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  1. #1
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    Default Dawn 4 1/2 SP Vise - Clean-up/ "Restoration"

    Hello,

    This is my 1st metalwork post as I usually loiter around the Woodwork Forum.

    I have just acquired a 2nd-hand Dawn 4 1/2 SP Vise. The groves in the jaw pieces are still well defined and the moving jaw travels its full length. It is in need of a good clean-up to get rid of greasy dust and some rust, mainly of the slide of the moving jaw. After removing the front jaw from the base, I started cleaning with a brass brush and, in the process, noticed that some paint has chipped from the jaws and the base, showing the iron.

    So, in order to do a good job, I assume I will have to go back to the bare metal, prime and paint. I watched a few YouTube videos showing the use of angle grinders to get back to the metal. This seems to be quite a drastic operation and I am not sure it is called in this instance!

    As a complete newbie with metal, I would appreciate suggestions on the various steps, and products (?), to take to get the vise back to a nice state.

    All suggestions will be grateful received.

    Cheers Yvan

  2. #2
    BobL is offline Member: Blue and white apron brigade
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    As usual there's no "one" or even "best" way.

    If there's rust and paint missing it does sound like a "back to bare metal" is the way to go.

    1) Firstly of course you will need to dismantle it

    2) Clean any oil and grease off with a suitable solvent degreaser.

    3) Assuming its just surface rust to get the paint/rust off quickly a standard wire wheel on an angle grinder will work and it won't damage the metal.

    If you want to be gentle on the metal then paint stripper, thorough clean, and then a soak in a mild organic acid (vinegar/citric or oxalic acids, ie Diggers rust and stain remover). Electrolysis can also be used but that is not necessary for surface rust.

    It depends on the paint but a long hot soak in foot bath salt solution (Na2CO3) will boot clean and strip paint. Doesn't work on all paints though.

    4) The prime paint etc.

    Here is a "before" and "after" on a vice I did up in 2011
    I used electrolysis for this but I could also have use a mild acid bath.
    I also replaced the jaws with mild steel ones so they would not mark work.
    Yes someone had attacked it with an angle grinder!
    ViceB&A.jpg

  3. #3
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    Default

    Hi Yvan

    Welcome to the MetalWork forums,

    Grahame

  4. #4
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    Default

    Bare metal resto is always better in my mind however it can be time consuming to remove the paint and rust. Other than the wire wheel on an angle grinder you could use a strip-it disk such as https://www.ebay.com.au/i/1834285119...SABEgKM6_D_BwE. These eat paint and surface rust quickly although ensure you wear eye protection as little bits can come off. Also they are not as suitable for intricate areas which is where one of the wire wheel types will be better. For any rust down in pits or hard to get areas you could use Evapo-rust. This is a soak and leave product that is awesome although a little expensive.

    Good luck with the resto and welcome.

  5. #5
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    Default

    All of the vices on this page (Dawn etc.):

    https://motofaction.org/tool-reviews/

    ...were refurbished using an angle grinder (1300W Metabo) with a wire wheel (100mm or 125mm, aggressive). With the exception of the Indian-made unit, the cast iron really didn't care about being hit with a wire wheel and no material loss occurred - just paint and rust.

    I have a bead blaster but while I find it to be good for cleaning up vices, it's a lot slower. Paint stripper is an option, too, but I'd rather spend a few minutes with an angle grinder than chemicals. Personal preference, nothing against paint stripper as a technique. Electrolysis is a good alternative too, but not one I use personally.

    My 0.02 - disassemble, take it back to bare metal, clean up all the old grease, fill in the divots if you please (I rather like leaving the battle scars) then paint to taste.

  6. #6
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    Quote Originally Posted by Grahame Collins View Post
    Hi Yvan

    Welcome to the MetalWork forums,

    Grahame
    Thank you Grahame

  7. #7
    BobL is offline Member: Blue and white apron brigade
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    Quote Originally Posted by J.C. View Post
    All of the vices on this page (Dawn etc.):

    https://motofaction.org/tool-reviews/

    ...mostly took a bit over an hour to refurbish per unit using an angle grinder (1300W Metabo) with a wire wheel (100mm or 125mm, aggressive). With the exception of the Indian-made unit, the cast iron really didn't care about being hit with a wire wheel and no material loss occurred - just paint and rust.

    I have a bead blaster but while I find it to be good for cleaning up vices, it's a lot slower. Paint stripper is an option, too, but I'd rather spend a few minutes with an angle grinder than chemicals.
    If it's an old vice, chances are it's painted with leaded paint and using an angle grinder with a wire wheel on this probably has as much risk as using a methylene chloride based stripper.

  8. #8
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    Quote Originally Posted by BobL View Post
    If it's an old vice, chances are it's painted with leaded paint and using an angle grinder with a wire wheel on this probably has as much risk as using a methylene chloride based stripper.
    I should have mentioned that - I treat all paint as though it’s leaded paint, precautions should be taken.

  9. #9
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    Default Photos

    Here are a few pics of the vise, as requested

    Cheers Yvan
    Attached Images Attached Images

  10. #10
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    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by yvan View Post
    Here are a few pics of the vise, as requested

    Cheers Yvan
    Looks like it should be in good nick under the paint/rust.

    If you want to take the screw/handle out for ease of cleaning up, you can remove the split pin and it'll slide out. You can see some pics of the washer/spring/washer/split pin arrangement in this or some of the other refurbishment writeups:

    https://motofaction.org/tool-reviews...stralian-made/

  11. #11
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    Quote Originally Posted by J.C. View Post
    Looks like it should be in good nick under the paint/rust.

    If you want to take the screw/handle out for ease of cleaning up, you can remove the split pin and it'll slide out. You can see some pics of the washer/spring/washer/split pin arrangement in this or some of the other refurbishment writeups:

    https://motofaction.org/tool-reviews...stralian-made/

    Yes J.C., I believe it is in good nick under the crud.

    Went to Total Tools to get some wire wheels for my little angle grinder and found a nylon "sanding" wheel labelled "fine" which, I thought, would do the trick of removing the paint "delicately". Well, it is too aggressive and could in fact be used to grind the fine burrs off under the bottom of the vise!

    As suggested, I will take the screw/handle out to make the cleaning easier. Thanks also for the website address. It was interesting to read about the different colours used by Dawn depending of the material used: semi-steel and plate steel vises = red and cast-iron ones, blue.

    Cheers Yvan

  12. #12
    BobL is offline Member: Blue and white apron brigade
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    Quote Originally Posted by yvan View Post
    Yes J.C., I believe it is in good nick under the crud.

    Went to Total Tools to get some wire wheels for my little angle grinder and found a nylon "sanding" wheel labelled "fine" which, I thought, would do the trick of removing the paint "delicately". Well, it is too aggressive and could in fact be used to grind the fine burrs off under the bottom of the vise!
    Yeah almost anything that says sanding will remove metal. I had quick look on the Bunnings website and see they no longer sell fine wire wheels for angle grinders - the only thing I can see are those serious twisted knot wheels which are quite aggressive.

    Smith and Arrow no longer have them either.

    Chinese ebay still have them but no doubt you'd like to have finished the job before they get here.
    https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/3pcs-115....c100008.m2219
    Just be aware the regular bunnings (Josco - also made in china) angle grinder wheels throw wires like there's no tomorrow (maybe that's why they no longer stock them) so full PPE is essential. the same will apply to any chinese wheel.

    For rust removal I'm a big fan of loose flap Scotchbrite wheels on a bench grinder but I can only get what I want from the UK and they're are not suitable for something like vice.

  13. #13
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    Default The Finished Product

    Well, here is my "new" Dawn vice !! Thank you once again for all the tips, pointers & suggestions to clean and restore this little weighty beast!


    • Dismantled the vise and brushed all the cast iron with a hand wire brush. No serious rust to report.
    • Took the screw out, degreased and cleaned up and replaced the front big washer
    • Used a wire brush on the angle grinder to get back to bare metal then clean with metho before applying 2 coats of etch primer, 2 undercoats and 2 final coats
    • Had to re-thread the jaw plates' screws and used a tap to clean the jaw threads. Somehow the crest of all the screw threads was damaged.


    Carefully note that the selected colour is "Holden Engine" !!! It is the closest to the original I could find. (Ferrari red would have been far to bright and, after all, un-Australian !)
    DawnVise.jpg

    Cheers Yvan


    PS Oops, can't get the pic the right way up...

  14. #14
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    Default

    Looking sharp! Nice work

  15. #15
    BobL is offline Member: Blue and white apron brigade
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    Great Job - It was me that fixed the image rotation.

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