- Joined
- Sep 1, 2023
- Messages
- 1,041
Popped over to Oxted in Kent yesterday. Lovely 45 minute drive in the (finally) warm June sunshine along some nice windy roads (would have been even nicer in my little BMW but that's gone to the part ex in the sky and I'm left with a little Ford Puma; the new Puma, not the old one).
Came away with these two Abwood vices (6" and 4") for £80 and change:
They need a bit of cosmetic cleaning up and the swivel bases will go in a cupboard for a nice rest!
There's one small (approx 1/8") 'mark of shame' on the bed of the 6" but no other damage and the 4" is pretty much pristine.
The one downside with the 6" is that there's a very slight bend to the leadscrew. I spotted it when I got home and worked the handle, there's a little bit of regular resistance on every turn; not even stiffness, just resistance. I've had the leadscrew and pillow bearing off and the leadscrew won't quite slip out of the pillow bearing; it gets so far down the thread and then won't move any further. I've had a square on the thread of the leadscrew and I can only just determine a bend.
I don't know if this matters or not; guess it might as that resistance will wear on the brass nut.
Any suggestions for straightening the leadscrew (if it's possible or advisable even to attempt) gratefully received.
The 4" is buttery smooth and probably more size-appropriate to my Warco Minor mill (Taiwanese RF 25 clone) but the jaws only open to 2 and 3/4" whereas the 6" opens to about 5". I'll probably see how I get on with the 4" as that has the slightly better functional condition of the two.
Came away with these two Abwood vices (6" and 4") for £80 and change:
They need a bit of cosmetic cleaning up and the swivel bases will go in a cupboard for a nice rest!
There's one small (approx 1/8") 'mark of shame' on the bed of the 6" but no other damage and the 4" is pretty much pristine.
The one downside with the 6" is that there's a very slight bend to the leadscrew. I spotted it when I got home and worked the handle, there's a little bit of regular resistance on every turn; not even stiffness, just resistance. I've had the leadscrew and pillow bearing off and the leadscrew won't quite slip out of the pillow bearing; it gets so far down the thread and then won't move any further. I've had a square on the thread of the leadscrew and I can only just determine a bend.
I don't know if this matters or not; guess it might as that resistance will wear on the brass nut.
Any suggestions for straightening the leadscrew (if it's possible or advisable even to attempt) gratefully received.
The 4" is buttery smooth and probably more size-appropriate to my Warco Minor mill (Taiwanese RF 25 clone) but the jaws only open to 2 and 3/4" whereas the 6" opens to about 5". I'll probably see how I get on with the 4" as that has the slightly better functional condition of the two.
