A few more flea market finds.......

[Your Old Dog]

Here are a few more things I snagged. Got 5 bags of hardware at $1.00 per bag. According to one web site I looked at they are worth about $100 - 125. (I know I'm going to get called on this so here's the website! http://www.fastenergroupsouth.com/So...t_Screw_CP.htm There are roughly 30 to 40 bolts in each bag. )


Got 3 bags of 1/2 =13 at about 1" to 1 1/2"s and 1 bag of 3/8 about 1 1/2 long

Also got an indicator that looks like new. says it reads to .0005 and has 7 jewel movement. In magic marker it said $25.00, the guy said I could have it for $10.00. I didn't have one this nice before so this is a useful item for me.


Don't know how much use I'll get from this but if needed, it will be on the shelf. Seems to me there are simpler and more efficient ways to accomplish the same. Maybe this would work better for something that was not square to the vice jaws in two planes instead of just one?


If I never use it, I'm out a buck.

I'll add another post to show the Wilton ball vice I got a few weeks ago.

[Your Old Dog]

Here's the Wilton vice mounted to the Wilton heavy duty ball vice. This was a handful to get back to the truck while using a cane to walk with!!

The ball works as smooth as silk and locks up good and tight for the device that it is. It may work great for engraving if bolted down. The vice is missing the jaws and two of the little set screws are busted off that hold the jaws. Also, some rocket scientist drilled it out and re tapped it and the tap came through the surface!! I may try my hand and MIG'ing it all shut and re drilling/tapping the holes. It's a nice little vice, I'd like to be able to salvage it.

[BadDog]

I really like that vise, good luck on the restoration. Looks like it's missing the but cap too. Never seen the ball mount like that though.

[Your Old Dog]

Baddog, the reason you haven't seen many of the ball vice mounts is that they were ridiculously expensive when they first came out some 25 years ago. Damn near a weeks wages for the average guy. I always thought they'd be great for engraving but refused to pay that kind of money. I was busy feeding the family at the time !! Since then, I've heard of other craftsman cutting about a 7" hole in their bench and then dropping a bowling ball with about 20% sawed off so you can mount a regular small vice. If you first lay a piece of thin leather over the hole and then the ball you have a great vice that can be positioned to damn near any position for gun smithing type work.

[John Garner]

Your Old Dog --

Hesitate a bit . . . a good L O N G bit . . . before you try to weld on the vise. Higher-grade Wilton vises are made from 60,000 PSI ductile iron, which IS weldable, but whole-thing-nearly-red preheating and after-weld heat treating are usually recommended.

If you simply can't stand the sight of the holes, I'd suggest using an anaerobic adhesive [what most people speak of using the brand name "Loctite" even though 1) several other companies make and/or market anaerobic adhesives, and 2) Loctite makes and markets many products that are not anaerobic adhesives] or epoxy to hold threaded plugs in place.

John

[andy_b]

Since then, I've heard of other craftsman cutting about a 7" hole in their bench and then dropping a bowling ball with about 20% sawed off so you can mount a regular small vice. If you first lay a piece of thin leather over the hole and then the ball you have a great vice that can be positioned to damn near any position for gun smithing type work.

i have to try this. i wonder what the heaviest used bowling ball i can get is. i guess i could always borrow a cannonball form some battlefield memorial.
JUST KIDDING ON THE CANNONBALL REMARK!

andy b.

[Your Old Dog]

Thanks for the warning John, I had planned to fit it with soft jaws of some type for use as a finishing vice for filing and such. I suppose in that regard, maybe 5 minute epoxy will hold the jaws in place. It just seems sort of a cheesy fix !!

Andy, if you have need to work in all positions the bowling ball vice mount is very effective, you just can't bend truck frames in it But, if you're using files or a Dremel type operation then it can work great and give you super flexibility. I suppose instead of drilling a hole in your workbench you could make a large wooden donut to accomplish the same thing. Don't forget the leather, that's were it gets it "stick" from.

[pcarpenter]

I was at Wal-mart yesterday and saw (again) one of these trailer jack wheel chocks. I would guess that you could bolt it to the bench and use it with the bowling ball jack just fine.

http://www.etrailer.com/p-63450.htm

Wal-mart had them without the other chocks at a lower price.

The only trouble with this design is that you need to build a lower bench. I like them elbow height on me (6'2" ish) and the height of most of a bowling ball and vise would put the work up about neck high.

I have a Panavise for small stuff, but this idea does seem like a handy way of making a bigger vise of the same sort.

Paul

[Your Old Dog]

You're right Paul, the bowling ball setup is higher but then it's normal use would be for delicate work where one might want to actually be closer to the work. When I'm doing this kind of work I normally wear an OptiVisor so the additional height is an advantage for me.