Mark F
21st Sep 2018, 02:34 AM
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.
https://preview.ibb.co/c58uxK/20180920_152330.jpg (https://ibb.co/nzG3re)
https://preview.ibb.co/hud54z/20180920_152338.jpg (https://ibb.co/fUkUWe)
https://preview.ibb.co/ckWWcK/20180920_152400.jpg (https://ibb.co/hAbxHK)
https://preview.ibb.co/kKBxHK/20180920_152756.jpg (https://ibb.co/eXycHK)
https://preview.ibb.co/mtu6Be/20180920_161943.jpg (https://ibb.co/nQVeWe)
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.
https://preview.ibb.co/c58uxK/20180920_152330.jpg (https://ibb.co/nzG3re)
https://preview.ibb.co/hud54z/20180920_152338.jpg (https://ibb.co/fUkUWe)
https://preview.ibb.co/ckWWcK/20180920_152400.jpg (https://ibb.co/hAbxHK)
https://preview.ibb.co/kKBxHK/20180920_152756.jpg (https://ibb.co/eXycHK)
https://preview.ibb.co/mtu6Be/20180920_161943.jpg (https://ibb.co/nQVeWe)