Jon Smith Posted December 18, 2012 Share Posted December 18, 2012 I finally got my hands on a good leg vise, and, better yet, it's a piece of my childhood. I can remember cracking pecans in this thing when I was little (I could kick myself now knowing what I do). It was mounted for many years outside on the post of a lean-to shed and as far as I know, no one in the family before me even had any interest, much less experience, in smithing, so I have no clue where it came from or how it got there. The shed was torn down two years ago at the death of my grandmother and I finally tracked down the vise through my cousin who bought the house, and I am proud to have started restoring it. Oddly enough, there was enough dirt and crud in the threads of the screw that they are in almost perfect condition and the piece is now a proud part of my shop. It weighs about 45 lbs, and has 4" jaws. Anyone know how much it would be worth? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Justin Caradoc Posted December 18, 2012 Share Posted December 18, 2012 It looks nice. Its missing its spring though. That should be an easy fix though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VaughnT Posted December 18, 2012 Share Posted December 18, 2012 Great find even if it is missing the spring, mounting plate, gib key and wedge. All of which are very easy to make and good practice for a fledgling smith. Value? Hard to say. It doesn't look very old, to my eye, but I could be wrong. Any markings on it? Are you going to strip the paint off? That it's got some family history makes it priceless to me. I'd be really proud to have some of my grand-dad's tools.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jon Smith Posted December 18, 2012 Author Share Posted December 18, 2012 I knew about the mounting plate and was going to make a new one, and I've started stripping the paint, but I don't want to go so far as to blast it, so it's slow going. Haven't found any markings on it yet, but again it was outside for at least 49 years (it was there when my dad was a boy) Didn't realize I was missing the other parts though. I'm guessing the spring would be to close the jaws? And what's a gib key? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stephen Olivo Posted December 18, 2012 Share Posted December 18, 2012 The key and wedge are what keep it attached to the mounting plate. The spring actually opens the jaws. All are made from mild steel including the spring. http://ipneto.deviantart.com/gallery/?offset=72#/d4l21a3 http://ipneto.deviantart.com/gallery/?offset=72#/d4l21gz Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted December 18, 2012 Share Posted December 18, 2012 Looks rather like a Columbian from Cleveland OH with the unfaceted legs. A good working vise. Last Quad-State I was at they were going at around US$75 for a 4" vise though missing a mounting plate and spring drops it a bit. Don't know what they go for where you are at; but out here with a mounting plate and spring made for it it would go for around $100. Just your memories and the family connection should make it *priceless* though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jon Smith Posted December 18, 2012 Author Share Posted December 18, 2012 Thomas, thanks for the info. I don't plan on it ever leaving my shop but its always good to know origins and such. Stephen, thanks for the pics. Now I can start making the missing parts and finish the restoration Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pkrankow Posted December 18, 2012 Share Posted December 18, 2012 Cracking pecans sounds like a very good childhood use for it! Nice vise. Phil Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stephen Olivo Posted December 18, 2012 Share Posted December 18, 2012 Your welcome Jon. I realized the picture doesn't show it but the keeper has a taper to match the wedge and I believe they should be flipped. Didn't realize it when I took the picture. Had been taking it apart and putting it back together many times. The taper makes it easier to release the wedge especially when it doesn't protrude enough for an easy hammer blow on the wedge itself. This also keeps it from wearing unevenly and cocking it to one side. Good luck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jon Smith Posted December 19, 2012 Author Share Posted December 19, 2012 That makes sense. The only other question I had was the starting dimensions for the spring Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stephen Olivo Posted December 19, 2012 Share Posted December 19, 2012 On mine I just grabbed stock that was as wide as the legs and I think it might have been 1 by 3/16th inches. Whatever mild steel was around long enough and not to thick. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted December 19, 2012 Share Posted December 19, 2012 Yes one of the funny things about steel is that it pretty much has the same spring constant no matter what the alloy and so as long as you have it work in the area where it doesn't take a permanent set mild will do and is a lot easier to forge and finagle---kind of nice being able to take the spring out and whomp it cold to change the shape just slightly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jon Smith Posted December 19, 2012 Author Share Posted December 19, 2012 Sounds simple enough. I wasn't sure if it had to be really thick to hold shape on a piece that long Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted December 19, 2012 Share Posted December 19, 2012 Most of my vise springs are about 1/4" to 3/8" thick. I don't know if "really thick" for you is measured in angstroms or meters... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jon Smith Posted December 20, 2012 Author Share Posted December 20, 2012 Furlongs, my good man. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Timothy Miller Posted December 20, 2012 Share Posted December 20, 2012 I wrote up this post for times like this. http://www.iforgeiron.com/topic/28479-how-i-forged-a-new-spring-for-my-leg-vise/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted December 20, 2012 Share Posted December 20, 2012 OK I'll get out my nano-furlong scale and check some of mine---as that's a stout vise you may want to be on the thicker end of 4" vise springs. OTOH I like a spring that is just strong enough and no more as it makes it a lot easier to close the vise using my knee to work the handle. Where I work I have run into giga-parsec measurements.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jon Smith Posted December 21, 2012 Author Share Posted December 21, 2012 Timothy, thanks for the link. Great information! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeteH Posted December 26, 2012 Share Posted December 26, 2012 One of my vises has a coilspring instead of the leaf spring. Someone put it around the screw. It's pretty light -- looks to be about the same weight as a bedspring -- but it opens the jaws just fine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted December 26, 2012 Share Posted December 26, 2012 I've had one where a compression spring was placed down near the pivot with two straps through it that went on either side of the legs to keep it from shifting sidewards. Worked but I replaced it with the original set up of a strap spring when I made a mount for it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.