How To Restore an Old Bench Vise
- Step 1: Buy an Old Vise Places like OfferUp, Facebook Marketplace, and Craigslist are all great places you can find Old Tools like this Bench Vise i picked up for $60. ...
- Step 2: Disassembly ...
- Step 3: Wire Wheel ...
- Step 4: Removing The Tough Stuff ...
- Step 5: Scotch Brite Buff ...
- Step 6: Clean With Denatured Alcohol ...
- Step 7: Paint Time ...
- Step 8: Re-Assemble Bench Vise ...
Full Answer
Is it hard to restore a broken vise?
So you’ve got a vise that you want to restore, but have no idea how to go about it. Luckily, most of it isn’t too difficult, so let’s get started!
How do you remove a pin from a drill vise?
Normally they are held in place with a pin that is hammered into a hole at the back of the channel. Usually all you need to do is use a drift pin or punch and a hammer to hit it from below and pop the pin loose and the nut will slide out the back of the body of the vise.
How do you set up your vise?
Generally speaking, I’ll set the main body of the vise and the dynamic jaw aside and then gather up the small parts and spindle. I put the small parts in a box, and set the spindle on top of it. This is where you have a couple of decisions to make.
How do I find the nut on my vise?
After removing the dust cover you will be able to see the nut, which is a round tube that fits inside the main body and has a couple of locating tabs at the back to keep it from rotating when you turn the handle of the vise.
How do you fix a old bench vise?
3:187:28How to Restore a Bench Vise // DIY - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipUp. For the jaws of the Vice I use my rotary tool with a cut-off disc to carefully grind in betweenMoreUp. For the jaws of the Vice I use my rotary tool with a cut-off disc to carefully grind in between the rows of teeth to repro.
How do you weld a bench vise?
1:404:19Welding a Bench Vice - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipSo I might as well just weld it. I'm also securing this device to the bench. So I don't mess up whenMoreSo I might as well just weld it. I'm also securing this device to the bench. So I don't mess up when I'm welding. It. Now it should go without saying i do not recommend building your own welder.
How do you disassemble a vice?
4:2514:01How-To: Take Apart, Lube, & Mount A Bench Vise - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipSo you're just going to want to swivel it until you get this lined up. So that drops out. And removeMoreSo you're just going to want to swivel it until you get this lined up. So that drops out. And remove the center. Nut. That's it so it's very simple.
Can you weld a vise back together?
0:2712:02Repairing a Broken Vise - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipThere you could weld it how it is now but if you want to have some better strength you want to doubtMoreThere you could weld it how it is now but if you want to have some better strength you want to doubt for that out that way there's no fancier crack just splitting up into your world.
Can a cast iron vise be welded?
2:394:29Can Cast Iron Be Welded? YES!! A Cast Iron Vise is Welded with 77 ...YouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipRate than nickel rods meaning the weld can stretch. And is fully machinable. That's everything youMoreRate than nickel rods meaning the weld can stretch. And is fully machinable. That's everything you want in a cast iron electrode.
What are the parts of bench vice?
2.2.1 Bench vice It essentially consists of a cast steel body, a movable jaw, a fixed jaw, both made of cast steel, a handle, a square threaded screw and a nut all made of mild steel.
How do you free up a rusty vise?
0:144:01Rusty Old Vise Restoration - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipRemoving this was kind of difficult it didn't want to come out. I use a screwdriver and a brassMoreRemoving this was kind of difficult it didn't want to come out. I use a screwdriver and a brass bristle brush to clean out all the.
Should you grease a vise?
A machinist or mechanic might clean and oil a vise multiple times a day, while a vise in a home garage may barely see any use in a month and only require a light oiling every so often. In both cases, you'll want to ensure several points of the vise receive attention during the lubrication and oiling phase.
How do you repair a cast iron vice?
0:001:20Stick Welding A Cast iron Vise Repaired with 77 Electrode from ...YouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipBit i slightly warmed up the weld area with a map oxy. Torch. Final cleaning with a fine wire wheelMoreBit i slightly warmed up the weld area with a map oxy. Torch. Final cleaning with a fine wire wheel then slowly laid down the root pass a half inch at a time peening with a punch between passes.
How to clean a vise after welding?
One of the easiest ways to clean up your vise after welding is by grinding back the weld carefully with a grinder before sanding it. Leave as much as the weld there as possible, but if the component needs to be smooth, then carefully sand it back until it’s flush.
What is vise made of?
Vises are usually made from cast iron and can be welded with high ductile filler like Nickel alloys. The vise needs to be preheated to around 200 degrees before welding to avoid cracking. A repaired vise has a reduced ability to withstand mechanical stress. Therefore a replacement is generally more economically.
How to prevent a cast iron weld from cracking?
Try to weld in small one-inch sections or runs rather than trying to weld the entire piece in one continuous long weld bead. Peening or tapping the weld with enough force to leave a slight indentation can also help to prevent the weld cracking. Start peening from the weld crater backward towards the start of the weld.
What electrodes are used for cast iron?
Nickel alloy electrodes are the most popular and recommended for any ductile cast iron welding. Most experts agree that nickel-iron weld is more robust with a lower coefficient of thermal expansion, which can help to reduce the welding stresses and to improve resistance to cracking as the welded component cools down.
How to repair a broken vise?
The first step in repairing is cleaning and prepping the components of the vise, which are broken prior to welding. Next, take the vise apart completely if required and carefully document it as you dismantle it to make it easier to put back together. Taking a few photos or notes is a great idea, or even bagging individual parts and labeling them.
What type of iron is used in vises?
Almost all vises are made using a type of cast iron known as ductile cast ir on. While it is one of the most challenging types of cast iron to weld and most time-consuming, it’s not impossible if you take the proper steps and follow procedures as closely as possible.
How much does a stick welder cost?
A cheap stick welder could cost you as little as $100-200, and most DIY home builders have a stick welder as part of their standard equipment.
How-To: Take Apart, Lube, & Mount A Bench Vise
I recently built a new workbench and there was no way I was going to mount my little Craftsman vise on this bench. I decided I needed something a little bit bigger, and definitely higher quality.
Price
In the thread I mentioned above, many stated that the going rate for used vises is usually around $1/lb. I found that the going rate is about $2/lb where I live (Chicago burbs). Also, sellers are asking a premium for Wiltons. I ended up paying $75 for this Morgan 135 after searching C-List for some time. It also came down to timing for me.
Taking it apart
Taking the vise apart is pretty simple. Start by unscrewing the dynamic jaw all the way until it comes out. Next, remove the bolts that hold the swivel base together.
Mounting
I decided to mount this vise in the corner of my new workbench. Make sure the static jaw overhangs the bench slightly, so you can clamp long objects without interfering with bench top. Swivel the vise 90° and check if there is any interference with the work surface. As far as hardware, I used both ½” bolts/nuts and lag screws.
Lube
I bought 2 products from Amazon to lube the lead screw and machined surfaces. Use Permatex 80078 anti-seize on the lead screw. A little goes a long way, so use sparingly. This will make the vise operate with one finger! Next, rub some Johnson paste wax on all machined/sliding surfaces to protect from corrosion and add a bit of lubrication.
Used or New
I personally like to find good used items to save money if possible. In some cases it’s not worth the time or money dealing with used items, or they simply are not available in the area that you live. If this is the case, consider buying a new vise on Amazon. Every garage needs a good vise!
How to cut a pin in half?
You may have to use a torch, or sawzall with a small blade to cut the pin in half. If you’re lucky, the pin holes line up from one side to the other. If that’s the case, you can use a punch and hammer to drive one pin through to the point it makes contact with the pin on the other side, and drives it out.
How to remove a Wilton nut?
The first thing you’ll need to do is use a dowel or steel rod that will fit through the nut, from front to back, and use that to knock the dust cover out of the end.
What to do if pin holes don't line up?
If the pin holes don’t line up, or you’re not sure, it’s a good idea to pick another method of getting the pins out. Some folks use an allen wrench that just fits inside the nut. They make sure the short end is in the pin hole, and then they tap on the long end with a hammer.
Why don't pins protrude into the center of a nut?
The pins don’t protrude into the center of the nut because that’s where the spindle will be when the vise is closed. Removing the pins is sort of it’s own subject, and might get you using “colorful” language, but it’s not impossible. There are a couple of things to know about removing the pins before you get started.
What is the collar on a Parker vise?
More commonly, vises have an internal collar with a set screw, or a heavy clip on the inside of the slide that needs to be loosened before you can remove the spindle.
Why take jaws off of a vise?
On vises that have removable jaws I normally take those off first because you sometimes have to lean on the screws/bolts pretty hard, and it’s easier when you have the extra mass of the vise to resist the torque.
Where are the pins on a vise?
The nut is also held in place by two 1/4″ dowel rods that are commonly called “pins” and can be seen on the side of the vise near the back. Depending upon the vintage of the vise there can be slight differences.
