magikk Posted March 19, 2018 Share Posted March 19, 2018 Hi everyone,I went to the flea market yesterday morning and I got a good deal on a double screw vise.It has 6" jaws and it is locked up tight for now.Guy said he got it out of a scrap pile.I figure on spraying it daily with PB Blaster and hoping I can get it loose. I've read the older thread on double chain vises and see that it used what is called detachable chain.Does anyone know what size chain.It also looks like the lower screw may be bent but not sure.Hope it is salvageable.Thanks Mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JME1149 Posted March 19, 2018 Share Posted March 19, 2018 I'm no expert on this style, but it looks to me that without the chain in place to drive the lower screw, turning the handle would cause a bind between the upper and lower screws. Trying to force it to turn would lock it up and could bend the screws or break some other component. Should be fairly easy to get a good guess on the needed chain size using the pin diameter and width off of the gears and measuring the distance between the upper and lower gear to calculate the length. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WayneCoeArtistBlacksmith Posted March 20, 2018 Share Posted March 20, 2018 I think that the chains are readily available at farm supply stores. AnvilMan will chime in soon.. The chains are also used on hay conveyers. Wayne Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lionel h Posted March 21, 2018 Share Posted March 21, 2018 Old combine or hay machines have that type of chain. Good luck I would love to get my hands on one of those! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Judson Yaggy Posted March 21, 2018 Share Posted March 21, 2018 I have 2 of that size vise, it's a Fisher #4 if the jaws are 6" wide. Yes, the bottom screw is bent, someone ran the top screw too far in before starting the bottom screw. You have to be careful to start both screws at the same time and keep the rotations matched if there is no chain to keep them indexed. Try to back out the top screw a little and see if that loosens up the bind on the bottom screw. With care you can probably get it straight again. The body of the vise is cast iron (jaws are steel) and the screws are either wrought iron or mild steel, with the cog wheel that would hold the chain being cast iron. This cog is held on the screw shaft with a thru pin, and sometimes that pin comes loose and binds against the crescent shaped cover part of the casting. Check to see if the pin is binding on either top or bottom screws. If it is you can gently drive it back into place with a punch. Around here we call the chain "gutter chain" as it was used to pull clean-out paddles thru manure gutters in dairy barns. On ebay or to a collector you might get $500 to $1000 for a Fisher that size in good working condition. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
magikk Posted March 21, 2018 Author Share Posted March 21, 2018 Thanks guys for the info.I figure one just spraying with PB Blaster for a month or so before I mess with it.Nice to know what make and model.Thanks Judson .This was the first one of these I've seen in person and at first didn't realize it was a double screw. The guy wanted $40 and i got him to $30 so I got a great deal.We go to the flea market every Sunday when they are open and very seldom do I ever find anything. So I guess I was due. Thanks Mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BIGGUNDOCTOR Posted March 21, 2018 Share Posted March 21, 2018 Once you get it to unwind, watch the lower screw. It appears that it was bent because the top was run in to where it is now. By backing off just the top, you may be able to straighten the lower screw enough to get it to work. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Judson Yaggy Posted March 22, 2018 Share Posted March 22, 2018 14 hours ago, magikk said: i got him to $30 You stole that thing! I paid around $200 each for mine and I was super happy with the prices. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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