Irwin Record No.3 Mechanics Vice 4in

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However, that said, if you mostly make smaller projects such as boxes (like I do) and can get a 52 for cheap or even free (as I did), I think it is undoubtedly a handy and capable vise. Did you ever consider adding a deadman to your design? For support of long lengths whilst held in the vice? I’m thinking of incorporating one whilst i’m going about building a bench – i’ve always managed without in the past, on my current ‘bench’, but I can see it’s value. The larger Record No 2 vice was missing the spring and washer which opens the jaw when unscrewed on the clamping screw and the roll-pin which was supposed to hold the spring and washer in place was sheared off in the shaft and needed to be drilled out. A new spring, washer and pin would be needed for the reassembly. Such a satisfying job, and cost about the same as an import vice of about the same size. This thing will outlast me, my son and probably his son!

That would have looked stunning just lacquered, that way it would have shown traces of all its colourful life (see what i did there). I don't bother with masking it up, I'll sand any paint off the machined surfaces when I'm done and tidying it up. You have got them out now but the way to do it is use the impact driver bit in the screw slot but with the jaws clamped on it then release the screw 1/4 of a turn with a spanner on the flats of the bit. I found a business called Paragon Enamel Paints which sells a very wide range of paints in modern and vintage colours. They sell a blue paint which is the same as the original Record vice paint called “BS381C 110 Roundel Blue - Record Vice Blue” https://www.paragonpaints.co.uk/BS381C-110-Roundel-Blue-Record-Vice-Blue.html I bought the impact driver for the first vice I did up, a record no.4 with screws in a similar sort of state. Much to my surprise they came out really easily, unlike today!I found using a citric acid bath (225g of citric acid powder for every 4 litres of water) works best, it doesn’t take a lot of effort and can get into hard to reach areas. A really useful box was the only thing I found big enough to fit some of my vices.

The two coats of enamel paint were applied using a small brush as we do not have access to spaying equipment and were left to dry for 24 hours between each layer. It was left for several days to fully harden before assembly. Using a spray system would have given a smoother overall finish but as they are being used in our workshop the brushed finish was good enough. Final Assembly A small model maker's vice I machined out of aluminium when I was an apprentice, which has come in surprisingly useful over the years!I really like the suggestion of the kurust passivated finish then oil or maybe varnish, I have just the job in mind for it, if only I could remember what it is 🙁 seriously not long ago I was looking for that sort of finish, a light bulb lit up in my mind when you mentioned it but I have no idea what it was!

I’m really happy with both of the finds, just at the time I was looking for them – they’ll look great on my bench (once I’ve built it!) Both vices were very dirty and rusty where they had been kept outside for some time and on the threaded parts and undersides were years of grease and grime.Two weeks ago I found a woodworking vise in a thriftstore, no brand on it, usual blue paint, in a very good condition. Price was good too – equal to that of a Big Mac. All it said on the front jaw was ‘No. 57’ and ‘Made in England’.