Hi Gents, I just picked up this large post vise. Paid more than I should of but these big ones just don't pop up that often in my area. It weighs 136 pounds, has 6" wide jaws and stands 39" tall (but I suspect a couple inches have been cut off the leg).
The threads on the screw and box are in very nice shape but the dust cover part of the screw box has a small chunk missing out of it on the end. It's past the threaded section so it won't affect anything but I think I'll forge a sleeve to slip over the end to keep the threads clean.
The vise looks very similar to my smaller Peter Wright vise but I'm not a 100% positive, there are few minor differences. What do you think?
Overall the condition of the vise is in nice shape, but it looks like it was used to hold steel that was ground on directly over the jaws, and through the years they ground a 1/4" wide groove on the face of one of the jaws (see pic below).
I figure I have two options to repair it. Mill the damaged section out and weld a piece of 1/4" flat steel in it's place, or just use some 7018 and build it back up and grind it flat.
I'm thinking building it back up with the welding rod would probably be the best. I could throw the jaw in the forge for a bit to preheat it before welding.
Opinions?
Thanks for your help,
Shane