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Finally got the garage tidy, but the workbench is lacking a vice, I've never had one. What should I go for, how big/small/type? How do I tell if a second hand one is knackered since there seem to be loads within pickup distance(Sheffield mostly) on ebay for not much money. Mostly bike and home diy stuff to do, though I used to dabble with Minis. I already have a workmate type thingy.
p.s. anyone want some 10" Cooper reverse rims?
How much for the rims?
And i'd go for a second hand one, pretty hard to f*** up a vice!
I've got a brand new one going spare, rescued from my dads old and (now demolished) school. Im in halifaxif thats ok for pick up? do you want a pic?
Smack's looking good right now...
The engineers vice i have is a record No3,the jaws are 4" wide and it opens to 5",bolts to your bench.I wouldn't see you using much bigger than that,unless engineering is more than a hobby.
I got it for about £25 secondhand,but im sure you'll get one cheaper if you look on ebay.They're nearly always pick up only ,because of their weight.Look for cracks,if the thread is knackered then it wont tighten,the thread can be stripped anywhere along its length,it may close and tighten but if the damage is in the middle then you'll find it wont tighten between 3" + 5",so check the whole thread if you can.
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Record make excellent vices and have done since time began 8)
Another excellent vice is from the prentice vice Co of N.Y.
I have their No 90 'bulldog',3" width 5" max opening on a swivel base.
Swivel base vices are very handy it you're working on small parts.
Bomberman, a pic or just a make and model so I can google it would be handy. How much are you after for it?
PJ266 They're Dunlop 4.5" LP918 perforated steel rims. I have 4, but I'll need to do a bit of googling to see what a fair price is these days. Have a few other bits, minifins and a water cooled inlet manifold. I'll sort some pics if you're interested.
alternatively screwfix will do you a reasonable ( meaning not too big, not too small ) vice with a swivel top for about 20 or 25 quid. if there's lots of SH records in your area though i'd get one o them.
Record vices ftw.
Most others are poor imitations.
Second hand though as they are not cheap new.
HTH
I am disappointed in this thread. Like Julian, I was hoping to find that you'd grown bored of drinking meths and watching animals copulating or whatever your current vice was, and were wondering what new depravity to indulge in. 😕
same... I was going to suggest crack and pimping 🙄
Well, sounds like you're in sheffield, so it simply has to be a Record.
I got a big record one for about £20 from B&Q on Queens Road.
My specialist topic - I designed vices for Record for a few years. Not much to go wrong, really!
If you are buying second hand, check the tommy bar is straight. On the Record, at least, the tommy bar is designed to bend before the vice is overloaded. This acts as an initial indication to stop tightening it!
Other thing to check is side play in the slide. Open the vice wide and see how much waggle there is in the front jaw. There will be some, but too much means it might not close straight.
Record vices will break castings before they strip threads. Check the screw for backlash as the nut can wear.
A Record number 3 is a solid little vice, the most popular in the range and would be a good bet.
The only reason I can think of bigger one is pressing headsets. I've got a decent fabricated steel vice with parallel faced jaws that is a wicked bearing press.
My Mrs. works in Pharmaceutical research.
When asked what we did, she used to say "Drugs and vice".
Its a clarke 3" bench vice, but having a look on tinternet myself it seems you can pick one up for fairly cheap (about£15) so not really worth you coming over for it. The other one i've got is a second hand record 8" woodworking vice but that's a right beast and i doubt you'll want it
Oh and don't buy one with a quick release, my Dad bought me one second hand, they are pants, the quick release breaks and they are useless and frustrating.
I am SO disappointed!!! 😕
I thought it was going to be all sex, drugs and rock 'n' roll...
8)
Only on stw can someone ask about a type of vice and the bloody designer of said vice appears. Marvellous.
I've got a record #23 in the garage - at a guess it's about 50 years old?! It's my last link to my uncle who brought it home when "his" engineering works closed
weighs about as much as the moon
Ta, all. I'll pick up a second hand Record locally via ebay then.