Record No 23 QR Vice restoration

[JOEPRO]

Got this home last night and started taking it apart for a proper clean up and repaint which I'll share on here as I go and some Qs too!



Someone has made a couple of repairs in the past. This one below I can repair much better myself later as the strap is mild steel not cast



I ground back the welds and undid the bolt.



Bottom right in the image above is the second repair. It's a small brass plate which was bolted to the rear of the vice and holding the end of the lead screw. On checking it there is a small captive bit of the original casting missing there in below. This is an honest, functional and well executed repair so I'll leave that bit alone.

QR spring is broken I got a new one from ebay.

The handle has alot of slop in it. It's also a bit bashed up and bent slightly at one end. Viceman.uk do a new correct sized 5/8 x 11 inch replacement handle I think that is my best bet and I'll weld up the hole in the centre thing fully before re drilling to suit the replacement handle and make it a decent fit again. Does that sound reasonable?

Ps I don't have a lathe etc which would be useful here but there you go.

 

[Turbo]

The handles have quite a bit of slop from new, if it were me I'd straighten the handle best I can, file down any bad burrs & use it, its a work tool, not a precision instrument.

If you are going to paint it don't use a primer, when the top coat chips off it will look terrible. Use one of the direct to metal paints.

 

[JOEPRO]

The handles have quite a bit of slop from new, if it were me I'd straighten the handle best I can, file down any bad burrs & use it, its a work tool, not a precision instrument.

If you are going to paint it don't use a primer, when the top coat chips off it will look terrible. Use one of the direct to metal paints.

I understand it's not a precision instrument but I think most would agree that 1.5 inch slop at the end of a vice handle will be annoying for the next (hoped) 50 years of my usage

Yes I would like to try and reclaim the original handle so I'll try that first. Bandsaw off one end to get it out and heat / 20 tonne press to try and get the bends removed then give it a redress and wire buff as best I can before drilling a hole in the end of the cut off ball and welding it back on.

Good tip on the primer too! I'll brush on 2no coats of semi gloss enamel in the correct Record blue.

 

[dobbslc]

I'm reading this eagerly as I've got a No23 the same as yours that occasionally slips a thread when doing it up. Not sure if that's normal or not.

 

[MattF]

...that occasionally slips a thread when doing it up. Not sure if that's normal or not.

Nope. That's usually indicative of the 'screw/nut being gummed up & needing a clean, &/or the tension possibly needing a tweak.

 

[dobbslc]

Thanks Matt, I'll have a look one day.

 

[MattF]

Yes I would like to try and reclaim the original handle

I'm in two minds, on that front. I'm trying to resist replacing the handles on a couple of mine with brass rod. One of them, the original handle is in good nick, one has a replacement handle already. I just like brass handles. Could make them the length I desire, & you know brass will bend before possible vice damage can occur from over-tightening.

I fitted one on the Parkinson swivel jaw, & I love that handle.

 

[MikeBs]

Last year I got a 23 that was in need of some TLC.
Mine had a long section at the back of the moving jaw that looked as though it had been melted? I assume it was used to hold something while using an acetylene torch or the like. I filled it in using a MIG and then ground it flattish.
Other than that, it was just new jaws, clean, lubricate and paint.
Since then I’ve made a few jaw attachments, one in wood for holding wood, one in aluminium for holding stuff I don’t want damaged and one in stainless that extends back from the jaws about an inch in an attempt to stop the jaws getting damaged by hammers, wire wheels and cutting discs.
It’s a fabulous vice, best bit of kit I’ve bought.

 

[Agroshield]

The handle has alot of slop in it.... I think that is my best bet and I'll weld up the hole in the centre thing fully before re drilling to suit the replacement handle..

Another option might be to buy 17mm or 11/16" bar for the handle and make the hole slightly bigger to suit. That moight be easier than welding up and redrilling.

 

[MetalMonkey]

Or sleeve it

 

[MattF]

Or sleeve it

Problem with that approach is that the hole will be bellmouthed. Slim in the middle, wide at the ends.

 

[Agroshield]

Problem with that approach is that the hole will be bellmouthed.

Yes, you'd have to make the hole parallel (and thus larger than 5/8") before inserting the sleeve.

The sleeve would allow you to keep the 5/8" original handle.

If you lightly countersunk the ends of the new hole, you could put a ball bearing in each end of the sleeve, squeeze it up and the sleeve would bell mouth into the countersink, keeping it in place. With care and filing, the join would not be very visible.

If the handle is coming out, put a small piece of rubber pipe on it before reassembly to act as a bump stop.

 

[JOEPRO]

I *think* welding the 'ole up should be straightforward enough. The bar needs cleaning up and straightening anyway.

Drilling won't be too difficult either I can bolt and clamp it down tight in my pillar drill.

 

[JOEPRO]

Looking at the handle again it's no good really! Too many bends in it. It's hard to see in the photo but I can't find a straight section in it and it's all marked/ dented with hammer marks. It's no good ill order a new handle from vice man and not waste time on this one. (I'll cut one end with bandsaw and keep it aside with this vise anyway)



I did get the small parts all cleaned of the old grease in my parts washer and started wire wheeling and laying them out.



The castings are in rough enough shape. Others would describe this as patina also! Not me necessarily so need to think of how I can address that. Chemical metal and paint over it would be the easiest option.



The bare metal top is also marked quite a bit but I think this patina it will need to wear with pride ain't nothing I can do about it!

 

[rtcosic]

Out of general interest how were those handles fitted in the factory? Were the ends formed after passing the bar through the hole?

 

[MattF]

Out of general interest how were those handles fitted in the factory? Were the ends formed after passing the bar through the hole?

As far as I recall, there's a countersink/chamfer in the top of the knob, which the rod end was then peened/pressed over into. Slight shoulder on the rod to stop it sliding down.

 

[JOEPRO]

Screwfix paint stripper and course wire wool in action

 

[MattF]

Which of their paint strippers is that? You have a link?

 

[JOEPRO]

Which of their paint strippers is that? You have a link?

It's this one

No Nonsense Paint & Varnish Stripper 500ml - Screwfix

Order online at Screwfix.com. Highly effective non-methylene chloride stripper ideal for use by inexperienced DIYers as well as professional users. Non-caustic formulation is quick and easy to use and can remove multiple layers at a time. For indoor and outdoor use. FREE next day delivery...

www.screwfix.com

It has no smell and is quite thick. Like porridge so goes on and stays on thick. I applied first coat, waited an hour and applied another coat. Within the first hour the paint had all lifted already but I followed the destructions anyway.

A little goes a long way, glad I started got the small bottle. Maybe only used 70ml on this large vise.

Then wire wool very easily cleaned it off. Some spots still had paint but I wasn't bothered to treat further as I just wanted the bulk of the paint off.

Recommended.

 

[Barking Mat]

Looking at the handle again it's no good really! Too many bends in it. It's hard to see in the photo but I can't find a straight section in it and it's all marked/ dented with hammer marks. It's no good ill order a new handle from vice man and not waste time on this one. (I'll cut one end with bandsaw and keep it aside with this vise anyway)

View attachment 424425

I did get the small parts all cleaned of the old grease in my parts washer and started wire wheeling and laying them out.

View attachment 424427

The castings are in rough enough shape. Others would describe this as patina also! Not me necessarily so need to think of how I can address that. Chemical metal and paint over it would be the easiest option.

View attachment 424426

The bare metal top is also marked quite a bit but I think this patina it will need to wear with pride ain't nothing I can do about it!

View attachment 424428

It's got age related character, and it's original.