Tool of the day

Russ from MN · May 8, 2022

My neighbor in Arizona had this big old vice laying behind his house, he called it a boat anchor, because it had 2 of the mounting ears broken off. I kind of admired it, but he said it couldn't be repaired because it was cast iron, but I've had pretty good luck welding cast. So I bought it from him for about scrap value, and hauled it home to MN, it weighs about 65 pounds! I cleaned it up, welded new ears on it, painted it, and it seems to be fine, I have used it a couple of times, it's a brute!

Janicholson · May 8, 2022

Perfect. Jim

Dopp Creek · May 8, 2022

Whats your go-to technique for welding cast iron? The vise looks like it has a whole new life ahead of it..Nice work.

Charles in Aus. · May 9, 2022

Well spotted and a marvellous outcome !
Rescuing old tools and giving them a new life is a satisfying use of skills and time .

jon f mn · May 9, 2022

Looks like a good vice. Those ears should be fine, vices are good cast and very easy to weld comparatively.

Russ from MN · May 9, 2022

I have gotten a lot of good advice from smart people over the years! I v-d in out fairly deep on top, pre-heated it to about 300F, and welded it with nickel rod. After every pass I peened the weld with a dull pick hammer. Then I flipped it over and v-d it out down to the weld, and welded it in. When I was done I wrapped it in a welding blanket so it would cool slowly. Nickel rods are $30 a pound at our local L&M, but I only bought 3 rods, for $7, and only used 1 1/2.

PJH · May 9, 2022

Was it actually cast iron or was it cast steel? I've seen old vises that were pretty beat up and still working. It's been my experience that cast iron vises don't respond well to beating.

charlie n · May 9, 2022

I bought this one arouund 30 years ago from a traveling tool auction. I think I payed $15.00 . Its been a good one.

dr sportster · May 9, 2022

Nice job on that . It looks like a Wilton I found in a dumpster at the port.

Charles in Aus. · May 9, 2022

Welding a good quality vise is easier than it sounds . A decent brand and older model is most likely to have been made from spheroidal graphite cast iron . It's tougher and easier to weld than the plain old stuff . The back ends of tractors are made from it for the most part , takes a weld very well .

Gary Mitchell · May 9, 2022

I have its twin and I love it. Good work! gm

RedMF40 · May 9, 2022

If you're only going to have one vice, that's a good one to have. Nice vise, too. Gerrit

DMartin9N-2N · May 9, 2022

Good afternoon, Russ...: I think you had a great idea in saving something that others thought was a "boat anchor". I don't see how people get along without a vise in each shop, barn or garage, along with a bench grinder. I have those items in three places as stated, also decent sets of wrenches, sockets, etc. Also good tin snips everywhere. Just my opinion, I really like the vise. I think my best vise came from a flea market vendor; like yours, it can swivel upside down as well as rotate side to side. You will surely not regret repairing yours!

Dennis M. in W. Tenn.

rlp in Co. · May 9, 2022

I've had very good luck welding on the outside of cast iron, like welding ears on a on a transmission or a generator. I even just use regular rod like 6011. It's when you weld with cast iron on both sides, that it is very hard to do.

560Dennis · May 10, 2022

Vise on wheels (table ) I so helpful to take to the job site . Good post

Tool of the day

Russ from MN

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Janicholson

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Dopp Creek

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Charles in Aus.

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jon f mn

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Russ from MN

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PJH

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charlie n

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dr sportster

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Charles in Aus.

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Gary Mitchell

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RedMF40

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DMartin9N-2N

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rlp in Co.

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560Dennis

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