Ferris McCallandale

You are absolutely right. I got great responses and had most all my questions answered and got a lot of good info to be able to fix my vice. I didn't mean to take those replies lightly. I really appreciate it. I just don't understand a whole lot about blacksmithing tools (like a post vice) and am trying to get as much info from as many people as I can. Thanks to all at IFI.

The vice I speak of is the same one as in the photos of the topic "leg vice help". The vice DOES open and close so even though it doesn't have what I thought was called a screwbox as I observed on other post vices, mine has a large nut that the screw turns in (look at photos in "leg vice help"). Is this jerry-rigged, or is it just a different sort of mechanism?

The post vice that I just purchased is missing the screwbox. What is the screwbox for, anyway? Do I need to find a replacement? If so, how would I get a hold of one?

Thank you all for the help so far. Here are pictures of the parts on the vice that appear to have been welded on but have broken loose. Do I need to fix these, and if so how do I go about it? I'm pointing at what seems to be a washer that has broke loose. This is the other piece that has come loose. I can turn the piece freely, which doesn't seem right.

Does anyone have a formula for a natural(meaning organic material) rust proof coat to put on iron? I heard of one that had beeswax, turpentine and some other ingredients in it, but I don't know if there are other and/or better options.

Forgive my ignorance. I'm really knew to blacksmithing. What sort of measurements do I need to tell what size the vice is? Or is it supposed to say the size somewhere on the vice?

I just bought a leg vice, and it needs a new spring. I want to buy one from Poor Boy Blacksmith Tools on Ebay but there are three different sizes and I don't know how to tell which one I need. Can someone tell me how to find out? Also this vice has a washer that looks like it was welded but the welds broke, and another washer-like piece between the handle and clamp part that has broken welds. Do these even need to be re-welded or is it o.k. for them to be free moving. I'm sorry about the hard to understand descriptions, but I don't know what all the parts are called. I might try getting pictures up soon. Keep in mind I don't currently have a forge so I can't make my own spring or other parts. Any help is greatly appreciated. By-the-way, this is my first post.