copper vise jaws

[EmilioG]

I need to work on some tools and don't want to damage or mar the finish or threads.
Wilton has nice soft metal jaws but pricey.
Could I just use folded over pieces of copper or aluminum?
Could the soft jaws be home made?

 

[Terrywerm]

You bet they can be home made! Copper, brass, aluminum will all work just fine.

 

[Tony Wells]

Drive around the $$ side of town in a residential area where copper gutters are being installed. You can probably talk the guys out of a little scrap. Or you can buy new sheet stock of whatever you want.

 

[DMS]

I have also seen people use sections of copper plumbing pipe, slit open and flattened. I have a length of copper bar stock that is destined to replace the serrated jaws in my bench vice, but it hasn't made it to the top of the project list. Until then, I am just using simple sheet metal covers.

 

[hman]

Aluminum angle, 1" x 1" x 1/8". Black stripe on underside is stick-on rubberized magnet, holds jaw covers in place. Blue tape gives added cushioning as required.

 

[sk1nner]

I made mine from an old aluminum cookie sheet.

 

[Bill C.]

I need to work on some tools and don't want to damage or mar the finish or threads.
Wilton has nice soft metal jaws but pricey.
Could I just use folded over pieces of copper or aluminum?
Could the soft jaws be home made?

I have used aluminum strips. I cut them long enough so I could bend the ends up around the jaws so they wouldn't slip off.

 

[chips&more]

The advice above is good. But if you are not in a hurry, you can find a genuine Wilton soft jaw set on eBay for around $20-25…Good Luck, Dave.

 

[Rbeckett]

I had a bunch of copper and brass sample sheets from Online metals that worked perfectly and cost me zero dollars too!!!!! lots of ways to skin that cat and do it cheap and get a good tool out of the deal too.

Bob

 

[Andre]

Aluminum roof flashing works well.