Show us your bench vice(s)

[GSR]

Half hour fiddling this morning and it fully opens View attachment 255694and guessing this is the reason the quick release isn’t more upright
View attachment 255696

Finally I got around to stripping it down, citric acid clean and a fresh coat of paint. Should have left it another day before putting it back together to let the paint go a little harder.

 

[CwazyWabbit]

sounds bang on -- also explains why no handle with mine -- it's a loose item to be attached when needed

there's no hook or broken off casting at that point, but it's just behind of the rear bolt so easy to attach a hook

Nice picture, confirming the Parkinson id, with a somewhat later 'perfect' type F than on my stand,

the stand is identical apart from the missing handle

btw, I think the triangle of slots would allow fitting of almost any of the type F or Samsonia J vises but maybe not the Handys, certainly not the older or smallest ones, without some drilling/adapter

The picture is from the 1913 B&H catalogue where it is shown alongside their other two stands.
It's a shame your handle is missing but it is the sort of thing easily misplaced, especially if the stand hadn't been moved in decades, I wouldn't be surprised if people had forgotten what it was for and threw it out.

 

[Blue Chips]

This isn’t exactly a “bench” vice, but I didn’t see a “Show us your foot vice” topic, so I figure it’s close enough for me to receive absolution.

This is a foot vise, marked “B.B. Noyes,” which I overhauled two or three years ago. These were made in Greenfield, Massachusetts. Not sure about the exact age of the vise/vice, but probably well over 100 years. Other names associated with this vice are Wells Brothers and Canedy-Otto. It’s sometimes called the “Little Giant.” My wife calls it the “kissing couple vise," which is the same thing that a neighbor said when he saw it. Here the vice is just sitting on a furniture dolly (not the stand I made for it).

After overhauling the vice, I built a roll-around stand for it, shown below:

Unfortunately, some of the accessories are missing. Originally, this vice would have been available with an assortment of jaw inserts/dies for heading and shoeing, and would have come with an adjustable depth-stop block, which is handy for upsetting, or just as a general-purpose depth stop. If I get ambitious, I might eventually mill a depth-stop block for it. Who knows? The only difference I can see between my vice and the one in the advert below is that the calk die grooves on my vice are an integral part of the casting, instead of a separate piece of steel, which I assume is a later improvement. The vise in the advertisement is shown with the the adjustable depth-stop block accessory installed.

Even without the accessories, it’s very handy when blacksmithing, as it can be used sort of like a third hand. It only grips while pressure is applied to the foot pedal, so there’s no locking action. When you release the pedal, the jaws open. These were used a lot by farriers, and the grooved extension for forming/welding calks has clear evidence of usage. One of the jaw inserts pivots to keep the jaw faces parallel to each other.

When I overhauled the vice, I posted additional details and photos of the process on the “I Forge Iron” forum, under my username, “Steamboat,” which reflects my interest in early steam technology. Here’s a link to that post if you’d like to see the steps involved:
https://www.iforgeiron.com/topic/60...se-fabrication/?do=findComment&comment=620287

My standard disclaimer: I do not guarantee the safety, efficacy, or applicability of any of my designs or ideas that I have described here in this thread. Any use of my designs or ideas is entirely at your own risk.

 

[Barking Mat]

This isn’t exactly a “bench” vice, but I didn’t see a “Show us your foot vice” topic, so I figure it’s close enough for me to receive absolution.

This is a foot vise, marked “B.B. Noyes,” which I overhauled two or three years ago. These were made in Greenfield, Massachusetts. Not sure about the exact age of the vise/vice, but probably well over 100 years. Other names associated with this vice are Wells Brothers and Canedy-Otto. It’s sometimes called the “Little Giant.” My wife calls it the “kissing couple vise," which is the same thing that a neighbor said when he saw it. Here the vice is just sitting on a furniture dolly (not the stand I made for it).

View attachment 277723

After overhauling the vice, I built a roll-around stand for it, shown below:

View attachment 277722

View attachment 277721

Unfortunately, some of the accessories are missing. Originally, this vice would have been available with an assortment of jaw inserts/dies for heading and shoeing, and would have come with an adjustable depth-stop block, which is handy for upsetting, or just as a general-purpose depth stop. If I get ambitious, I might eventually mill a depth-stop block for it. Who knows? The only difference I can see between my vice and the one in the advert below is that the calk die grooves on my vice are an integral part of the casting, instead of a separate piece of steel, which I assume is a later improvement. The vise in the advertisement is shown with the the adjustable depth-stop block accessory installed.

View attachment 277724

Even without the accessories, it’s very handy when blacksmithing, as it can be used sort of like a third hand. It only grips while pressure is applied to the foot pedal, so there’s no locking action. When you release the pedal, the jaws open. These were used a lot by farriers, and the grooved extension for forming/welding calks has clear evidence of usage. One of the jaw inserts pivots to keep the jaw faces parallel to each other.

When I overhauled the vice, I posted additional details and photos of the process on the “I Forge Iron” forum, under my username, “Steamboat,” which reflects my interest in early steam technology. Here’s a link to that post if you’d like to see the steps involved:
https://www.iforgeiron.com/topic/60...se-fabrication/?do=findComment&comment=620287

My standard disclaimer: I do not guarantee the safety, efficacy, or applicability of any of my designs or ideas that I have described here in this thread. Any use of my designs or ideas is entirely at your own risk.

Wow, never seen one of those before, erm.. Now.

Nice, very nice.

 

[Barking Mat]

@Blue Chips , why have you attached it with spring / spring suspension ? Just out of curiosity?

 

[Blue Chips]

@Blue Chips , why have you attached it with spring / spring suspension ? Just out of curiosity?

I get a bit nervous when a large cast-iron object is bolted very solidly to a steel object, as the expansion/contraction rates might not match exactly, and since some types of cast iron can be quite brittle, I figured that the springs would allow differing expansion rates without stressing the cast iron. The springs are really stiff (I can't recall the spring specs), and there are actually 8 springs, with smaller springs inside the larger ones, and it seems to hold the base down securely enough for working with the vise. I've used it for a couple of years with no cracking. It "might" not have cracked anyway with ordinary bolts holding it down, but I just wanted to make sure that it wouldn't crack.

I should add that since this vise was so old, and the quality of the cast iron unknown, I didn't know how strong the castings were, so I erred on the safe side. And come to think of it, I might have been inspired to mount it this way due to having seen a couple of similar old vices with cracked castings.

 

[Barking Mat]

I get a bit nervous when a large cast-iron object is bolted very solidly to a steel object, as the expansion/contraction rates might not match exactly, and since some types of cast iron can be quite brittle, I figured that the springs would allow differing expansion rates without stressing the cast iron. The springs are really stiff (I can't recall the spring specs), and there are actually 8 springs, with smaller springs inside the larger ones, and it seems to hold the base down securely enough for working with the vise. I've used it for a couple of years with no cracking. It "might" not have cracked anyway with ordinary bolts holding it down, but I just wanted to make sure that it wouldn't crack.

Well, I'm glad you've not over engineered it.

Your work, I've seen is first class. I 'don' my hat to you.

(Fair play, nice work).

 

[Blue Chips]

Thanks @Barking Mat, I do actually get a little carried away sometimes when building things, but since I'm not an engineer, I often over-build a bit to compensate for my merely rudimentary skills in structural/material analysis.

 

[Barking Mat]

Thanks @Barking Mat, I do actually get a little carried away sometimes when building things, but since I'm not an engineer, I often over-build a bit to compensate for my merely rudimentary skills in structural/material analysis.

Credit to you. Nice work.

 

[MattF]

The long handle hanging under the table looks to have a rectangular hole, my assumption is that it fits over the 'unexplained' peg/boss and is used to tilt the table back on to the 2 wheels for moving. That would explain the swept curve in the handle and why it's shown just hanging by the part you would hold.

View attachment 277712

Sounds feasible, & would make sense.

 

[Vono]

The long handle hanging under the table looks to have a rectangular hole, my assumption is that it fits over the 'unexplained' peg/boss and is used to tilt the table back on to the 2 wheels for moving. That would explain the swept curve in the handle and why it's shown just hanging by the part you would hold.

View attachment 277712

That's brilliant, suddenly it's clear, thanks for that.
I'd always looked at those pics & wondered why the handle was oddly curved, it just looked weird, but now you've explained that & noting the rectangular hole it makes sense.

 

[slim_boy_fat]

I 'don' my hat to you.

That would be putting it on, what you're doing is 'doffing' it.

Since it's the weekend, I'll put a drink behind the bar for you.

 

[Lewis_RX8]

Lovley No.6 Rescued from going in a skip ,Much bigger than my current one so a needed upgrade.

Bit rusty it had been sitting outside for quite a while

First strip down , wasn't too hard to get to bits all seemed in decent nick the top machined surface had taken some abuse as an anvil however threads looked good

then gave it a bath , Learning someone must have had a go at a repaint in a badly matched blue and not covered it very well

then its current state , Machined base cleaned up really well with the scotchbrite , only cosmetic damage everything else looks fine I believe

 

[Vono]

Lovley No.6 Rescued from going in a skip ,Much bigger than my current one so a needed upgrade.

Bit rusty it had been sitting outside for quite a while

First strip down , wasn't too hard to get to bits all seemed in decent nick the top machined surface had taken some abuse as an anvil however threads looked good

then gave it a bath , Learning someone must have had a go at a repaint in a badly matched blue and not covered it very well

then its current state , Machined base cleaned up really well with the scotchbrite , only cosmetic damage everything else looks fine I believe

Why would somebody skip that ???
It amazes me what folk will chuck away despite all this "save the planet", be environmentally friendly stuff these days.
Well done for saving it, that's cool.

 

[Lewis_RX8]

Why would somebody skip that ???
It amazes me what folk will chuck away despite all this "save the planet", be environmentally friendly stuff these days.
Well done for saving it, that's cool.

I know ! , It must be way more eco friendly to use something 50 years old rather than remelt it to create some carp that will only last a few years at most.

Also a shame once you melt a vice like that down never going to be made again.

Was thinking of my next step to sandblast and paint it or that may be too aggressive and be better off with just wire brushing

 

[MattF]

Why would somebody skip that ???

Don't complain. Folk wouldn't be able to rehome them if they didn't.

 

[The_Yellow_Ardvark]

I have got an Ikea Vice.



Some assembly is required.

 

[Arc Tourist]

Cleaned up the swivel jaw Columbian vise today. The rotating base has a sprocket type interior which allows a toothed bolt head to locate within the slots for secure clamping, similar to that of a Record 74. There is a laminated thrust washer for the handle which is steel on one side, and brass on the other; I haven't seen that before. Here are some photos.

 

[The_Yellow_Ardvark]

My Ikea Vice.



It is complete.
But does need a clean up.
The sliding jaw as a few burrs on it, that need attention, as does the face plate for the quick release.

One of the C/sunk screws head as disappeared, need a new one. Plus it needs to be teased straight.



I think the oil holes has not seen oil for a few weeks.
It is blocked.

 

[jsf55]

Purely by chance this thread appeared near the top as i looked through todays post. My record 34 has been with me since i was 18, 47 years later i had some left over paint this afternoon and a new hex shanked knotted wire brush ! I replaced the handle several years ago with a longer version as it had got bent Second coat tomorrow and i need to shim one jaw to get it parallel if that,s the right thing to do ?