You mean like weld pieces on? The one corner would be possible maybe.Can you graft some cast iron to the large missing pieces?
I was planning on using bbq to do the preheat but didn't consider using it for the cool down. Unfortunately my bbq is on natural gas on the deck and is unmoveable. It's a good idea tho I never thought of and need to think how else I might make that work. Those electrode you linked look good to me but I didn't see any references to nickel content? It seems most internet advice is using high nickel content rods?If it were me, I'd clean it very well, get any grease and oil off, grind out the areas to be welded, and the cook it in an old BBQ for and hour as hot as it'll go. Have a bunch of cool bricks handy to rest your arms on. Open BBQ , shut off heat and build it up with weld right on the BBQ. After welding turn the heat on until its as hot as it'll go, let it simmer for a bit then let it slowly cool. The slower the better.
This rod has worked well for me on cast iron:
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www.lawsonproducts.com
Yes that would be an option also I think. I'm a bit hesitant to do that though because I think i would need to remove the entire length of the jaw width and one end of that is mostly there and the other end is mostly gone. On the top length of the jaw area I would have to probably mill out the threaded holes.Personally, I think I would mill that break roughness out to a nice flat finish and then mill a filler in to match the original vise frame and bolt it through the meaty part of the vise body. it will be as strong and quite possibly stronger than a welded repair, especially when welding an unknown metal composition to another .
No I haven't considered that but thanks for the suggestion. This vise will be on a welding bench and will be subject to rough use and potentially hot temperatures. I had considered JB weld and think it would likely be OK if it wasn't for the heat. The drilling out and fixing the broken studs was surprisingly manageable although I haven't yet got them heli coiled yet.Have you considered using rare earth magnets make exchange of the jaw pairs easy?
There are prefab jaws on the market-nylon, aluminum, maybe copper?
Saves a lot of work trying to drill out the screws, inserting helicoils or trying to drill the 4 new holes.(been there/tried that)
Yes I've heard that there were improvements on the heli coils but have not used them nor have I had problems with the heli coils but I haven't used many of them. I just thought they were slick. I'm embarrassed to say I have never thought of turning my own insert What a great idea.I am not a fan of helicoils. I've put hundreds of them in and have seen issues over time. Time-Serts are much much better. But, since you have a lathe, making up a few thread inserts would also be a piece of cake. Start with a larger grade 2ish bolt and drill and tap the threaded end for your jaw screw size, thread into matching threaded hole in vice body, and cut off flush.. Loctite them in for best results.
Thank you but I found some mystery 1x6" slab stuff in my pile so that's what I'm going to use.I might have some tool steel in my ‘iinventory’ that you are welcome to.
Happy to have a look if you like
Can you give me some dimensions?
Maybe I'll see if I can find hardening compound some day and get the surface of the jaws hardened up a bit.Thank you but I found some mystery 1x6" slab stuff in my pile so that's what I'm going to use.
I'm curious about how the heli coils fail. Do the inserts come out after installation? And if they do would loc-tite at installation solve the problem?I am not a fan of helicoils. I've put hundreds of them in and have seen issues over time. Time-Serts are much much better. But, since you have a lathe, making up a few thread inserts would also be a piece of cake. Start with a larger grade 2ish bolt and drill and tap the threaded end for your jaw screw size, thread into matching threaded hole in vice body, and cut off flush.. Loctite them in for best results.
I've made my own several times too.
Start with a larger grade 2ish bolt and drill and tap the threaded end for your jaw screw size, thread into matching threaded hole in vice body, and cut off flush.. Loctite them in for best results.