Seek Posted September 19, 2015 Share Posted September 19, 2015 What is the reason the the fixed leg of a post vice is so long? Does the extra length below the hinge have a function? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charles R. Stevens Posted September 19, 2015 Share Posted September 19, 2015 It provides suport for the innerjaw when you pound on stock in the anvil jaws. The hight was a comprimise to put it at a good work hight for forge work and filling. A filling vice beind set at about 42" and an anvil at about 30", some smiths set them farther into the floor or set them in raised sockets to adjust hight. Many 6" and larger vices have shorter legs to benifit hevy forging. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seek Posted September 19, 2015 Author Share Posted September 19, 2015 Aha, pretty obvious when you think about it. Thanks. Also thanks for the dimensions. I just bought an old one and now need to fit it to my workbench. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charles R. Stevens Posted September 19, 2015 Share Posted September 19, 2015 I'm 6'2" then 8 wear riding heals that add 2 more. My Dad is 6' so our bench is set at 3' wich is about where my post vise comes out, wile the machinest vise is about 8" tall on top of the bench. Now my heavy anvil is at 31" and my light anvil is at 33". my other anvils fall in from 30-32" to acomidate "smallfolk" Its all about your personal ergonomics and work habits. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seek Posted September 19, 2015 Author Share Posted September 19, 2015 My length is about the same as yours, and my workbench too. For now that'll be great, maybe I 'll find reasons to modify the height later. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Einhorn Posted September 19, 2015 Share Posted September 19, 2015 If my memory serves me correctly, Abraham Lincoln was once asked how long his legs were. His answer was, "long enough to reach the ground". I guess he needed his legs to support him too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charles R. Stevens Posted September 19, 2015 Share Posted September 19, 2015 Glad to see you posting simi regularly again, Mr. Einhorn Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted September 20, 2015 Share Posted September 20, 2015 Funny that the heavy postvise I'm installing this weekend is shorter than my light travel postvise. Well not really as the heavy duty ones expected to be used for heavier work which you usually do lower to get a better hammer swing.... The typical post vise mount can be moved a bit up and down on the back shaft to adjust for a different height work bench---you might need to make another spring for it though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frank Turley Posted September 20, 2015 Share Posted September 20, 2015 I couldn't help myself. The title of this topic reminded me of the horse who walked into a bar and ordered a drink. The bartender says, "Why the long face?" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charles R. Stevens Posted September 20, 2015 Share Posted September 20, 2015 Hello Frank! Long time no read Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SpankySmith Posted September 21, 2015 Share Posted September 21, 2015 Yeah, Frank, where ya been? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gote Posted September 21, 2015 Share Posted September 21, 2015 I'm 6'2" then 8 wear riding heals that add 2 more. My Dad is 6' so our bench is set at 3' wich is about where my post vise comes out, wile the machinest vise is about 8" tall on top of the bench. Now my heavy anvil is at 31" and my light anvil is at 33". my other anvils fall in from 30-32" to acomidate "smallfolk"Its all about your personal ergonomics and work habits. Your anvil is at half your heigth. When I adjusted my anvil height to fit myself using the "hit the board" method I ended up at half my height also.Göte Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frank Turley Posted September 22, 2015 Share Posted September 22, 2015 I typed in a couple of responses lately, and when I tried to post, I got the "Forbidden" sign, and all my typing was expunged. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charles R. Stevens Posted September 22, 2015 Share Posted September 22, 2015 Type short one or two lines, then post another two lines and let the system murge them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seek Posted September 24, 2015 Author Share Posted September 24, 2015 Here's a picture of my vise. Funny, it was owned by a church. It had been standing on a graveyard for ages. No idea what it was used for, and I don't think I want to know! It has been outside, but the rust was only superficial, so I guess it's made of wrought iron. I used some Hamerite to smarten it up a little bit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThorsHammer82 Posted September 24, 2015 Share Posted September 24, 2015 umm... you're sure it wasn't meant to be a marker...? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seek Posted September 24, 2015 Author Share Posted September 24, 2015 Ha ha! From a deceased blacksmith you mean... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted September 24, 2015 Share Posted September 24, 2015 Yes I know of a couple of anvils used that way; unfortunately at least one has been stolen. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seek Posted September 25, 2015 Author Share Posted September 25, 2015 i understand your concern. That would be very unfortunate indeed. According to the seller his grandfather was the bailiff of the church, also in charge of the graveyard, and he actually USED the vise. But I have no way to confirm his story.If and when this really has been a fraud, then I can only hope the blacksmith aproves of the vise being used again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted September 25, 2015 Share Posted September 25, 2015 Post vises were common maintenance tools back in the day. It could have very well been used to tweak wrought iron railings or hold grass cutting tools for sharpening. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seek Posted September 25, 2015 Author Share Posted September 25, 2015 There certainly is no shortage of post vises yet. At any day I can find plenty of them on the Internet second hand lists. The first one I bought was really cheap but I failed to detect that the screw had rusted solidly together. Even after days of penetrating oil and applying heat it wouldn't budge. I think that one was fished out of the water. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
swedefiddle Posted September 26, 2015 Share Posted September 26, 2015 Good Morning Seek,I was talking to a friend the other day at work. They buy Molasses from the Feed Store, by the pail. They mix Molasses with water and put it in a large container (garbage can or larger). The put the rusty parts, body parts, fenders, doors, whatever in the Molasses mix, No electric current needed. Leave it alone for a few days, comes out Bare Steel. There is no problem if/when you have to dispose of the Molasses mix, it is not toxic.You can do this in a Pail and put your vice upside down in the pail.Neil Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seek Posted September 27, 2015 Author Share Posted September 27, 2015 Thanks for the tip. But i don't think Molasses is a very regular staple overhere in Europe. I wouldn't know where to find it. But never mind. I have allready decided that the rusty vise is a lost case while I am enjoying the "new" one, pictured above, I only lost about 10 euros and it gives me a copious amount of scrap steel. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frosty Posted September 27, 2015 Share Posted September 27, 2015 Molasses is a good rust converter because of the phosphoric acid in it.Frosty The Lucky. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charles R. Stevens Posted September 27, 2015 Share Posted September 27, 2015 (edited) Often good old water got it in that condition, good old water will get it out. It softens the rust. The. For a bit of lubrication, good old glyserin loves water,so let it drip to damp and then soke it down with glycerin. The glyserin will folow the moisture in to the nooks and cranies. Used radiator coolant works fine for a combo soak, just be aware that most is toxic to animals. Especialy cats. But main lining 180 proff is the antidote... Edited September 27, 2015 by Charles R. Stevens Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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