Ethan Stone Posted October 20, 2015 Share Posted October 20, 2015 (edited) I just got a good deal an an old broken leg vise, it is still in working condition except the spring is broken and the leg is snapped in half but i know some one who could weld that right up, i got it for $25 and its the biggest vice Ive seen with 5inch jaws and it weighs probably 45#. did i waste my money? i will upload some pics if you guys want. Edited October 20, 2015 by Ethan Stone Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daswulf Posted October 20, 2015 Share Posted October 20, 2015 It can be fixed. In my opinion for where I'm at that's a good deal. I'd probably bought it and fixed it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted October 20, 2015 Share Posted October 20, 2015 Decent price; spring replacement is trivial and legs can be welded up with forge, torch or arc welder 45# sounds a bit light for a 5" vise though...And sure some of us love pictures... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Timothy Miller Posted October 20, 2015 Share Posted October 20, 2015 Not at $25 springs are hard to weld properly you may want to get a smith to reforge it for you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted October 20, 2015 Share Posted October 20, 2015 Don't need a smith you can use mild steel for the spring and bend it cold using the vise! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charles R. Stevens Posted October 20, 2015 Share Posted October 20, 2015 Well, as he is on IFI, I imagine he can forge one himself, lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ethan Stone Posted October 20, 2015 Author Share Posted October 20, 2015 Teses are the pics I got Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charles R. Stevens Posted October 20, 2015 Share Posted October 20, 2015 (edited) Ok, looks like the mount is broken, no problem, ither forge a new one or have your welder budy weld on a peice you can curve and punch/drill. And ad a leg to bring he up to about 40" (the bracket bolts to a 36" bench) looks like the spring is intact. Edited October 20, 2015 by Charles R. Stevens Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daswulf Posted October 20, 2015 Share Posted October 20, 2015 Spring didn't look broken, looks like the bolt plate is broken and that can be fixed. Do yourself a favor and unwind the handle and check the threads on the screw. How do they look? Jaws look pretty good in my opinion. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ethan Stone Posted October 20, 2015 Author Share Posted October 20, 2015 Ok, looks like the mount is broken, no problem, ither forge a new one or have your welder budy weld on a peice you can curve and punch/drill. And ad a leg to bring he up to about 40" (the bracket bolts to a 36" bench) looks like the spring is intact. the spring is intact but when i tighten it down and then loosen it i have to pull it back manually. Spring didn't look broken, looks like the bolt plate is broken and that can be fixed. Do yourself a favor and unwind the handle and check the threads on the screw. How do they look? Jaws look pretty good in my opinion. i checked the threads be fore i got it they look great. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Einhorn Posted October 20, 2015 Share Posted October 20, 2015 the spring is intact but when i tighten it down and then loosen it i have to pull it back manually. Once you repair the leg and mount, and then mount and tighten the mount up, the vise and its spring should work ok. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daswulf Posted October 20, 2015 Share Posted October 20, 2015 Sounds like the spring needs adjusted to put pressure on the jaw, and or the jaw needs some WD and loosened up. Not hard stuff there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ethan Stone Posted October 20, 2015 Author Share Posted October 20, 2015 thank you all for the help! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daswulf Posted October 20, 2015 Share Posted October 20, 2015 No problem keep us up on the fix. It could either help you or others. These posts are looked at by alot of people after the initial start of em. so pictures always help too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ethan Stone Posted October 20, 2015 Author Share Posted October 20, 2015 Not at $25 springs are hard to weld properly you may want to get a smith to reforge it for you. are you saying it isnt worth $25? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daswulf Posted October 20, 2015 Share Posted October 20, 2015 are you saying it isnt worth $25?Value is relative to the person/place. if it's worth it to you then it is. i would pay that without blinking an eye, fix it up and use it no problem. they do pop up around me from time to time but usually go for a little more/same in incomplete shape, or alot more in better shape. If the screw is good, and the jaws look pretty good to me, fix it up and use it. it'll last you many years. whats that worth? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ethan Stone Posted October 20, 2015 Author Share Posted October 20, 2015 Value is relative to the person/place. if it's worth it to you then it is. i would pay that without blinking an eye, fix it up and use it no problem. they do pop up around me from time to time but usually go for a little more/same in incomplete shape, or alot more in better shape. If the screw is good, and the jaws look pretty good to me, fix it up and use it. it'll last you many years. whats that worth?ya i know i just wanted to ask him so i could prove that it is worth it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daswulf Posted October 20, 2015 Share Posted October 20, 2015 (edited) ah ok. no problem. just didnt want you doubting yourself.only person you really have to prove anything to is yourself well and the court. heres hoping you dont have to do that one ... Edited October 20, 2015 by Daswulf Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charles R. Stevens Posted October 20, 2015 Share Posted October 20, 2015 I think David has the right of the spring, fix the mount and the leg, mount it and clean and grease it. Then see if the spring needs tweeked (doubtful) grease the tip of the spring, the pivot, treads and thrush washer. Honestly with modern grease the spring contact is the only thing you will need to grease again for a few years. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
matto Posted October 21, 2015 Share Posted October 21, 2015 i would buy that vise all day at $25 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted October 21, 2015 Share Posted October 21, 2015 (edited) Also take it apart and clean the cheeks of the pivot area and oil/grease them so it will open easier. And yes I would have been happy to buy that at that price and I'm considered somewhat cheap Edited October 21, 2015 by ThomasPowers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Timothy Miller Posted October 21, 2015 Share Posted October 21, 2015 are you saying it isnt worth $25?It is defiantly worth 25$ I used bad phrasing there. I would not bother with the mount it will work as is no need to weld on a new ear its strong enough. In your photo the spring looks ok. The real problem is that it is installed upside down. Also that chunk of yellow steel pretending to be a wedge is probably too small to take up the slop you may have to forge a new one. Its angle should match the other wedge so they slide smoothly past each other as you tap them into place. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arkie Posted October 21, 2015 Share Posted October 21, 2015 It is defiantly worth 25$ I used bad phrasing there. I would not bother with the mount it will work as is no need to weld on a new ear its strong enough. In your photo the spring looks ok. The real problem is that it is installed upside down. Also that chunk of yellow steel pretending to be a wedge is probably too small to take up the slop you may have to forge a new one. Its angle should match the other wedge so they slide smoothly past each other as you tap them into place. The spring is not upside down. The vise in the photo is though! On both of my post vises the springs look exactly as on Ethan's vise and on any other post vise I've seen. The "L" shape goes on the shackle (fixed) at the top and the gentle curve goes on the bottom (where the spring moves) when the vise is mounted upright. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
matto Posted October 21, 2015 Share Posted October 21, 2015 Artie is right the spring is not upside down, Tim is write it is go to go. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Timothy Miller Posted October 21, 2015 Share Posted October 21, 2015 Artie is right the spring is not upside down, Tim is write it is go to go. I should have said The bracket is installed upside down. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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