On Apr 1, 9:46*pm, "Michael Koblic" wrote:
"Jim Wilkins" wrote in message
....
Once you are sure you will keep the vise you can mill a shallow slot
under the base for a locating bar that fits a tee slot. Then you don't
have to square up the vise whenever you remove and reinstall it.

Into the base of the vise itself? Don't you have to remove the vise and turn
it over for that. I cannot visualize it...

--
Michael Koblic,
Campbell River, BC

Yes. Make a rectangular bar thats a sliding fit in the tee slot, clamp
it part way into the slot with a block underneath and mill a narrow
step in both sides. The sides of the steps will then be parallel to
the X axis whether or not the tee slots are. They weren't on the
RF-31.

Clamp the vise upside down on the steps. Now the jaws are parallel to
the X axis. Mill a *shallow* slot in the base to accept the stepped
side of the bar. I try for a finger-tight press fit. Drill and tap for
two screws to hold the bar on when you pull the vise off the table.

Only the width of the slot and the bar need match, the slot doesn't
have to take the full depth of the step in the bar. After milling the
steps I smoothed them and beveled the top edges with a file before
cutting the slot in the vise base.

I haven't tried it but I think you could make the bar extend beyond
the sides of the vise and put nut plates under it to clamp the vise
down to the table if the built-in mounting tabs don't line up with tee
slots.

I hope that's clear. It's hard to take a fresh look at it after
editing it over and over for an hour.

jsw