Disaster Strikes!

[rafezetter]

Don't know if it's of any help but I think a mate of mine has an old vice in his shed. It was naturally rusty etc but looked like the record style. He offered it to me not long ago, but I already have one. I mention this as I see you are in Swansea, close enough to me that if he still has it. a few quid and a drive might be worth it?

 

[Eric The Viking]

I had one, but gave it away recently - sorry!

I have read that you can MIG weld cast iron with preheating and stainless wire (and presumably pure Argon shielding). The chromium stops Austenitic steel forming at the edges of the weld (hard and brittle). I have the kit but have yet to try it. I have an old Disston saw sharpening vice to do, on which the bench clamp has snapped.

I'd guess the big issue with something that big and thick would be heating adequately and evenly - you might make matters worse if you get it wrong. And it's a bit of a one way trip as you have to grind back the break before starting. It's what's put me off doing the Disston so far - if I grind back the fracture enough to make the weld I can't use it as a reference to keep the two pieces in the correct positions, and still heat it.

Obviously the materials I can use to make a clamp for are rather limited, and I'm worried that even magnets might get hotter than their Curie point (which would be game over!).

E.

 

[MJP]

Worn Thumbs, Yetloh, Rafezetter, Eric - thanks all.

I'll try the garage up the road to see if they can braze it for me - they owe me a favour - paying for the job, brazed or welded, would of course be uneconomic.

I did go there yesterday but they were shut - Summer hols I suppose.

The biggest problem that I can see is keeping the two halves perfectly aligned so that the bars can still slide afterwards - I can only see this happening if the cracked casting is mounted on the bars at the time of brazing, and this itself carries all kinds of risks.

Raf - Bristol is too far away unfortunately - 170 miles, a £6.70 bridge toll, and a couple of pints at least, which adds up to a bit too much to be worthwhile.

Well, a lesson learned anyway - when you're buying an old vise, check for cracks!

Martin.

 

[dickm]

Can only speak from experience, not metallurgical knowledge, but having snapped the main slide of a Record engineering vice (don't ask!) it welded up perfectly happily with standard arc welder and my son-in-law has been abusing it for at least 10 years since. The key seems to be veeing out the edges of the join and getting everything really hot before striking the arc. Primus got it hot enough. Actually, now remember that I did the same with an old Parkinsons "Perfect Vise" many years earlier. (that one was broken when I got it - not THAT ham-fisted)

 

[Mark A]

Coincidentally I watched a video on YouTube about welding an engineering vice.

The guy disassembled it, spot welded the broken bits back together using 7018 rods, placed it inside a gas BBQ for a while, welded all round whilst continuously peening, before finally burying it in a bucket of sand to cool slowly.

A bit crude, but seemed to work pretty well.

Mark

Sent from my Moto G (4) using Tapatalk

 

[rafezetter]

MJP, My mate still has it - not you Erik - Dave the builder.

I re-mention it as, IF you are not in a hurry to have the vice and yours is non fixable, I have a friend who lives in Brecon I go see from time to time so I could meet you somewhere near the M4 / A470 junction?

just in case...

Of course the famous Bristol Design tool shop must be worth the effort all on its own... we might even be able to rally a few locals for a natter.

 

[MJP]

Hi Raf - this is great news....I've been sitting here looking at my broken vise this past weekend, feeling sorry for myself.

I live much closer to Brecon than to the M4/A470 junction, so I'd be happy to meet you anywhere in the Brecon area at your convenience.

Just say the word!

Martin.

Feeling happier than I have for days...

 

[MJP]

Well, the story has a happy ending!

They say that if you want a tricky engineering job done, you should seek out the old guy in the dirty boiler suit, because he's probably done it a hundred times before.

So I went to see Cyril, who owns a local motor vehicle /transport business, aged 82 and fixing things since before Joseph Kennedy became honest.

I asked him what he thought and he said "leave it with me".

I've just had it back - welded up so perfectly, the rear slides on the bars better than they did before it cracked.

All I have to do now is reassemble and install it without cracking it again!

Martin.

 

[Giff]

...so which colour sparks are which ? Geoff

 

[MJP]

A picture tells a thousand words:

http://www.weldingwire.com/Images/Inter ... l%20id.pdf

Martin.

 

[Giff]

Thankyou...great to know. Geoff

 

[heimlaga]

There has to be a way to repair it.

Maybe the crack can be nickel welded?

Maybe it would be possible to fabricare a new part from mild steel?

Maybe one could make a wooden pattern and have a new part cast?

If there is a will there is a way. Now we need some pictures to help you find the best way.

 

[MJP]

There was indeed a way to repair it Heimlaga - I sought out an old experienced welder and he welded it for me!

It's now mounted and performing admirably.

Martin.