1st Record Vice restoration

[Berkshireboar]

Hello All, my 1st post here. The forums have been a good help seeing other users Record Vice restorations.

I managed to get my hands on a No. 83 (m) / 83 Record Vice that was sat buried in the dirt behind a shed of an old military Officers building. Not sure on its date of manufacture or why the Body has 83, but the Jaws say 83(m). I’m still trying to work it out, if anyone knows please say!

It was caked in rust and seized up, some quite extensive pitting in the metal. To remove the rust and loosen it up I soaked the whole thing in citric acid and rubbed it over with a steel brush.

Managed to remove the handle / mains screw and quick release handle yesterday. Now time to get the jaws apart, they’re currently in the shed with a bunch of WD40 sprayed. Will attempt a hammer wack to try separate. Any suggestions on what colour to paint them when down would be appreciated. I was thinking a dark green of some sort.

Will post more photos as I go.

 

[rtcosic]

You can buy the correct colour paint:

BS381C 110 Roundel Blue - Paragon Paints

The original would have been Semi-Gloss.
I selected Gloss by mistake and it doesn't look right.

 

[chrismac]

That vice has come up really well considering how it looked.

 

[Agroshield]

For the jaw screws, reassemble the vice and trap the largest 1/4" hex flat screwdriver bit you can buy between the jaws, with its end engaged in the slot of the jaw screw. That stops it camming out of the slot in the screw. Turn it with a spanner. If you have one, an 8mm hex flat screwdriver bit out of a manual impact driver will be stronger (and you are more likely to have an 8mm ring spanner than a 1/4" ring). Heating the screw red hot and fast cooling over a couple of cycles might help to break the rust bond.

 

[Berkshireboar]

Managed to get the vice fully apart, and gave it quick a wire wheel all over as that’s all I had time for today.

Looks like at some point someone stamped the letter E multiple times into the vice.

Thank you for those who’ve provided some tips and tricks. I’ll order the paint soon.

Anyone know what the two washers / rings are for? And where they go. The brass one looks like it’s in a reasonable condition, the other one likely needs to be replaced. Any idea where I can source the spares?

 

[Mick Annick]

Record Bench Vice, service spares, parts. | Viceman, United Kingdom

Viceman - Classic vice spares for your British Record vice, Fast and Free UK mainland delivery.

www.viceman.co.uk

@Viceman on here, though he’s not a regular poster

 

[MikeBs]

Anyone know what the two washers / rings are for? And where they go.

The brass one, I’m at a loss with.
The other horrible one, goes on the end of the lead screw and stops it being wound all the way out.
I did a similar restoration of a Record 23 a few years ago and have never regretted it.
The moving jaw on mine, I think had been used with an acetylene torch and was missing a large chunk. I filled it with a mig welder and then filed it flat(ish).
Good luck with the work.

 

[Agroshield]

The brass one, I’m at a loss with.

Maybe between the boss on the main screw and the body casting. More so if it is bronze rather than brass. It is possible to put a thrust bearing in the same place if the dimensions are compatible with a standard bearing.

 

[Morrisman]

i just realised I have a Record No3 in my workshop, had it years. Is it just a normal vice, or is there anything special about it? I see more than a few people spending a lot of time and effort restoring Record vices, they’re not rare are they?

 

[Berkshireboar]

And she’s finally finished (although there’s some paint touch up to do, and will probably fix the quick release properly when it’s a bit warmer).

 

[Berkshireboar]

Hello All, my 1st post here. The forums have been a good help seeing other users Record Vice restorations.

I managed to get my hands on a No. 83 (m) / 83 Record Vice that was sat buried in the dirt behind a shed of an old military Officers building. Not sure on its date of manufacture or why the Body has 83, but the Jaws say 83(m). I’m still trying to work it out, if anyone knows please say!

It was caked in rust and seized up, some quite extensive pitting in the metal. To remove the rust and loosen it up I soaked the whole thing in citric acid and rubbed it over with a steel brush.

Managed to remove the handle / mains screw and quick release handle yesterday. Now time to get the jaws apart, they’re currently in the shed with a bunch of WD40 sprayed. Will attempt a hammer wack to try separate. Any suggestions on what colour to paint them when down would be appreciated. I was thinking a dark green of some sort.

Will post more photos as I go.





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The “brass” washer, may be bronze but it sits behind between the flange of the screw and the vice body. Presume it’s to allow easier movement? Or some sort of friction thing for tightening.

 

[JOEPRO]

@Viceman I've bought some great spare parts from you before. It was hugely disappointing to see this on your site recently:



Is there any chance to have items posted to NI in the future? Will anyone actually check and stop your post?

 

[plewlandsbob]

@JOEPRO , if you can't get parts sent direct, you can get them sent to me and I will forward them on.
Robert