Screwdriver
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- Messages
- 10,141
Yup, Richard is bang on except: I would never in a million years let a decent 5 inch Swindens go for less than £350 unless I was desperate. It got so bad I actually had to sell a bike - before I got to restore it!! But yes a sensible range would be £250-£350 if you can afford to wait, £350+ for minty larger ones.
The amazing thing about these particular vices is they are superb quality. Once fettled, the rotation locking is super secure and very controllable meaning you can clamp a heavy workpiece in the jaws and rotate it into position easily without having to release it. I am beginning to think that would make it a superb tool in the blacksmith workshop where you don't want to be handling red hot materials any more than strictly necessary!
The other thing is of course they are unusual in that they are constructed from cast steel which is why the casting looks so ugly. They really ought to be virtually indestructible and the anvil fitted to most is a proper "hit it with a big hammer" anvil. Not a decorative item made from cast iron. That ugly looking fecker up there is a prime candidate for a quick restoration and then another 50 years of abuse. If they can survive being bolted to a tank and molested by REME, they really ought to be able to survive anything.
Vices are weird workshop items, bit like an extra pair of hands, they are touchy/feely items. There is an indefinable pleasure in using one which is well designed, operates smoothly + controllably and so well made as to be almost over engineered.
The amazing thing about these particular vices is they are superb quality. Once fettled, the rotation locking is super secure and very controllable meaning you can clamp a heavy workpiece in the jaws and rotate it into position easily without having to release it. I am beginning to think that would make it a superb tool in the blacksmith workshop where you don't want to be handling red hot materials any more than strictly necessary!
The other thing is of course they are unusual in that they are constructed from cast steel which is why the casting looks so ugly. They really ought to be virtually indestructible and the anvil fitted to most is a proper "hit it with a big hammer" anvil. Not a decorative item made from cast iron. That ugly looking fecker up there is a prime candidate for a quick restoration and then another 50 years of abuse. If they can survive being bolted to a tank and molested by REME, they really ought to be able to survive anything.
Vices are weird workshop items, bit like an extra pair of hands, they are touchy/feely items. There is an indefinable pleasure in using one which is well designed, operates smoothly + controllably and so well made as to be almost over engineered.