My Bro gave me a vice out of his shop when it closed down last year. It's a non descript fairly cheap vice made in India, but hey it was free and it generally works fine... EXCEPT one of the jaws is AFU. The screws that hold it in place apparently worked themselves loose at some point and became stripped when the PO clamped down on something.

http://www.hunt101.com/img/504060-big.jpg

The threads are 1/4 20

Here's a pic of the vice.

http://www.hunt101.com/img/504061-big.jpg

How can I fix this? Can I just retap the holes and hope for the best? I would be hard pressed to drill the holes out and retap to a larger size, at least I think I would be. It has been suggested that I just weld the thing together, but I would like the option of removing he steel jaws to replace them with jaws made from nylon (? - cutting board material) for working on things where I don't want to mar the finish.

Only way to know is to try it. Worst that can happen is your break the tap.

Only way to know is to try it. Worst that can happen is your break the tap.

What he said. And, BTW... a new Chinese/India/Taiwanese vise is about $50. So, if you fuck up, you're not out tons of $$$$$

Tack weld them in.

Any nylon or aluminum jaws can easily be held in place with an adhesive backed magnetic strip. That's what I do with mine. I've got some aluminum angle with magnetic strips on the back, and another set with a plastic face from my bicycle days.

Chase the threads in the vise and get some new bolts and I think it will be fine.

There are many "fixes" for your "vice" (pun intended :flipoff2:)

-heli-coil it
-keensert it
-Tap/drill holes 1/2" deeper for 1/4-20 and just use longer screws
-Drill and tap to 5/16-24. Fine thread's a little stronger
-braze holes shut and redrill (heat will turn mystery cast iron to white cast iron - jaws will be more brittle than they probably are now)
-go redneck style and J-B weld the old screws back in.

P.S. Whiskey, cigarettes, gambling, and loose women are all "vices". That thing in your picture is called a "vise".

P.S. Whiskey, cigarettes, gambling, and loose women are all "vices". That thing in your picture is called a "vise".

:laughing::laughing::laughing:

There are many "fixes" for your "vice" (pun intended :flipoff2:)

-heli-coil it
-keensert it
-Tap/drill holes 1/2" deeper for 1/4-20 and just use longer screws
-Drill and tap to 5/16-24. Fine thread's a little stronger
-braze holes shut and redrill (heat will turn mystery cast iron to white cast iron - jaws will be more brittle than they probably are now)
-go redneck style and J-B weld the old screws back in.

Ah, now we're getting somewhere. I just bought some JB Weld too. :laughing:


There are many "fixes" for your "vice" (pun intended :flipoff2:)

P.S. Whiskey, cigarettes, gambling, and loose women are all "vices". That thing in your picture is called a "vise".

BULLSHIT! Those things are called "A good time!". Thanks for catching my egregious misuse of a word though. I know better. :emb:


Chase the threads in the vise and get some new bolts and I think it will be fine.

Going to be my first plan of attack. If that doesn't work I'll try to drill the hole deeper and used longer screws and or retap it for another size. JB Weld will be on stanby if it gets FUBAR'd. :mr-t:

tap it 5/16-18.

You might even be able to just run a tap into it now...the drill is a F drill which is .257 dia....as in stripped 1/4-20.:homer:

if your tapping into cast (what it looks like from pic) use some oil and go about 1/2 turn then back. alot of cheap cast will crack and chip and generally suck..but you can still make it work enough.

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=3794

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/photos/03700-03799/03794.gif

tap it 5/16-18.

You might even be able to just run a tap into it now...the drill is a F drill which is .257 dia....as in stripped 1/4-20.:homer:

if your tapping into cast (what it looks like from pic) use some oil and go about 1/2 turn then back. alot of cheap cast will crack and chip and generally suck..but you can still make it work enough.

I chased the hole with a 14 20 tap and picked up some new screws. I have to trim them a little bit as the hardware store was out of 14 20 x .75 so I got the 1" ones. I'll probably mess with it a little more after I finish my mid-term. If all else fails I'll JB weld the SOB together or just have it all welded in place. A new vise is my last option, but still an option.

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=3794

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/photos/03700-03799/03794.gif
just don't use it to hard brock mine pressing a 1410 u-jiont out.

I managed to grind and cut the new screws to size and for now it's all back together and working. I wish I had my uncle's old vise, it was made in the 30s or 40's IIRC. SOB was HEAVY, but made of good steel.

It wasn't originally tapped with magical punjab taps. Drilling and retapping isn't an issue as long as the taps are quality.