I actually saw this vice last week at the little flea down the hill from Wal*Mart in Lunenburg. Unfortunately I didn't have the cash on me at the time to buy it. I would have right then and there if I had. Mum and I made a special trip out there again today in hopes that the vice would still be available. As I said last week to the guy selling it "If it's meant to be it will still be here. If not, well, ..." such is life. (or some such. I don't remember my exact words.) Anywho, it was still there today so I snapped it up.
It seems to be in pretty good shape. I have no idea how old it may be or how much use it may have had over it's life so far. I also haven't found any builder's plate or other identification as to who made it. It does need a good cleaning, lubrication and adjustment. That is to be expected with this type of machine tool. I will also have to replace both cranks.
Even after it's all cleaned up I don't expect to be doing any real precision machining. I'm not sure mild steel is really a possibility using this with my drill-press. Aluminum and other soft metals, plastics and maybe some wood should be workable using this rig.
First I need to clean it up and get it ready for action. Then I need to dream up some things to make with it.
This is going to be fun!
2 comments:
My dad has one very similar to that in his shop in MT. He has done a few mild steel projects, but its veerrrrryyyyy slow. Looks like fun though!
Turns out that it is!
While I was puttering around in the shop a little last night I chucked up a center drill (next up on my shopping list will be an actual end mill or twelve...) and tried cutting a zigzag groove in some soft scrap wood. Just because... ;-)
It works!
It's not at all precise without proper cranks and there is quite a bit of backlash. But I think with a good cleaning and some practice using it, it will become a favorite tool. At least until I prove to myself that I use it enough to upgrade to something bigger, and more precise.
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