leg vice

[cumbriasteve]

I am fairly sure Gordon is correct and the leg being fitted to the ground (bolted in some cases) or at least located in a socket is for improved rigidity of the rear jaw if hammering an item over in the vice.

 

[Kent]

Im sure that the original leg vices that I saw years ago had the leg fitting into a cupped type of socket, Maybe there were different variations.

No it has the male part to fit in, just not totally convinced it's required the way it is
fitted and I lacked the 1" plus drill and a piece of stock suited yesterday.

When I finally decide on the exact location the whole assembly will fit and the Base plate is secured into the floor I have an 80x 80 shs post secured to the 10 mm top plate.

Totally get the leg stopping any down forces, waggle? Dunno shall see when it's fastened to the floor correctly. It's only removing four bolts and making and welding on a boss - might end up doing it anyhow if I see some decent stock lying about

 

[Kent]

I am fairly sure Gordon is correct and the leg being fitted to the ground (bolted in some cases) or at least located in a socket is for improved rigidity of the rear jaw if hammering an item over in the vice.

Yes down force that is what it's their for. It takes the forces from the boots and top plate out the equation. I can't see how a boss will do anything but lateral ( screw) movement

Suppose if I have to heat and swing on some Stiltons and cheater bar to remove a frozen fitting? Like I say for normal smiting? Still like I say when I see some stock

If anyone has a bit of 43 mm solid in height with a 1" hole going down through it though it would be well received

 

[Kent]

Just had a thought 1" pipe fitting flange?

 

[cumbriasteve]

If anyone has a bit of 43 mm solid in height with a 1" hole going down through it though it would be well received

Some HD plate washers (if you have any) welded together would do trick also

 

[Kent]

Got it what I need is a pipe coupler or socket flange with an appropriate 1 " bore. I will just pop the leg into it and weld the thing to my base plate

 

[bigegg]

That leg vice is *exactly* the same as mine -proper monster! Weighs about 1.5cwt.

Would be interested in maker/history if anyone knows? (@MattF?)

 

[MattF]

See if you can cadge an older style collar off a barbell or dumbell. Should be perfect for the task. These types, not the screw on ones.

https://www.hartsport.co.nz/products/6-342-a
http://www.oldtimestrongman.com/blogs/new-blog/2011-07/19-346-york-olympic-barbell-collars

It's only to stop the leg shifting when it's being heaved on.

 

[MattF]

That leg vice is *exactly* the same as mine -proper monster! Weighs about 1.5cwt.

Would be interested in maker/history if anyone knows? (@MattF?)

There were various manufacturers. Record made them at one time. Peter Wright was another manufacturer. Then there were obviously the blacksmith made ones. Few seem to have been marked by their makers though, so usually it's a case of referencing the slight styling differences against known types to try and find out who the maker was.

 

[Woody.v8]

Got it what I need is a pipe coupler or socket flange with an appropriate 1 " bore. I will just pop the leg into it and weld the thing to my base plate

Won't a piece of 1" bsp pipe do you?

 

[Kent]

Got a bit of suitable heavy black pipe from neighbours ( too good to chuck) bin
Will use this as the holding boss welded to my base plate with the leg slotting in nicely

 

[sardine]

I did my aprenticeship as a gunsmith beavering away at a leg vice, we cast lead covers for the jaws on a regular basis, small parts were squashed in the lead to hold them.

 

[Kent]

Just can't see why you might use a leg vice in gunsmithing, why? I mean even an action from a big bore double could be held secure in a machinist vice
How was such a thing actually required? Maybe unscrewing an action from a rifle is all I can think of but there are tools specially made for that

 

[bigegg]

Just can't see why you might use a leg vice in gunsmithing, why? I mean even an action from a big bore double could be held secure in a machinist vice
How was such a thing actually required? Maybe unscrewing an action from a rifle is all I can think of but there are tools specially made for that

Probably just used by apprentices to practice filing - even the clumsiest apprentice [1] would-be hard pushed to damage it.

[1] although my last trainee "silverline" [2] could probably have managed it.
[2] cos he was a useless tool.

 

[colnerov]

I have always associated these with agricultural use and the large 'foot' was for use on a rough or even dirt floor, is this right?

 

[bigegg]

I have always associated these with agricultural use and the large 'foot' was for use on a rough or even dirt floor, is this right?

Not exactly - they are used for heavy work - specifically for hammering on, so the leg provides support.
They're also wrought iron/mild steel with unhardened jaws rather than cast.
You can use a sledgehammer on one if you so wished without doing any real harm
A blacksmiths shop would originally have had a stone or dirt floor but that's not the reason for the leg

 

[colnerov]

Not exactly - they are used for heavy work - specifically for hammering on, so the leg provides support.
They're also wrought iron/mild steel with unhardened jaws rather than cast.
You can use a sledgehammer on one if you so wished without doing any real harm
A blacksmiths shop would originally have had a stone or dirt floor but that's not the reason for the leg

Thanks.

 

[sardine]

Just can't see why you might use a leg vice in gunsmithing, why? I mean even an action from a big bore double could be held secure in a machinist vice
How was such a thing actually required? Maybe unscrewing an action from a rifle is all I can think of but there are tools specially made for that

Cos the factory was started in 1812, and there was no need to go crazy splashing out on new vices every 170 years !

 

[Kent]

British buisness! Does anyone know when the machinist type vice developed?

 

[Turbo]

Traditionally the leg was set into the stone floor or into a wooden stump on a portable vice. I understood that the leg carries the shock loading of the vice down into the ground, useful when hammering in the vice. These were usually mounted on wooden benches so the extra rigidity & strength the leg offered was essential.