Thanks to reading on here about how to break lose a really badly rusted shut vice, I finally got it open. It took a week of electrolysis, then some PB and sitting for a few days, then a 1 hour heating on the forge, to red-orange. It finally then broke loose! After it cooled, I turned the vise on its side, screwbox up, and squirted PB into the end of the box so it soaked through the threads. I then managed to work the screw back and forth, going a little farther each time.

 

I think the previous owner re-assembled it wrong, which made breaking it loose very hard. The washer between the screwbox and stationary part of the vise completely covered the "key" on the screwbox which inserts into the vise (I thought it had broken off!). This meant that the whole screwbox and vise handle assembly rotated free. I had to drill a hole through the spindle at the back of the screwbox  and insert a punch to keep it from rotating while I gently tapped the handle to rotate the screw. This finally worked.

 

So if you are working on your rusted, listen to the folks here. Patience, PB Blaster, and a good heat on the forge will eventually break 'er loose.

 

How did you fix your vise?

Welcome aboard Prof, glad to have you. If you'll put your general location in the header I won't have to keep bugging you about it. <grin>

 

Good job on the vise.

 

Mine only needed some cleaning and lubing to work. Both are worn and not terribly smooth but functional.

 

Frosty The Lucky.

I'm ready to re-assemble the vise. Any recommendations on the lubrication. Is WD-40 enough? Do you use a heavier grade of lubricant, like grease, or lithium grease? Not sure what's recommended for a vice like this.

 

PS: Frosty, I updated my profile. It should now show location.

WD-40 is NOT enough!  Generally I grease mine with the grease I have for working on my car which is a lithium grease.

Not only is WD-40 not enough, it is not a lubricant. It evaporates very quickly and leaves you with nothing; grease as per Mr. Powers.

I use 90 weight differential lube but any grease would work.

I've had very good results with spray graphite. It's dry so it doesn't pick up the usual scale and junk that grease does. Has anyone else used it?