2 Attachment(s)
Commander Keen's Project Log
In case you were misled, I am not working on a log. Wood is the devil's material.
Thought I'd document some of the things I've built out of my tiny shed.
I'll probably add to it when I feel like it, or ask for some advice on my latest project where needed.
Pipe vise
I inherited this from my partners grandfather, a BHP steelworks plumber for the majority of his working life (well, the working life in Australia at least).
It's a Millerchip brand pipe vise, up to 3" dia.
When I got it, it was rusted solid.
Gave it a bath in phosphoric acid, worked the chain loose with a hammer and WD40 (AKA Man perfume), and it was good to go.
The paint is an aussie made enamel by Norglass. Pacific blue is the colour.
Gave it 2 coats of primer, a guide coat, and a final sand.
2 coats of colour, applied by brush.
I am not much of a painter at all, but really impressed by the paint and the results I could get with very rookie hands.
Attachment 383594
Attachment 383595
Good for handling a big shaft. Will come in handy.
British steel (and aluminium)
You don't have to be old to be wise, but sometimes I surprise myself.
Been living after midnight quite a bit recently, breaking the law with the metal gods. The result is this victim of changes- a record #3 vise. Made in England. BRITISH STEEL.
Halford would be proud.
https://i.imgur.com/logDSzBh.jpg
As usual I don't have any true 'before' pics, but as below, the outline of repairs included some welding of the casting with some nickel rods, and filing back to smooth.
Paint was stripped, wire brushed down, and phosphoric acid to passivate any remaining rust spots. PRO TIP- don't buy the rust converter in the little expensive bottles in the paint area, get the big cheap bottle of phosphoric acid from the birck-laying aisle of your favourite big green hardware store- much cheaper. Can also find hydrochloric acid and muriatic acid waaay cheaper than the other offerings.
https://i.imgur.com/VYQrV37h.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/Nv1Sjbdh.jpg
Gave it all a coat in an epoxy filler. and filed down to 120 grit.
https://i.imgur.com/wo8U9Vah.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/9hX8NEzh.jpg
Primed by brush.
https://i.imgur.com/bSVIMGHh.jpg
Painted by brush in a Norglass enamel (I've got so much of this left over...)
https://i.imgur.com/5zuR7bSh.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/eFxtPYEh.jpg
I re-tapped a dodgy thread for the jaws, and installed new fasteners.
The jaws were passable, so the old ones were used.
Also added a new washer set, spring and split pin on the thread bar within the vise, so no slop anymore (was a good 1/4 turn before!)
Greased the slides, and left some of the filler on the unpainted surfaces for character.
This one is a keeper.
Rock on. \m/