Wilton tradesman vice repair

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Does anyone have any experience doing vice repairs?  I have come across an older FREE tradesman with a swivel base that has one bolt hole broken off.  The base ring is still in good shape other than that.  I have looked around for parts to simply replace it, but the only place I have found the part, the price is in the $200 range.  I can get another vice for not much more...so...I just am not sure how to start the repair.  Build it up and re-drill...find a piece to weld on...I just don't know...I am open to suggestions...BTW, it's cast iron, which I don't generally have a problem welding, but I figured I get some input before I took any big steps.Last edited by smithboy; 08-23-2007 at 10:54 AM.Smithboy...if it ain't broke, you ain't tryin'.
Reply:Smith - same as any other cast repair, run your grinder test on it, determine knickel content, then you can use KN-55 or KN-99 on it. Build it up, grind down, and drill.John -  fabricator extraordinaire, car nut!-  bleeding Miller blue! http://www.weldfabzone.com
Reply:This was kinda what I was expecting, however, I didn't know if there were any shortcuts folks who are, what you might call, vice enthusiasts use ...ha...I am probably going to wait a while and do some more searching on ebay to see if a used base pops up.  Not very likely, but there is always a chance.  It will be a little while before I start on it, but I wanted to get a clear game plan beforehand.thanks...Smithboy...if it ain't broke, you ain't tryin'.
Reply:Smithboy, I know where an old tradesman vice is.  A friend had it in his shop, and finally destroyed the jaws, and replaced it.  The best I can remember the swivel base and lower parts were OK.  Give me a day or two to get over there and see what it looks like.   If the base is ok, I'll grab it for you.  He has no need for it anymore.  If you could post a pic of the vise you have so I can make sure things are the same.  it would be helpful.  Also if all else fails you could just make another piece from steel and weld it on the base.   ~JacksonI'm a Lover, Fighter, Wild horse Rider, and a pretty good welding man......
Reply:The 2 shortcuts that come to mind are (in no particular order.)A. Buy a vice that ain't broke.2. Weld the broken piece back on. (You don't have it, do you!)5. Weld it in place to the bench. (Only recommended in combat situations.)City of L.A. Structural; Manual & Semi-Automatic;"Surely there is a mine for silver, and a place where gold is refined. Iron is taken from the earth, and copper is smelted from ore."Job 28:1,2Lincoln, Miller, Victor & ISV BibleDanny
Reply:Tanglediver,I like your numbering scheme, A, 2 and 5.  I have only one problem with A.  I am a cheap a$$ bastard and them vice (I am unsure of the plural of vice...veeces, maybe) ain't for the cheap at heart.  This one, though broke, is a big step up from my current one (a BigLots special).As for 2, I wish I had the broken piece...I just moved and this one was in the basement, left by the previous owner as junk...I have looked in every location I can find to see if the piece is laying around...no luck yet.As for 5, I had not even thought of welding it in place...if my repair doesn't turn out well, or if I can't find a reasonably priced base, that might be a pretty reasonable alternative, actually.  It also gives me another idea...welding the base to a thick piece of sheet steel, cutting it to the outside edge of the base, then attaching...Jackson,Thanks for offering to look for me.  Here are a couple of pictures.  The number on the vice is 1760 as best I can read it...Maybe 1780.  The mechanism is still in very good shape, althought the cosmetics are a bit lacking.  I almost prefer it that way...I'd hate to chip the paint on a new one of these. Attached ImagesLast edited by smithboy; 08-23-2007 at 11:38 PM.Smithboy...if it ain't broke, you ain't tryin'.
Reply:I would make a new piece like the broken off one from wood. Then I would glue the wood piece onto the base, take the base to my dad and have him cast me a new one in brass.Miller EconotigCutmaster 38Yes ma'am, that IS a screwdriver in my pocket!
Reply:Ah, Hell, just use the 3 holes you have.  How much torque are you gonna put on that base anyway?Just my $00.02Be the river, Baby!
Reply:I am not sure brass fit into my budget...that stuff has gotten 'spensive.  And, I have never seen a brass base on a vice...it would be neat looking.  Of course, given that the only place I found the original part, the cost was close to $200, I could probably get a base made from silver dollars and still come out cheaper...As for the torque...I have been told that I have a knack for breaking the unbreakable...I get it from my dad.  Three holes might be just fine, however,four provides me with a sense of balance and harmony that I just can't find with three...especially with that raggady edge...I just want to fix it...you know...I am jsut affraid that if I don't have all four bolts holding that vice down, it just might slip right off my work table Last edited by smithboy; 08-24-2007 at 12:21 AM.Smithboy...if it ain't broke, you ain't tryin'.
Reply:Yeah, it's expensive unless you have been collecting scrap brass for 30 years like dad. You know, I figured the vise only had 3 mounting holes originally. If it was missing 1 out of 4 I would go on and mount it too. What's the worst that could happen?Miller EconotigCutmaster 38Yes ma'am, that IS a screwdriver in my pocket!
Reply:Why not braze on a steel tab and drill.  Or add another base to the extisting base and drill holes.
Reply:I'm with tap, braze on a new steel one.  Brazing avoids many of the complications of welding.
Reply:Originally Posted by 76GMC1500I'm with tap, braze on a new steel one.  Brazing avoids many of the complications of welding.
Reply:Brazed or brazed welded properly, the tab will hold up quite well.
Reply:I've use 1 vice and many 36" pipe wrenches that have been brazed and have been quite surprised how strong they were.
Reply:If you have any local machine shops in your area you could probably take it by and see if they would make you a new base (be sure to bring along some plate 1" or so.  A decent machinist could build one out with a bridgeport.  I bet Wog820 (Zaps buddy) could probably make it.MichaelMillermatic 25115" Rockwell Drill Press10" Logan Lathe5hp - 2-stage 80 Gallon CompressorHome Made Sand / Soda Blaster
Reply:Originally Posted by 383bigblockIf you have any local machine shops in your area you could probably take it by and see if they would make you a new base (be sure to bring along some plate 1" or so.  A decent machinist could build one out with a bridgeport.  I bet Wog820 (Zaps buddy) could probably make it.Michael
Reply:Well, considering that I have been working with a cheap (not to mention smaller) vice up until now without any problems, I could probably just attach it with the three remaining holes, forget about it, and never have a problem.  So, I am sure I am just making busy work for myself, but that's often where I learn a bunch.  I might give the brazed tab a try.  That's both easy and reversable...even if it did break off (though it probably won't) I could then try something else.I also like the idea of welding the base onto another heavy steel base plate...the one thing that this does is allow me the option to make a base that will fit into a bumper hitch at the same time, effectively making the vice do double duty as a shop vice and vice for the field.  This would not be a reversable modification to the base ring, but it would make the vice much more useful for my purposes.I might have located a few donor tabs on a junk 3-phase motor I fished out of the local dumpster....though I am not yet sure if the motor base mount is cast iron or cast steel.  If I braze, it doesn't make much of a difference, I guess.  (I can't believe with the current price of copper and scrap iron, folks are still tossing hundred-pound motors in the trash.)As for the lathe idea, I am just not sure how much that would cost around here.  There are only a few machine shops around where I live and they value their time VERY highly.I really appreciate the help, guys.  This at least gives me a few options to try...I just have to keep reminding myself that I PROBABLY couldn't break the remaining mounts if I were trying to...Smithboy...if it ain't broke, you ain't tryin'.
Reply:Bronze brazing makes a joint between 45 and 60ksi.  Cast iron is around 25-35 ksi.  It's plenty strong.  Nickel brazing can exceed strengths of 120ksi.  Considering most steel welds are 70ksi, I'd say brazing is plenty strong.  Brazing with bronze also gives reasonable ductility which could prevent the ear from breaking off agian when you start wailing on the vise with a hammer.  The only problem with brazing is that if it's the first thing you try, it's the last thing you try.  Most metals can't be welded after being brazed.
Reply:Originally Posted by 76GMC1500The only problem with brazing is that if it's the first thing you try, it's the last thing you try.  Most metals can't be welded after being brazed.
Reply:Even if you grind the braze metal off, the base metal will still pop, spit, and boil as you try to weld it.
Reply:I'm gonna disagree with you there.  I have welded previously brazed material on several occaissions, true if you do not clean ALL the brass off then you will have  problems, but you CAN weld a joint that has been brazed.  I think in this situation a brazed tab would not give an ounce of trouble.  As far as making a plate.  He could probably buy a replacement for what it would cost him to have one made when time and materials are figured in.  That kind of defeats the purpose of a free vice.....   Smithboy, I checked at my buddies and appearantly someone beat me to the other vise I mentioned.  It wasn't in the scrap pile, and he wasn't sure where it went.  Figures, if no one needed it then he would kick it around for 10 years to keep it out of the way.......I'm a Lover, Fighter, Wild horse Rider, and a pretty good welding man......
Reply:Jackson,I really appreciate the effort in any case.  I also know what you mean.  Just as soon as I am convinced that something is ACTUALLY useless and I toss it, that's when I have to go buy a new one.I checked the broken tab and it looks like I could just smooth it off and braze on to it...if something goes wrong, I can always cut the entire tab off and weld to the ring later on, so I don't even have to worry about the brazing/welding issues that might arise.Smithboy...if it ain't broke, you ain't tryin'.