What am I Missing?

[Martin W]

I have an old machine vise identical to the picture? How does the swivel lock? For the life of me I can’t figure how? My other vise has two hold down bolts that lock it. This one only has holes to bolt it to the table. It still swivels?
Thanks CheersMartin

 

[Dabbler]

? manufacturing defect ?

 

[Martin W]

I bought it from an auction of CNC equipment. There must have been 30 vises at this sale. This one they obviously used but was on a bottom shelf. So maybe not for a long time.

Maybe once it’s bolted down it locks itself?

Martin

 

[francist]

Can't really offer anything on the locking mechanism but the 4-bolts-on-the-square base footprint is very often seen on shaper vises.
What's it look like from underneath?

-frank

 

[Dabbler]

You can lock the roation using 4 strap clamps, either purpose-made, or using a commercial hold-down kit. I personally would mill a curve slot in the top plate and a threaded hole in the bottom plate, and cure the rotation that way.

 

[benmychree]

Looks like a shaper vise, my Gould & Eberhardt shaper has 4 bolts that hold the vise on the table, when they are tightened, the vise swivel is also locked.

 

[Martin W]

Benmychree, yes it does clamp once it’s bolted down. I had to wait for my son to help me put it on my shaper. Weighs too much for an old guy like me! Lol
Martin

 

[benmychree]

Benmychree, yes it does clamp once it’s bolted down. I had to wait for my son to help me put it on my shaper. Weighs too much for an old guy like me! Lol
Martin

Yes, it does look quite heavy, I would not even think about trying to lift mine, except with a hoist.

 

[benmychree]

My vise also is made to bolt on the near side of the table, I don't think that I ever needed to do that.