Show us your bench vice(s)

[SwanseaRoadBikesInstagram]

At least one has a storage container for them. Some of them do take vice collection to new heights. Vices command more money over there too, for some reason. Whereas we class them as a ubiquitous item, they class them as highly desirable. They seem to have an unhealthy obsession with swivellers too. Proper QR vices like ours are, bar in Canada, a rare item over there.

As nice as QR is, I prefer a large Acme screw with a long nut. I haven't actually used a QR, or any record for that matter, my user is a 6'' Clarke I got before I ever got into old vises, I just never bothered to mount any of the Records, mostly because I don't know what to do with the holes in the sheet metal top of the Clarke bench. I've thought of laying out the existing hole pattern on a nice metal plate, drill and tap and bolt it from under and cut bolts flush to the top, then lay out the new pattern for whichever vice I fancy, drill and tap that and cut the bolts flush with the bottom of the plate. I could possibly have multiple plates all with the matching hole pattern already on the bench, and swap them round periodically, I love my vises that much, I would find it hard to sell the 114, 112, 36 and 23, Oh and the mint No.4, the other ones maybe...

Speaking of American collectors, I haven't actually seen onc with a big collection, all in my imagination! Have they posted photos anywhere on GJ?

 

[MattF]

The QR design, using the buttress thread, is actually a stronger setup than a square or acme thread, where clamping force is concerned.

Drivesitfar, Zoomieport & Joe Striper. I believe KMScott has a decent stash too, judging by the amount he keeps digging out & modifying.

 

[SwanseaRoadBikesInstagram]

The QR design, using the buttress thread, is actually a stronger setup than a square or acme thread, where clamping force is concerned.

Drivesitfar & Joe Striper are two on GJ with lots. There is at least one other too, but his username escapes me at the moment. Just search for "the sea of tetanus" and you'll find him. I believe KMScott has a decent stash too, judging by the amount he keeps digging out & modifying.

A buttress thread is VERY strong as a thread form, but a half-nut surely compromises the strength? I remember reading on Practical Machinist, and they were saying the Acme is basically the best because buttress concentrated the load on the first thread or something along those lines.

 

[Dieselman 63]

before I ever got into old vises

Are you directly referring to Parkinson models with this statement, or American ones? Anything by Record would be considered a vice, not a vise.

 

[MattF]

A buttress thread is VERY strong as a thread form, but a half-nut surely compromises the strength? I remember reading on Practical Machinist, and they were saying the Acme is basically the best because buttress concentrated the load on the first thread or something along those lines.

Nope. They're talking bunkum. It concentrates the force evenly across all thread faces in engagement with the nut, same as any other thread. Whereas other threads may shear under heavy load, the buttress thread never should.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buttress_thread

 

[SwanseaRoadBikesInstagram]

Are you directly referring to Parkinson models with this statement, or American ones? Anything by Record would be considered a vice, not a vise.

I was referring to stationary clamping devices in general.

 

[SwanseaRoadBikesInstagram]

Nope. It concentrates the force evenly across all threads in engagement with the nut, same as any other thread. Whereas other threads may shear under heavy load, the buttress thread never should.

I've been fantasizing about machining a high-quality malleable iron vise casting from scratch, making a buttress screw with a solid bronze nut, nice fitting, well thought out components, jaws bolted from the outside (blind holes so they have clean faces) with custom-made fine-thread shoulder bolts, where the holes in the casting are reamed to a nice tight push-fit, and accurately located on a horizontal mill. I even thought of having one, or two ''shear pins'' between the bolts, so the bolts are purely providing clamping force, and the press-fit pins locate into reamed blind holes in the backs of the jaws to restrain them against translation.

I'm always disappointed with the location accuracy of the jaw bolt holes in the ''bolted from outside'' vises, the threads ALWAYS bind, which leaves me a bit cold. Maybe I'm a bit anal?

Obviously manufacturing jaws like this will be a lot more involved, and susceptible to monkey assembly/removal.

 

[MattF]

I'm always disappointed with the location accuracy of the jaw bolt holes in the ''bolted from outside'' vises, the threads ALWAYS bind, which leaves me a bit cold. Maybe I'm a bit anal?

It's just one of those things. If you made your own, you could make the fit perfect, but in a factory, they just want to get them done, so close enough is good enough.

 

[CwazyWabbit]

[Snip]
Speaking of American collectors, I haven't actually seen onc with a big collection, all in my imagination! Have they posted photos anywhere on GJ?

A guy that goes by the name of VISEs on the GJ forum has over 400 vises and 200 anvils. He did post some pictures of his collection in 'The VISES of garage journal' thread but good luck finding them int the 3000+ pages.

 

[CwazyWabbit]

I have a Parkinson vise that is not quick release but has buttress threads and a brass or bronze full nut.

 

[MattF]

A guy that goes by the name of VISEs on the GJ forum has over 400 vises and 200 anvils. He did post some pictures of his collection in 'The VISES of garage journal' thread but good luck finding them int the 3000+ pages.

Which one is it who found & purchased one of the Parkinson shipyard vices; Sandman?

 

[SwanseaRoadBikesInstagram]

The only screw that was jammed into the tapped hole of a severely abused No.4 I bought from the boot sale, together with a No.80 for £15. It only had 1 jaw (still only has one jaw). It was seized solid, and I had to make a ''press'' with two lengths of M12 threaded rod and wood to press it out, which worked. Someone had also jammed a super tight roll pin into the hole for the split pin. The spring was totally chewed, probably a result of trying to open it just using the screw It now provides very little tension, and the action is therefore not as smooth as it should be.

 

[MattF]

So what are its bad points?

 

[CwazyWabbit]

Which one is it who found & purchased one of the Parkinson shipyard vices; Sandman?

Not sure, but some of VISEs collection is posted over a few pages starting from https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=44782&page=2551

 

[SwanseaRoadBikesInstagram]

Is that comparing to a iron vice? Forged steel is a different animal so it can go slimmer and still be as strong or stronger than iron alternative.

Are you sure it's forged? I can see a part line which looks like it was cast.

 

[SwanseaRoadBikesInstagram]

Somebody want this vice? it's ending soon.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Engineer...740137?hash=item3f92da9ca9:g:5TsAAOSwp7FaZfpF

 

[CwazyWabbit]

Somebody want this vice? it's ending soon.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Engineer...740137?hash=item3f92da9ca9:g:5TsAAOSwp7FaZfpF

That's been listed at least once before and not sold.
It's intriguing though, Parkinson made a 'Handy' vise but I've never seen one that actually said handy on it. I wonder if it is an early Parkinson? or just some other 'Handy' brand?

 

[Rocketman]

Are you sure it's forged? I can see a part line which looks like it was cast.

Yes looks like you are right for sure, certainly looks like a split-line for a casting. Obviously won't be as strong as a forged steel equivalent. Probably a lot better than the cheap cast steel ones from Asia now days though.

 

[dazza]

That's been listed at least once before and not sold.
It's intriguing though, Parkinson made a 'Handy' vise but I've never seen one that actually said handy on it. I wonder if it is an early Parkinson? or just some other 'Handy' brand?

Saw this the other day.

https://es.wallapop.com/item/tornillo-de-banco-203996634

 

[winchman]

Cant go wrong for the price, you should start a collection.