Tools you wish you'd bought sooner...

[B'stard Child]

5s Alive said:

AdeTuono said:

I'd imagine it's use is severely restricted that far away from the edge.

Cant imagine how and I've never encountered a problem with it. Obviously the clamp and arm move away from the edge in use.

Normally the back face is level with the front edge of the bench so you can clamp anything at any angle in the vice

[5s Alive]

B'stard Child said:

5s Alive said:

AdeTuono said:

I'd imagine it's use is severely restricted that far away from the edge.

Cant imagine how and I've never encountered a problem with it. Obviously the clamp and arm move away from the edge in use.

Normally the back face is level with the front edge of the bench so you can clamp anything at any angle in the vice

I pretty much have over the last 40 odd years.

[B'stard Child]

5s Alive said:

B'stard Child said:

5s Alive said:

AdeTuono said:

I'd imagine it's use is severely restricted that far away from the edge.

Cant imagine how and I've never encountered a problem with it. Obviously the clamp and arm move away from the edge in use.

Normally the back face is level with the front edge of the bench so you can clamp anything at any angle in the vice

I pretty much have over the last 40 odd years.

If it works for you all good then

[5s Alive]

B'stard Child said:

If it works for you all good then

Most recent thing I had in it was a friends old square taper bottom bracket [axle] seized into the [thankfully steel] bike frame. Lots of swearing, blowtorch, impact wrench and 3ft breaker bar later it was a mangled mess but out of the frame.

[ShampooEfficient]

V6 Pushfit said:

This is it with a quick change blade. It’ll go through a 1/2” bolt easily. The kit parts are a bit naff but the unit itself is great.





Ps I’ve bought two cordless versions since and they’re very poor so I use the corded one whenever needed now. It’s nipped off no end of frozen bolts.

I have a Guild corded drill. I got it from Argos as it was the cheapest... Rationale being that I wanted something to use for stripping rust and underseal with small wire brushes. It's stood up fairly well to a year of abuse, bearings are a bit rattly now mind.

Didn't want to ruin my nice kit

[anonymous-user]

B'stard Child said:

Normally the back face is level with the front edge of the bench so you can clamp anything at any angle in the vice

Yes, so that long vertical go in. Set back is fine for smaller stuff but I’ll bet theres a few skinned knuckles winding the handle in and a lot of leaning forward!

[5s Alive]

V6 Pushfit said:

Yes, so that long vertical go in. Set back is fine for smaller stuff but I’ll bet theres a few skinned knuckles winding the handle in and a lot of leaning forward!

Vertical goes both ways.

Some of the smaller stuff has included 5 series front struts and rear diff. [spannering smilies unavailable]

Edited by 5s Alive on Thursday 26th May 19:28

[cashmax]

AdeTuono said:

V6 Pushfit said:

5s Alive said:

Not bought but inherited in 1981 from my father who was using it before I was born in 1957 so could hardly have 'obtained' it sooner. A Record quick release vice bolted to a robust 6ft wooden bench, a combination that has stood up to a serious hammering over the years. Invaluable, in regular use and of no small sentimental value.

I’ve got exactly the same vice but set it much nearer the edge of the bench.

I'd imagine it's use is severely restricted that far away from the edge.

I have never seen a vice so far from the edge. That would do my head in the first time I used it.

[5s Alive]

cashmax said:

I have never seen a vice so far from the edge. That would do my head in the first time I used it.

Not so close as it looks in the pic and my knuckles fit comfortably around the handle without contact with the bench. It's been on that particular bench over 30yrs of regular use and I've never had the slightest difficulty using it. Maybe I'm living in an alternative quantum reality where measurements are meaningless.

[AdeTuono]

5s Alive said:

AdeTuono said:

I'd imagine it's use is severely restricted that far away from the edge.

Cant imagine how and I've never encountered a problem with it. Obviously the clamp and arm move away from the edge in use.

So how would you verically clamp something 2'-3' long to work on the uppermost part? If it can't extend below the base of the vice, you'd need to stand on the bench or use a ladder.

[thebraketester]

AdeTuono said:

5s Alive said:

AdeTuono said:

I'd imagine it's use is severely restricted that far away from the edge.

Cant imagine how and I've never encountered a problem with it. Obviously the clamp and arm move away from the edge in use.

So how would you verically clamp something 2'-3' long to work on the uppermost part? If it can't extend below the base of the vice, you'd need to stand on the bench or use a ladder.

Maybe his use for the vice doesnt require pieces to be clamped in such manner. If it's only being used for smaller things and mostly in a horizontal fashion then it might make sense to not have it stuck out off the side of the bench.

[davidexige]

Dog Star said:

I have a Katsu mini grinder from Amazon; it’s in between a Dremel and a proper angle grinder. 75mm discs. It’s very handy for fiddly jobs such as the bd Alfa 159 drop links from hell.

Edited by Dog Star on Wednesday 25th May 12:00

Thanks for that, at £27 It's worth a go.

[dickymint]

AdeTuono said:

5s Alive said:

AdeTuono said:

I'd imagine it's use is severely restricted that far away from the edge.

Cant imagine how and I've never encountered a problem with it. Obviously the clamp and arm move away from the edge in use.

So how would you verically clamp something 2'-3' long to work on the uppermost part? If it can't extend below the base of the vice, you'd need to stand on the bench or use a ladder.

He'd pack out the rear jaw if needs be but obviously it's not been a problem for him.

[5s Alive]

dickymint said:

AdeTuono said:

5s Alive said:

AdeTuono said:

I'd imagine it's use is severely restricted that far away from the edge.

Cant imagine how and I've never encountered a problem with it. Obviously the clamp and arm move away from the edge in use.

So how would you verically clamp something 2'-3' long to work on the uppermost part? If it can't extend below the base of the vice, you'd need to stand on the bench or use a ladder.

He'd pack out the rear jaw if needs be but obviously it's not been a problem for him.

I have worked on long heavy items but horizontally with the far end supported by the bench - often clamped at that end too. It would need wider jaws or a narrower base to get something in vertically [even if mounted at the edge] although 30- 40° would be possible.

For context the bench is constructed using 5x2" with another 5x2 vertical brace behind the legs. The bolts go through the middle of the 2nd 5x2 to avoid the joints which would probably have suffered damage by now as I've used a 10lb sledge hammer on clamped parts in the past - not a full swing obviously. Handily in its previous more spacious accommodation it was right next to a door so that with it open it could accommodate really long items clamped in the middle.

Hadn't considered packing out the jaw as I've never needed to but

Interesting viewpoints, however [ gentlemen (and ladies!) of the jury] to avoid boring the rest of the PH massive to death I shall rest my defence here. You all hope!

[AdeTuono]

thebraketester said:

AdeTuono said:

5s Alive said:

AdeTuono said:

I'd imagine it's use is severely restricted that far away from the edge.

Cant imagine how and I've never encountered a problem with it. Obviously the clamp and arm move away from the edge in use.

So how would you verically clamp something 2'-3' long to work on the uppermost part? If it can't extend below the base of the vice, you'd need to stand on the bench or use a ladder.

Maybe his use for the vice doesnt require pieces to be clamped in such manner. If it's only being used for smaller things and mostly in a horizontal fashion then it might make sense to not have it stuck out off the side of the bench.

I'm sure you're correct, and if it works for him, then who are we to criticise?

Point remains though.

[Accelebrate]

I’d got a basic tap and die set, but I always seem to need to clean up non-standard thread pitches whilst working on cars.

This set from Sealey seems to be a bit more comprehensive, and hopefully more durable than similar sized sets from unknown brands on Amazon…

https://ffx.co.uk/product/Get/Sealey-Ak3040-505451...

[dickymint]

Accelebrate said:

I’d got a basic tap and die set, but I always seem to need to clean up non-standard thread pitches whilst working on cars.

This set from Sealey seems to be a bit more comprehensive, and hopefully more durable than similar sized sets from unknown brands on Amazon…

https://ffx.co.uk/product/Get/Sealey-Ak3040-505451...

Split dies are fur cutting new threads. The three grub screws allow you to adjust the depth of cut. You can "chase" damaged threads with a split die but old school workshops would use a "chasing die" which are fixed and hexagonal. Then there's chasing files to add to the mix

[Arnold Cunningham]

dickymint said:

Split dies are fur cutting new threads. The three grub screws allow you to adjust the depth of cut. You can "chase" damaged threads with a split die but old school workshops would use a "chasing die" which are fixed and hexagonal. Then there's chasing files to add to the mix

I learnt something right there.

[talksthetorque]

AdeTuono said:

thebraketester said:

AdeTuono said:

5s Alive said:

AdeTuono said:

I'd imagine it's use is severely restricted that far away from the edge.

Cant imagine how and I've never encountered a problem with it. Obviously the clamp and arm move away from the edge in use.

So how would you verically clamp something 2'-3' long to work on the uppermost part? If it can't extend below the base of the vice, you'd need to stand on the bench or use a ladder.

Maybe his use for the vice doesnt require pieces to be clamped in such manner. If it's only being used for smaller things and mostly in a horizontal fashion then it might make sense to not have it stuck out off the side of the bench.

I'm sure you're correct, and if it works for him, then who are we to criticise?

Point remains though.

Also if the piece you are cutting/fettling needs supporting at the end away rom the vice you can chock under it for stability. You can't do that if the vice is hanging off the side of the bench.

[Accelebrate]

Arnold Cunningham said:

dickymint said:

Split dies are fur cutting new threads. The three grub screws allow you to adjust the depth of cut. You can "chase" damaged threads with a split die but old school workshops would use a "chasing die" which are fixed and hexagonal. Then there's chasing files to add to the mix

I learnt something right there.

So did I, thank you. I'd clocked that some dies are split and others aren't but had never researched why. I just ran a split die over a few old bolts and it seemed to do a good job of cleaning up the threads with the grub screws mostly wound in, so I guess I'll get away with just owning the wrong tool for my hobby use.

Having watched this... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U7_9RSV7jTI I realised that I've been making my own 'chasing taps' by slitting grooves into old bolts for a few years now. I think I might now need a set of chasing files and taps, damn this thread.