Eck Posted June 2, 2021 Share Posted June 2, 2021 I have a rock Island vice think it is a 503 and the handle head is not secured to the lead screw. How was this attached as a thread on screw end. pinned or maybe welded. There are several angle grind marks on the lead screw where it attaches to the handle head. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Irondragon Forge ClayWorks Posted June 7, 2021 Share Posted June 7, 2021 Some close up pictures may help. I have no idea what a Rock Island vise looks like or what you are calling the handle head. If you are close to me, bring it by the shop. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BillyBones Posted June 8, 2021 Share Posted June 8, 2021 I just acquired a rock island 574. I am assuming you mean the knobs on the ends of the handle. The ones on my vise are welded. I do not know if that is how they came or if someone did it later on though. I know i have welded the screw on knobs onto a couple vises in my time. Real pain when the come off while working on something. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eck Posted June 9, 2021 Author Share Posted June 9, 2021 Thank you what I was talking about was when the handle was turned the lead screw thru the vice would not turn just the handle. I looked and could not see a pin thru the handle hub / head to connect it to this screw. I decided to take a rubber hammer and drive against the handle and separate the head /hub from the lead main screw . It came off with no broken pin I could see and maybe some fine damaged threads. Now how to re connect these parts. Thinking about cutting a recess in the head of handle and weld it to the screw. Then re face this area for smooth operation as a brass washer rides on this area. I think this would be stronger than a pin installed thru both and when put together will look original. Thank you for your help as this is my first vice repair. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JHCC Posted June 9, 2021 Share Posted June 9, 2021 Hi, Eck, and welcome to IFI! I can think of a bunch of possibilities off the top of my head, but it really would help if you could give us a few pictures showing the vise and its parts. Thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eck Posted June 10, 2021 Author Share Posted June 10, 2021 here is my problem In the first post the handle head was attached to the lead screw. A little tapping with a rubber hammer got the handle off. When I started this project the handle head would not move the vice just spun free. So now how to re attach and repair. Since I see no pin or threads in the handle head I think I should cut a recess in the head where the screw attaches and weld together then surface cut the weld smooth to work correctly. By the way the cuts in the screw where it meets the handle head were revealed when I took apart. Someone did a number on that end some time in the past. Thanks for all opinions. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JHCC Posted June 10, 2021 Share Posted June 10, 2021 Hmm. Does it look like the two pieces might have been brazed together originally? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eck Posted June 10, 2021 Author Share Posted June 10, 2021 Do not see any brass in the hub and not sure how it was connected probably a fine thread but unsure about the cuts. This was an old salvaged military vice at one time so could have broken and a repair was tried. If I pin the shaft to the hub the repair could be seen but a quality weld in a recess in the hand;e hub will give it a lot more area to fuse and a quick machine facing will never be seen unless taken apart. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Irondragon Forge ClayWorks Posted June 10, 2021 Share Posted June 10, 2021 What is it in the screw head that looks like some sort of bushing that's sheared off? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eck Posted June 10, 2021 Author Share Posted June 10, 2021 I can see what looks like machine marks . Tomorrow I will was area out with solvent to see if any other clues can be found.The face of the handle hub has a brass washer to rub against the vice jaw. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Irondragon Forge ClayWorks Posted June 10, 2021 Share Posted June 10, 2021 Is it possible the brass washer was made with a section that fit into the screw head and was brazed in? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eck Posted June 10, 2021 Author Share Posted June 10, 2021 Good thought will inspect the washer and head in the morning but the washer was loose between the head and jaw. still would not secure the head to handle hub. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JHCC Posted June 10, 2021 Share Posted June 10, 2021 There’s a little round divot on the shank, visible in the last photo (in the duller section to the left of the shinier section). Is that inside the head when the shank is in place? If so, I’d wonder if there might be a setscrew hiding under the paint. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eck Posted June 10, 2021 Author Share Posted June 10, 2021 and why the tapered per say grind marks on the shaft . What could be their purpose ? They were uncovered when I took the handle hub off. Maybe some tapered wedges to secure the handle at one time . I have been scraping paint fron that area and so far no setscrew. Want to wire brush the paint off but have to get a respirator as not sure if paint contains lead. The vice was made around 1951 I think. will clean better and report back thanks for good thoughts so far . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
swedefiddle Posted June 10, 2021 Share Posted June 10, 2021 Good Morning Eck, I would braze the 2 pieces back together and after it cools, drill across center and put in about a 3/8"-1/2" big rivet. Neil Good Morning, A set screw is not strong enough!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JHCC Posted June 10, 2021 Share Posted June 10, 2021 Good advice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eck Posted June 10, 2021 Author Share Posted June 10, 2021 I cleaned both areas with solvent. No pin thru the shaft or handle hub could be found. I took a file and went inside the hub and all I could see was bright steel. The brass washer between the hub and vice jaw had a slight rough edge on the inside edge which at one time could have been a shoulder . I can see some small what looks like a weld pattern on the inside edge of the hub. My thoughts on brazing is the thick parts may effect the heat treatment as this area will have to get hot to melt the rod. On the other hand a recess and stick weld may not heat up the shaft as much. as the weld could be completed in sections and cooled before re starting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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