MYX Posted November 30, 2018 Share Posted November 30, 2018 Hey all, This is my first post, so it'll be about a post (myeah... it's a vise joke, sorry, they wont get any better). Been lurking for a while, and finally am on track to get going into blacksmithing as a new hobby. I am a maker by nature, so this will be venturing into a new form of making. So, I have been playing this somewhat slowly. I have kept a pretty constant watch on craigslist and the Facebook Market watching for something to turn up. I watched this vise for a little while. I called him on thanksgiving and he said he still had it, so last weekend I went and picked my new (old) vise. It's a Iron City and a little over 4 inches on the jaws. The guy wanted $200 for it, but agreed to $150. It's a little over 43 inches tall (seen as 42 in the photo, but it was hooked to the ring on the peg) and I would place it at about 75#. The only thing missing is the locking key which I can't see being too difficult to make. I am looking forward to getting it cleaned up. There is a rather heavy gouge on the key thing that locks up the screw box (sorry for lack of proper terminology). Theres some thing on the center screw threads, but for the most part (in my unknowing eyes) It looks to be in pretty good shape. Or better stated, I'd like to think it's in pretty decent shape. You can probably provide some better perspective on it. Anyway, I have been enjoying reading this forum so far. Seems to be an incredible resource. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MYX Posted December 2, 2018 Author Share Posted December 2, 2018 So, I spent the day cleaning the vise. It's amazing what kind of crap can acumulate in one of these things. I am not sure how many times a clean up has been done, but I suppose there's the real possibility that this is the first time so... hundred year old dirt? I wore a mask while I was grinding off the crud. It's a little scary though. At one point when I took off my mask, it smelled like a farm. Animal dung. So, I am thinking perhaps it came from a farm, or... who knows. But it didn't smell good. I have a little more to clean at which point I will post a video of the effort. Sadly, I did kill off an angle grinder today. It's why I didn't get finished. But I bought a new one and will carry on tomorrow. For the knowledgable, I want to confirm, I have read some conflicting thoughts, but it seems that for the most part, the thought is, don't use grease on the screw threads, correct? I have read oil. But what kind of oil? Motor Oil? For the rest of the pieces that I was able to finish today, I used BLO. I love the color the metal took when I did this. Do I wipe the remainder off, or do I let it just sort of dry and leave a coating? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Irondragon Forge ClayWorks Posted December 2, 2018 Share Posted December 2, 2018 When you say "grinding off the crud" I hope you are using a wire wheel not a grinding one. For lubrication I use chainsaw bar oil or 80 wt gear oil. Just let the BLO dry on it no need to wipe it off. BTW it looks like a very good vise. The screw threads look a little worn but as long as they engage the screw box threads you should be good. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MYX Posted December 2, 2018 Author Share Posted December 2, 2018 Ah, good question, and yes. It was a wire wheel. I did use a grinding wheel to take off the weld splatter which you can see in the first picture near the hinge. But, yeah, all the other bits were a wire wheel. Thanks for the suggestion. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JHCC Posted December 2, 2018 Share Posted December 2, 2018 Welcome to IFI! If you haven’t yet, please READ THIS FIRST!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frosty Posted December 2, 2018 Share Posted December 2, 2018 Welcome aboard MYX, glad to have you. Don't do ANY grinding! I'm not dissing you but you don't really know what needs grinding yet, wire brushing and a little oil or Johson's paste wax will handle the cosmetics. The screw has some wear but it doesn't look bad and you're right making the retainer wedge is no bit thing. A little forging or a bench grinder will make the wedge just fine, take a look at one of the online parts lists or just copy one fro a picture like I did. Easy Peasy for a maker. Frosty The Lucky. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted December 3, 2018 Share Posted December 3, 2018 Vise cleanups have been around a long time now; I remember one by a smith who polished and temper blued his vise and that was at least 10 years ago! (VICopper). The READ THIS FIRST thread will show you how to effectively search for such things here. Many motor oils have detergents and compounds in them to grab water; not something you want in your vise workings. I use the light machine oil they sell all over down here to lubricate your swamp coolers. For some reason my wife seems to believe we should buy a new squeeze bottle of oil each year when it's time to do the pre season maintenance... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MYX Posted December 3, 2018 Author Share Posted December 3, 2018 Heh... I read and searched, and researched a ton prior to even looking for a vise. I had read the READ THIS FIRST a few times. I had seen you guys tell people to READ THIST FIRST, so, man, I was gonna READ THAT FIRST so I didn't get told... But hey, I did have my location listed, and provided all the details I could about the vise, so... I tried. Oh well. ;0) Anyway, thanks for the welcome. Frosty: no I didn't take it as a diss. I didn't do any heavy grinds. Sadly this was done before the warning. It was only superficial in effect. The grind was at the hinge where there was something (looks like weld splatter). Here's a before and after of what was done. But otherwise, I have not, and will not do anything. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JHCC Posted December 3, 2018 Share Posted December 3, 2018 Don't take it personally; EVERYONE gets the READ THIS FIRST message! (Oh, and please go back and read Bonus Tip #2. ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MYX Posted December 3, 2018 Author Share Posted December 3, 2018 (edited) Oh man, No, no disrespect was intended. I even did the little winky thing... I am actively too young on this forum and know my place. More, I have been on enough forums to know the personalities that show up. I also know that when a person of several million posts tells you something, you listen because chances are, that they might know something. As far as forums go, I am generally the guy who tries to add some humor (ironic and /or idiotic), and it usually in the form of a xxxx poor pun, but when it comes to helping others, pitches in where he can. I apologize if you were offended by anything I spoke (wrote). Edited December 3, 2018 by Mod34 Edited for inappropriate language, member tagging removed Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JHCC Posted December 3, 2018 Share Posted December 3, 2018 No disrespect perceived! Not to worry, we are more than happy to indulge in excesses of ironic and even idiotic humor, puns especially. However, you really do need to go back and read Bonus Tip #2. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MYX Posted December 3, 2018 Author Share Posted December 3, 2018 Ok... BONUS tip # 2 , not tip # 2. I thought you were saying Respect the elders (tip # 2). I just re-reread your request about BONUS tip # 2. The one about NOT tagging. Ugh... Okay. Right so... I though I had been somehow disrespectful earlier and wasn't understanding how. But no, to layer things on, I was being disrespectful by calling out people, Annnnd after being warned once by JHCC, I then 'at' called him in the process. So, yeah. Hi, how does one spell noob? Sigh. One of my other hobbies is referbing old pinball and arcade machines. In that forum, there's tons of tagging. Really, I did read the list. More than once. But, I will admit scanning that one (bonus # 2) because I already 'knew' how to use the 'at' symbol. I apologize to Frosty for doing the same. Well, if I am going to goof something up, man... I will do it with full effect. Okay, illiteracy issues put aside for a moment, was the minimal grinding a bad thing, or was this one legit? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Irondragon Forge ClayWorks Posted December 4, 2018 Share Posted December 4, 2018 Your grinding on the weld splatters was just fine, I would have done the same. 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.