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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Feb 2018
    Location
    Perth. Australia
    Age
    63
    Posts
    27

    Default New/old BS leg vice

    I've just bought a leg vice and to say it is in rough condition is probably a bit of an understatement.
    The screw and screw box were seized and for a while I wasn't sure I was going to be able to get it apart.
    There was zero movement and after many heat blasts with the map gas and endless soaking in kero and various other lubricants, I finally managed to coax a small amount of movement out of it.
    I was beginning to think the thread may be damaged and that was stopping it coming apart but like a dog with a bone I didn't give up and eventually it yielded and I like a challenge.
    Anyway it's all apart now and I thought I may fire off a few questions regarding it's condition and restoring it to some useable condition.
    It measures 4" across the jaws and seems fairly light weight compared to others I've seen googling.
    It looks to be fully forged including the pivot bolt and nut.
    Does any one have any idea of the age of it? There is no branding on it at all.
    The legs look to be bent in due to probably having been over tightened at some stage in its tortured life. The jaws do not come together very well because of this.
    I was wondering if it would be possible to straighten them out in a press without heating them up. I have a 20 ton press but no forge.
    It is missing it's spring and part of it's mounting components although I should be able to make these.
    The screw box does not look right either and I think there may be a washer missing under the handle/bar???
    Any tips or advice appreciated.





  2. #2
    BobL is online now Member: Blue and white apron brigade
    Join Date
    Feb 2006
    Location
    Perth
    Posts
    7,182

    Default

    It looks pretty old to me.
    This before and after show of mime will show you the bits that are missing.
    Apart from the spring it's missing the U collar that holds the spring and rear bracket to the rear leg.
    The spring will need to be made from spring steel and may need heat treating to be effective.


    BTW the finish on mine is multiple coats of tannic acid to convert the rust and a Linseed oil overcoat.
    If you want it I can give you some tannic acid.
    The WIP on mine is here //metalworkforums.com/f266/t201...-retire/page-2

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Feb 2018
    Location
    Perth. Australia
    Age
    63
    Posts
    27

    Default

    Hi Bob. I thought I had replied to this earlier but I must have not hit the post button.
    Anyway.... I have seen your bs restore post and read through it a couple of times.
    I might give the tannic acid a go. Thanks for the offer Bob. I was also thinking of Black Japan and bees wax???
    It's all apart now so I can give it a good clean up.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Dec 2007
    Location
    Melbourne
    Posts
    1,628

    Default

    Yes it is missing the shackle and wedges. Easy to make, I have a drawing someplace I sent to someone else so they could make them.

    I have straightened the legs on a few but I did so by heating I the Forge not cold bending.

    I have forged new springs out of light car leaf spring. I’m told due to the lower pressure needed you can get away with mild but I haven’t tried it.

    The screwbox doesn’t look right to me either.
    …..Live a Quiet Life & Work with your Hands

  5. #5
    BobL is online now Member: Blue and white apron brigade
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    Feb 2006
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    Perth
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    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by DSEL74 View Post
    Yes it is missing the shackle and wedges. Easy to make, I have a drawing someplace I sent to someone else so they could make them.

    I have straightened the legs on a few but I did so by heating I the Forge not cold bending.

    I have forged new springs out of light car leaf spring. I’m told due to the lower pressure needed you can get away with mild but I haven’t tried it.

    The screwbox doesn’t look right to me either.
    In this post Mark shows how he took it to a down south to aFair/Market/exhibit where there was a BS demo underway and managed to get it repaired.

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Dec 2007
    Location
    Melbourne
    Posts
    1,628

    Default

    Glad to hears it’s back in action.
    …..Live a Quiet Life & Work with your Hands

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Feb 2018
    Location
    Perth. Australia
    Age
    63
    Posts
    27

    Default

    Well it's not back in action yet. As Bob explained it has been straightened out by the Boyanup Blacksmiths and had a new spring made but that is as far as it has gone.
    Bathroom/laundry reno's are underway at present so everything else has take a back seat unfortunately .
    Hopefully I will be able to get back to it shortly as I still have to make the shackle and wedges and do something about the screw box.

  8. #8
    Join Date
    May 2019
    Location
    North Perth
    Posts
    23

    Default Jaws

    I have an old offset cast iron vice that someone broke and it had been rewelded. Good job for strength but the jaws were not quite aligned. I closed the jaws and ran an angle grinder cutting blade through. Worked a treat, you can match the blade thickness to the mismatch.
    Cheers

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Feb 2018
    Location
    Perth. Australia
    Age
    63
    Posts
    27

    Default

    Well it's been a while but the vice is in working order once more.
    It got a good clean up and I managed to pick up a replacement screw box and screw.
    Probably nothing like what was originally fitted but it was a perfect fit and only cost me $10 so can't complain.
    I made up a new shackle and wedges - fabricated I'm afraid. Not forged.
    Still haven't got it mounted. Got to find a spot for it. I've run out of space.



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