Saw Vise Woes

[Robert Rozaieski]

Hello from the other side of the pond all. I've been lurking here for awhile and finally figured I should jump in with a question for those folks here far more versed in metal than I. I picked up a vintage Sargent saw vise a few months ago and am just now getting around to cleaning it up and getting it ready to try my hand at filing some saws. The problem is, the vise does not close evenly across it's jaws. When I raise the cam lever to close the jaws, one side closes slightly less than the other, enough that the wider side holds the saw to loose (I can slide the saw plate between the jaws on the wider side while it does not slide on the other side). I have tried heating the arm up with a propane torch and slightly twisting the jaw and arm by putting a block of wood in the narrow side and gently clamping the wide side closed but this had no effect. I don't want to twist to hard for fear of snaping the casting. Is there a way to fix this so the vise is useable? My only other thought is to use some contact cement and glue a piece of rubber or leather to the inside of the jaws but I though the knowledgable folks here might have some better ideas first. Any thoughts?

Thanks!
Bob

 

[sparky]

hey robert

sorry i can't answer your question but i thought i would say hello and welcome to the forum.

sparky
(also from the left side of the pond)

 

[Alf]

Welcome to the forum, Bob.

Don't exactly get to see a lot of saw vices in these parts, but I think I'd have done what you have and then gone on to try lining the jaws. It is amazing what a difference that can make.

Cheers, Alf

 

[mudman]

Sorry, I can't really help, but I agree with Alf if that is any help.

But has anyone seen one of these?

For £7.99, might be worth a try.

 

[Smudger]

How does it work?

BTW - that Rolson plane is worth £5.99 just for the handles, no?

 

[dunbarhamlin]

Just reading Grimshaw, which gentleman suggests:

Rubber, leather, or even soft, thick pasteboard between the blade and the jaws of the clamp will absorb most of the vibrations

So using a lining has a good pedigree. Perhaps first bring the jaws into close alignment with epoxy in the fashion of flattening a spokeshave bed a la Brian Boggs

Steve