OldSoulSpeed Posted June 25, 2012 Share Posted June 25, 2012 How's it going. My name is Jeremy, and I am new to the forum. I have never really been part of one before so I might not be up on etiquette. I am pretty new to smithing, but have formed metal in my spare time for a few years. I picked up this vise from a local kid that said it had been on his family's property for a very long time. When I got it, I was not able to turn the screw and was a little turned off. But looking at the box (I think thats what you call it) I was keyed up on taking a chance. It appears to be made of brass. Then I saw that there was an iron ring around the end of the box. I had never seen (nor have I ever looked) one made with brass and figured I would grab it. I soaked it for about a week and hit it with low heat before I could get it to budge. Eventually I got it completely free. I did not get a mount or a spring with the vise. I was wondering if anyone could help me identify it, age it, value etc. It might just be a POS. I don't know, but I like it. I will be making a mount and fitting a spring soon I'm sure. Not having a vise out in my smithy area sucks. Thanks for having me, Jeremy Im sorry, but I will have to get my pics to photobucket and put them in that way. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pkrankow Posted June 25, 2012 Share Posted June 25, 2012 Posting pictures is under "more reply options" and often times the site has been glitching and only allowing "small" pictures to upload. Try resizing to 800x600 or 400x300 and upload. To the best of my knowledge there is no such thing as a POS post vise, except a broken one. Some are meant for lighter duty than others, and some are in better condition than others. Some older ones have composite screws and screw boxes, they are made out of wrapped iron, a tube, and other fittings, then brazed together. Similarly some are repaired by a new box being turned on a lathe out of whatever material was on hand. Welcome aboard! Phil Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted June 25, 2012 Share Posted June 25, 2012 The only solid brass screwboxes I have seen were replacement ones---Frank how about you? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frank Turley Posted June 26, 2012 Share Posted June 26, 2012 I know zip about brass vise boxes. Never heerd-tell of such a thing on an old vise. A little brass may be showing from brazing the rings together on the old early 19th century vises. Maybe we'll see photos? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Timothy Miller Posted June 26, 2012 Share Posted June 26, 2012 I have seen a few solid brass boxes on vises. I always assumed they were replacements of worn out ones but who knows. Were they one offs? Was someone making them for resale or was there a vise maker that used a brass box. I remember seeing 3 or 4 over the years. I owned one at one point. I don't remember seeing any markings on it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OldSoulSpeed Posted June 26, 2012 Author Share Posted June 26, 2012 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OldSoulSpeed Posted June 26, 2012 Author Share Posted June 26, 2012 Thanks for the welcome and the help on adding the photos. Hopefully the pictures will tell it better than me. The box is solid and it all looks like an original setup. Maybe just a one-off. I really like that there is a ring fitted around the end of the box which I would assume was to protect it. Also, any idea what I should do about that white patina that has it covered? Thanks for taking a look guys. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OldSoulSpeed Posted June 26, 2012 Author Share Posted June 26, 2012 Whoa! I just clicked on the pictures. They sure do come up big. Sorry about that. I can always try and resize. I had to hit the esc key to get out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pkrankow Posted June 26, 2012 Share Posted June 26, 2012 Yea, a little big. Looks like a really nice vise. I would probably lightly wire brush the vise and wipe it down with some oil or wax, then set it up for use. The spring can be made from mild steel, and a u-bolt to angle iron is the easiest means to fasten.http://www.iforgeiron.com/topic/18966-mount-for-post-vise/ Phil Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OldSoulSpeed Posted June 26, 2012 Author Share Posted June 26, 2012 Thanks, I will try the wax for sure. I tried everything else to get rid of it. We will see what happens. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ironsmyter Posted July 4, 2012 Share Posted July 4, 2012 The anvil manufacturer SODERFORS of Sweden used to make leg vises, they were always out-fitted with brass/bronze box nuts, they also sold replacement box nuts and box screws .. the vise you have in the photos is no where close to what a Soderfors leg vise looks like, but it could possibly have a replacement box nut.. I know some other manufacturers offered replacements, but I'm not certain if they were brass or not.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OldSoulSpeed Posted July 5, 2012 Author Share Posted July 5, 2012 I had never heard of Soderfors before, so I looked it up. Those are some beauties right there. I wouldn't mind having one of those. It looks like they were popular for their anvils, too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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