I need some jaws!

[cazl1994]

to cut a long story short
we bought a old british vice in a sale and one jaw is missing
where can i get 4 inch jaws for it can find any on'd t'internet

 

[brightspark]

buck and hickman but the price is a pi/// s take make one its cheaper

 

[cazl1994]

thats what i was thinking i was going to get sir to machine some up for me on the mill?could i make a pair if i don't have a mill?
and how do you get the ridges on them?

 

[scott0031]

Yes you can make them up yourself, just use a standard bright mild steel bar stock, it does not matter if its slightly larger than the original. You will need to cut the material to length and clean up then drill the holes and countersink. You can get away without a milling machine for a job like this.

Its very common for the standard serrated jaws to be discarded by people doing high end work, such as tool rooms. I have always either used soft mild steel jaws or hardened plain ones, which we make ourselves.


Kind regards,


Scott (ward eng)

 

[Endacy]

I think jaws are usually hardened aren't they? However could you make them from stainless stock as this is harder than the mild steel that would usually be clamped in them. Or have I got that a bit wrong?

 

[brightspark]

mild steel jaws are ok. if the one still fitted is ok and not worn at the edges just make the one. there generaly a stock size of metal and available in small amounts

 

[cazl1994]

ill have to measure up and find some stock
i can get them hardened ar school because we've got oxy propane
i was going to make some soft jaws anyway
thanks caz.

 

[stormin]

Replaced some jaws in the old vice at my mates workhop that I sometimes use. I seem to recall we used a standard size of silver steel barstock. The price of new jaws from record is more than I paid for my vice.
Just drilled holes for countersunk fitting screws. We also milled horizontal and vertical V grooves in one jaw to help when holding round stock.

 

[hareng]

Buy some ground flat stock, these are equivalent to the old 01 grade and can be hardened, however they may warp.
Ground flat comes just that, all edges ground a flat and dimensionally accurate. Just need to cut off, dress, drill through and counterbore, job done.

If fixed unconventionally it could be a pain for you to line up ie threaded in to the jaws. Need it to sit on a machined flat in the actual casting when tightened up, i have an old QR english 6" jobby.

First thing we did was grind the serrations off not wanting to ding the work piece.