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  1. #1
    BobL is offline Member: Blue and white apron brigade
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    Default BS Vice - restore or retire?

    The mens shed was chucking out this butchered BS vice so I grabbed it.
    Its missing the leg below the vice itself but I figured I could knock something up to replace it.
    IMG_2793.jpg

    There is a substantial piece of C channel welded to the vice and top bracket but I figure I can cut the offending item off and clean it up.

    Worth it?

    If yes how is the end of the threaded rod removed?
    I'd like to take it apart for a complete clean up.

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Oct 2001
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    ACT
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    667

    Default

    Hi Bob,

    Nup not worth it at all....let me look after it for you.......



    Yes definitely worth it, it still looks quite good despite the additions. Easy to replace the missing rod also.

    THe threaded vice screw part should just screw out of the decorative cover end which should come out (but probably depend if its tight or lose) in the rear jaw /housing.

    Cheers

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Sep 2012
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    York, North Yorkshire UK
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    6,439

    Default

    Hi Guys,

    There has been no end of those leg vise's in the local scrap yard recently, some in far worse condition. But I agree with Steve, the end bit should unscrew, but you might find it very tight, particularly if the vise has been forced at its maximum opening, in which case heat and a big wrench might help.
    Best Regards:
    Baron J.

  4. #4
    BobL is offline Member: Blue and white apron brigade
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    Default

    Thanks Guys. will see what I can do.

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Dec 2009
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    Sydney
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    Default

    G'day Bob,
    I concur with the others- haven't heard of a leg vyce that needs chucking out
    That is a handy model, already modified to have no leg, that can be adapted to a creative mounting system. I have seen them on low benches or with a square peg on the back to use the vice in an anvil hardy hole.
    Even set into a custom robust stand, about knee height, would be great to use it as an upsetting and bending 'base'. Such a thing would be very handy to a blacksmith- but we usually prefer not to hack up a whole leg vise.
    creativity is the limit!
    cheers,
    AndrewOC
    ps I'll try to find pictures of the mounting plate, for if you want to reproduce it.
    'Waratah' spring hammer by Hands & Scott c.1911- 20, 'Duffy, Todd & Williams' spring hammer c.1920, Premo lathe- 1953, Premo filing machine.

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Dec 2009
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    Sydney
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    Default

    Amazingly I found the pics I thought of;

    WP_20141019_003.jpg

    WP_20141019_001.jpg

    WP_20141019_002.jpg

    enjoy!
    A.
    'Waratah' spring hammer by Hands & Scott c.1911- 20, 'Duffy, Todd & Williams' spring hammer c.1920, Premo lathe- 1953, Premo filing machine.

  7. #7
    BobL is offline Member: Blue and white apron brigade
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    Default

    Thanks for the pics Andrew, any chance of a photo or two of legs. Theres a 3/4" hole in the bottom of the section that has the the rear jaw on top. It looks like the leg slides not that hole but there's nothing to indicate how it stays attached. I've looked on the web but there are no close ups of these vice legs to see if there is any sort of attachment mechanism.

    Quote Originally Posted by AndrewOC View Post
    - haven't heard of a leg vyce that needs chucking out
    That's why I found it hard to believe that the Mens Shed was throwing it out

    That is a handy model, already modified to have no leg, that can be adapted to a creative mounting system. I have seen them on low benches or with a square peg on the back to use the vice in an anvil hardy hole.
    That sounds like a good idea but my anvil might be too small.

    Even set into a custom robust stand, about knee height, would be great to use it as an upsetting and bending 'base'. Such a thing would be very handy to a blacksmith- but we usually prefer not to hack up a whole leg vise.
    That also sounds like a good idea

    I'll try to find pictures of the mounting plate, for if you want to reproduce it.
    The original mounting plate is actually still there - just have to cut that piece C channel away from it without messing it up too much.
    I was thinking I might hot cut as much of the channel away so I could get a thin kerf cutting wheel onto the welds.

    I dismantled it yesterday and under the paint and not much rust I found it's actually in pretty good shape. There's even a faint trace of the webbed pattered on the jaw faces.

  8. #8
    BobL is offline Member: Blue and white apron brigade
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    Well here it is full apart
    10 minutes with the plasma cutter to cut away as much of the welded on channel as I could and then thin kerf cutting wheel into the welds.
    Ground and linished away the remaining bits of weld.
    Half an hour with a wire wheel to get the paint and belt rust off and here we are
    IMG_2808p.jpg

    Not sure were to go from here;
    Just oil it up and leave it as is?
    Light electrolysis to get all the rust out of the shafts and holes ?
    Flat black epoxy finish?
    What do you reckon?

  9. #9
    Join Date
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    What with is the jaws?
    I can measure mine to give you the over all height. The leg is basically round bar stock some are slightly tapered.
    I can take photos if you like.


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
    …..Live a Quiet Life & Work with your Hands

  10. #10
    BobL is offline Member: Blue and white apron brigade
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    Quote Originally Posted by DSEL74 View Post
    What with is the jaws?
    I can measure mine to give you the over all height. The leg is basically round bar stock some are slightly tapered.
    I can take photos if you like.
    Thanks Dale, Photos would be great - how is the leg attached to the vice?

    The jaws are 107mm wide.

  11. #11
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    It’s one piece with the back jaw. I’d pin or screw it together then weld it. It designed to transmit the force directly down to the floor.

    That is also what the ring on the leg is for. Your supposed to set the leg in solid footing up to the ring (floor level)




    Another 5 1/2” this one has a shorter leg but similar height.




    Much older vise with through tenon mount have to gorge a new spring for it and restore it.
    It’s a bit shorter.


    There are a few others about the shed which are lighter builds.

    Let me know if you need any thing else.
    …..Live a Quiet Life & Work with your Hands

  12. #12
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    Oct 2015
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    melbourne
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    Quote Originally Posted by BobL View Post
    Well here it is full apart
    10 minutes with the plasma cutter to cut away as much of the welded on channel as I could and then thin kerf cutting wheel into the welds.
    Ground and linished away the remaining bits of weld.
    Half an hour with a wire wheel to get the paint and belt rust off and here we are
    IMG_2808p.jpg

    Not sure were to go from here;
    Just oil it up and leave it as is?
    Light electrolysis to get all the rust out of the shafts and holes ?
    Flat black epoxy finish?
    What do you reckon?
    I'd just oil it. I've never seen a leg vise in any finish other than 'natural rust'. (except perhaps in one of those 'restoration' antique shops where every tool is wire brushed and sprayed a uniform black or colour gloss, including all fasteners and cutting edges...

    -russ

  13. #13
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    Coat it with boiled linseed oil.


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
    …..Live a Quiet Life & Work with your Hands

  14. #14
    BobL is offline Member: Blue and white apron brigade
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    I gave it a few coats of tannic acid to passivate the surface rust which turned it a sooty black.
    Then a wipe of BLO.
    In these pics it looks a bit flash, like its been painted with black gloss paint but as the BLO dries off and hardens it should lose its gloss.
    IMG_2857.jpg

  15. #15
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    What is the writing .....brooks Stourbridge England ?


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
    …..Live a Quiet Life & Work with your Hands

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