See what I did there? Glorious.
A few weeks ago I was lucky enough to pick up a free vise courtesy of a very kind member Blurk99 (James).
It's unusual/rare/lovely enough that this thread will be a bit picture heavy. No apologies.
Two other relevant threads related to this vise and its maker for those interested who haven't seen them before:
old-vice-t73056.html
post1197903.html
The colour looks to be original, and there are differences in that and some other details with the one posted in the second link above.
Anyway, I'd like a bit of opinion at the end as to finish, hence the daft thread title.
It was in great condition relatively.
That casting void is superficial and no threat but was filled with a little JB weld later anyway.
The big round head is the main difference between this one and the vise shown in Nab's thread linked to above.
Unusual thread?
Getting stubborn paint out of the detailed areas was a worry. Then I remembered I'd impulse purchased an aldi combination dremel/ 'grinder' at year or two ago just for this very moment. =D>
More on that later.
Stripped down (the vise, not me), and into the citric bath in 2 stages. The bars were done previously and the covered in oil to stop them rerusting while the rest sat in the tub.
Pork Pie anyone?
The Cast Irone Throne.
Brass brush in the drill polishes up the cast just right. The Aldi Dremel was surprisingly effective if a little 'vibratey'. Did the trick though on the tight spaces. Quite impressed!
The body of the vise was always going to get stove blacked. It's fast, cheap, effective, cheap and durable. Doesn't interfere with any moving parts. Oh! It's cheap as well.
One trick I learned doing up my old morticer was just how much the application of heat via a gas torch helps apply black.
Warm enough that it won't burn you but you wouldn't want to hold it seems just right and the stove black will liquefy and and run into the cast just right. Great for threads and hard to reach areas. A light buff with a loose cotton mop in the drill is enough to finish it.
Monster! Does anyone know about the design of this one? Is it unusual or have I just not seen it on records etc.
All done. The only 'repair' made was to flatten a small metal plate that operates the quick release and I'm going to replace a bent split pin used to hold the stop on the bars with some small bar I had in the shed.
So the question now is?
What finish for the front?
Ooooh. Shiny!
There's two real options. I'm not buying more paint so it's either black the front and paint the highlights in orange like the morticer.
Or I still have some paint left from the Meddings and I like those colours too!
What do we think people?
Cheers,
Chris
Edited to repair a bad link.
A few weeks ago I was lucky enough to pick up a free vise courtesy of a very kind member Blurk99 (James).
It's unusual/rare/lovely enough that this thread will be a bit picture heavy. No apologies.
Two other relevant threads related to this vise and its maker for those interested who haven't seen them before:
old-vice-t73056.html
post1197903.html
The colour looks to be original, and there are differences in that and some other details with the one posted in the second link above.
Anyway, I'd like a bit of opinion at the end as to finish, hence the daft thread title.
It was in great condition relatively.
That casting void is superficial and no threat but was filled with a little JB weld later anyway.
The big round head is the main difference between this one and the vise shown in Nab's thread linked to above.
Unusual thread?
Getting stubborn paint out of the detailed areas was a worry. Then I remembered I'd impulse purchased an aldi combination dremel/ 'grinder' at year or two ago just for this very moment. =D>
More on that later.
Stripped down (the vise, not me), and into the citric bath in 2 stages. The bars were done previously and the covered in oil to stop them rerusting while the rest sat in the tub.
Pork Pie anyone?
The Cast Irone Throne.
Brass brush in the drill polishes up the cast just right. The Aldi Dremel was surprisingly effective if a little 'vibratey'. Did the trick though on the tight spaces. Quite impressed!
The body of the vise was always going to get stove blacked. It's fast, cheap, effective, cheap and durable. Doesn't interfere with any moving parts. Oh! It's cheap as well.
One trick I learned doing up my old morticer was just how much the application of heat via a gas torch helps apply black.
Warm enough that it won't burn you but you wouldn't want to hold it seems just right and the stove black will liquefy and and run into the cast just right. Great for threads and hard to reach areas. A light buff with a loose cotton mop in the drill is enough to finish it.
Monster! Does anyone know about the design of this one? Is it unusual or have I just not seen it on records etc.
All done. The only 'repair' made was to flatten a small metal plate that operates the quick release and I'm going to replace a bent split pin used to hold the stop on the bars with some small bar I had in the shed.
So the question now is?
What finish for the front?
Ooooh. Shiny!
There's two real options. I'm not buying more paint so it's either black the front and paint the highlights in orange like the morticer.
Or I still have some paint left from the Meddings and I like those colours too!
What do we think people?
Cheers,
Chris
Edited to repair a bad link.
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