes, gloss, semigloss, Matt or satin. Does anyone know which finish replicates the closest to the original?

Had not realised how old this thread is since it originated ! However this site may be of interest to anyone restoring a bench vice, no connection other than a customer, I purchased a set of jaws from them, excellent quality.

https://www.viceworks.co.uk/pages/page-1

John