Bar of Steel for a Vice Handle

[aidank]

I have been gifted a no name brand vice. Jaws are 8" wide, its in good conditon. The handle for screwing it in and out has gone missing.

What type of a 1/2" bar 1ft long or thereabouts should i be looking for as a substitute. I guess what grade of material do I need.

 

[Brad93]

EN8 would be a good starting point

 

[brightspark]

any half inch bar will do unless your an animal

 

[aidank]

any half inch bar will do unless your an animal

give any bit of a decent tug and regular bar will bend, need something like the Chrome Vanadium bar that is supplied in a socket set

 

[MetalMonkey]

That is kind of the point - the bar is supposed to bend before you break the screw or the jaws.
It is supposed to be the weak point so you can repair it cheaply and easily and don't screw up the vice..

 

[tom2207]

a bit of rebar will get you going in the mean time ,,,, with a nut welded on each end

 

[aidank]

a bit of rebar will get you going in the mean time ,,,, with a nut welded on each end

done that, i can bend a length of 1/2" rebar at a length of 8" by hand, and im only 72kg weight.

 

[JOEPRO]

Vice Handles | Email :- Viceman

Replacement vice handles for Bench and Woodwork vices

www.viceman.co.uk

 

[tom2207]

done that, i can bend a length of 1/2" rebar at a length of 8" by hand, and im only 72kg weight.

lol ,,,, bit of en8 , or just have two shredded wheat instead of three ,

 

[Screwdriver]

EN8 would be a good starting point

Yes of course. Only repeating in case the OP doesn't know you know what you're on about.

@aidank - he does!

 

[pedrobedro]

done that, i can bend a length of 1/2" rebar at a length of 8" by hand, and im only 72kg weight.

I'd like to see a video of that please

 

[MattF]

It sounds like you're working towards wrecking your vice(s) if you're bending any rod you've tried using as a handle. I'd suggest changing your methods, not the metal.

I have brass rod as a handle on one of my vices, & I've never felt inclined to come anywhere close to applying the amount of force required to bend that, in order to grip something firmly.

 

[Bdog507]

It sounds like you're working towards wrecking your vice(s) if you're bending any rod you've tried using as a handle. I'd suggest changing your methods, not the metal.

I have brass rod as a handle on one of my vices, & I've never felt inclined to come anywhere close to applying the amount of force required to bend that, in order to grip something firmly.

Brass? What are you clamping.......Feathers?

 

[tom2207]

I'd like to see a video of that please

done that, i can bend a length of 1/2" rebar at a length of 8" by hand, and im only 72kg weight.

how long is the scaffold pipe though

 

[fizzy]

If I don't have a bit of scrap lying around I often use stainless for that kind of thing. Why? It is often the same price on Ebay as mild steel - free postage is the main cost!
Same with nuts and bolts in screwfix. Obviously steel is far cheaper but sometimes you don't want a bag of 500 and 50 for less money makes more sense

 

[tom2207]

Fireball tool have some interesting videos on vises , they did a run of short videos comparing their new vise to old stuff ,,, ignore the fact that its just an advert for their vise and after that its quite interesting

 

[fizzy]

Fireball tool have some interesting videos on vises , they did a run of short videos comparing their new vise to old stuff ,,, ignore the fact that its just an advert for their vise and after that its quite interesting

Vice please - we aren't all Yanks

 

[tom2207]

Vice please - we aren't all Yanks

as long as I dont fall into sodder or aloominum its not too bad .

 

[Erie Fred]

give any bit of a decent tug and regular bar will bend, need something like the Chrome Vanadium bar that is supplied in a socket set

Or one sourced from a car's tire jack/iron, try the car part yards.