- Joined
- Aug 19, 2024
- Messages
- 6
I’ve been looking for a swivel base for my 5” “Record” vice that I bought new around 1975, no joy finding one, so I decided to design and build one., I searched the web looking for info, but no joy there either, so I kicked ideas around and came up with a possible design, so for trial purposes, to check out the concept I made a smaller version out of wood, it seemed practical so I started making the real thing.
First off, I am not a machinist, about 70 years ago I took a “machine shop” course at night school, I learned the basics of running a metal lathe and a few other things. Over the years working on various jobs I learned a lot of other practical things. About 20 years ago I received a 36” metal lathe as a Christmas gift. So I’ve had some practice on that.
The mounting holes of my vice are 5&1/2” CL-CL apart. I chucked and centered a piece of 8” X 8” X 1/2” steel plate in the lathe. (Could maybe have used 3/8” or maybe 1/4”, but I had the 1/2” and no 3/8” or 1/4”, so why not use it.).
I then cut the plate into 2 pieces, the inner circle part is just under 5” OD, and the outer “ring” is just over 6” ID. I then welded 1/2” X 1/2” X1/2” nubbins on the inner circle part to help centralize it.
Next, I cut a piece of 1&1/2" X 1/2” channel iron 7” long, drilled 2 of 3/8” holes in it to fasten it to the bottom of the inner circle part, drilled and tapped the inner circle part to hold it, centered crosswise. Bolted the 2 pieces together, drilled 2 of ½”holes in the channel just outside of the inner circle part, inserted 2 of 1/2-13 X 3” bolts from the bottom and welded them in place.
I drilled holes near the 4 corners of the square section for bolting it down, then made 4 feet out of 1” round stock w/holes through them and welded them in place.
To shield the bottom half from swarf I cut a 7” round piece of 16 gauge SM, drilled 2 holes in it and slipped it over the 1/2” uprights.
Then I made 2 swivel top nuts (toggle top nuts?) ( If anyone knows the proper name for these please let me know) out of ½” coupling nuts (See: https://homemadetools.net/forum/swivel-top-nuts-78031)
Now I need to drill holes in the welding table to bolt it down. All it needs now is a good coat of paint, but that will have to wait for warmer weather.
Also I may weld 1/8” X 1” flat around it to give it the “finished” look.
"It was hiding in my scrap pile in ‘kit’ form. It just required some assembly" (Author unknown)
Addition; I found the anti-rotation clamping action didn't hold very good so I put a couple of small beads across the ends of the lower clamping bar, made a huge difference.
First off, I am not a machinist, about 70 years ago I took a “machine shop” course at night school, I learned the basics of running a metal lathe and a few other things. Over the years working on various jobs I learned a lot of other practical things. About 20 years ago I received a 36” metal lathe as a Christmas gift. So I’ve had some practice on that.
The mounting holes of my vice are 5&1/2” CL-CL apart. I chucked and centered a piece of 8” X 8” X 1/2” steel plate in the lathe. (Could maybe have used 3/8” or maybe 1/4”, but I had the 1/2” and no 3/8” or 1/4”, so why not use it.).
I then cut the plate into 2 pieces, the inner circle part is just under 5” OD, and the outer “ring” is just over 6” ID. I then welded 1/2” X 1/2” X1/2” nubbins on the inner circle part to help centralize it.
Next, I cut a piece of 1&1/2" X 1/2” channel iron 7” long, drilled 2 of 3/8” holes in it to fasten it to the bottom of the inner circle part, drilled and tapped the inner circle part to hold it, centered crosswise. Bolted the 2 pieces together, drilled 2 of ½”holes in the channel just outside of the inner circle part, inserted 2 of 1/2-13 X 3” bolts from the bottom and welded them in place.
I drilled holes near the 4 corners of the square section for bolting it down, then made 4 feet out of 1” round stock w/holes through them and welded them in place.
To shield the bottom half from swarf I cut a 7” round piece of 16 gauge SM, drilled 2 holes in it and slipped it over the 1/2” uprights.
Then I made 2 swivel top nuts (toggle top nuts?) ( If anyone knows the proper name for these please let me know) out of ½” coupling nuts (See: https://homemadetools.net/forum/swivel-top-nuts-78031)
Now I need to drill holes in the welding table to bolt it down. All it needs now is a good coat of paint, but that will have to wait for warmer weather.
Also I may weld 1/8” X 1” flat around it to give it the “finished” look.
"It was hiding in my scrap pile in ‘kit’ form. It just required some assembly" (Author unknown)
Addition; I found the anti-rotation clamping action didn't hold very good so I put a couple of small beads across the ends of the lower clamping bar, made a huge difference.
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