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Soft vise jaws -- aluminum vs. brass
Are there any serious disadvantages of "soft jaws" made of Aluminum?
The reason for my question is that I have a Wilton tradesman 1765 vise (6.5" jaw width), and I have aluminum angle already. Brass jaws cost $85 and I thought that I coudl just fabricate something from the angle. Any experiences with aluminum jaws? -- Due to extreme spam originating from Google Groups, and their inattention to spammers, I and many others block all articles originating from Google Groups. If you want your postings to be seen by more readers you will need to find a different means of posting on Usenet. http://improve-usenet.org/ |
Soft vise jaws -- aluminum vs. brass
"Ignoramus18547" wrote in message ... Are there any serious disadvantages of "soft jaws" made of Aluminum? The reason for my question is that I have a Wilton tradesman 1765 vise (6.5" jaw width), and I have aluminum angle already. Brass jaws cost $85 and I thought that I coudl just fabricate something from the angle. Any experiences with aluminum jaws? I've used removable jaws made of aluminum angle for 40 years. They work fine. Just clamp the angles in your vise, mark off where to cut them so you'll have some little adjustable "ears" that you can bend over with a hammer, cut on those marks with a hacksaw, re-clamp, and bend the ears over so the jaws don't fall off. When you have to remove them, a screwdriver will pry them off. -- Ed Huntress |
Soft vise jaws -- aluminum vs. brass
Ed Huntress wrote:
"Ignoramus18547" wrote in message ... Are there any serious disadvantages of "soft jaws" made of Aluminum? The reason for my question is that I have a Wilton tradesman 1765 vise (6.5" jaw width), and I have aluminum angle already. Brass jaws cost $85 and I thought that I coudl just fabricate something from the angle. Any experiences with aluminum jaws? I've used removable jaws made of aluminum angle for 40 years. They work fine. Just clamp the angles in your vise, mark off where to cut them so you'll have some little adjustable "ears" that you can bend over with a hammer, cut on those marks with a hacksaw, re-clamp, and bend the ears over so the jaws don't fall off. When you have to remove them, a screwdriver will pry them off. -- Ed Huntress I'll back Ed up, I use aluminium, aluminum is more expensive in the UK, angle or L section but don't even bother with the tags to hold them on. Annoying sometimes when you knock them off. Cheap and easily replaced. |
Soft vise jaws -- aluminum vs. brass
"David Billington" wrote in message ... Ed Huntress wrote: "Ignoramus18547" wrote in message ... Are there any serious disadvantages of "soft jaws" made of Aluminum? The reason for my question is that I have a Wilton tradesman 1765 vise (6.5" jaw width), and I have aluminum angle already. Brass jaws cost $85 and I thought that I coudl just fabricate something from the angle. Any experiences with aluminum jaws? I've used removable jaws made of aluminum angle for 40 years. They work fine. Just clamp the angles in your vise, mark off where to cut them so you'll have some little adjustable "ears" that you can bend over with a hammer, cut on those marks with a hacksaw, re-clamp, and bend the ears over so the jaws don't fall off. When you have to remove them, a screwdriver will pry them off. -- Ed Huntress I'll back Ed up, I use aluminium, aluminum is more expensive in the UK, angle or L section but don't even bother with the tags to hold them on. Annoying sometimes when you knock them off. Cheap and easily replaced. The tabs are good when you find you would otherwise need three hands. g -- Ed Huntress |
Soft vise jaws -- aluminum vs. brass
Ed Huntress wrote:
"Ignoramus18547" wrote in message ... Any experiences with aluminum jaws? I've used removable jaws made of aluminum angle for 40 years. They work fine. Ditto. But only for 20 years.... ;-) If you use thicker stock, you can mill a couple of pockets for a couple of super magnets in each one to hold them in place. Pete -- Pete Snell Department of Physics Royal Military College Kingston, Ontario, Canada ----------------------------------------------------------------------- All truths are easy to understand once they are discovered; the point is to discover them. Galileo Galilei (1564-1642) |
Soft vise jaws -- aluminum vs. brass
"Pete Snell" wrote in message ... Ed Huntress wrote: "Ignoramus18547" wrote in message ... Any experiences with aluminum jaws? I've used removable jaws made of aluminum angle for 40 years. They work fine. Ditto. But only for 20 years.... ;-) If you use thicker stock, you can mill a couple of pockets for a couple of super magnets in each one to hold them in place. Pete Aha! Good trick. -- Ed Huntress |
Soft vise jaws -- aluminum vs. brass
On May 7, 1:55*pm, Ignoramus18547 ignoramus18...@NOSPAM.
18547.invalid wrote: Are there any serious disadvantages of "soft jaws" made of Aluminum? The reason for my question is that I have a Wilton tradesman 1765 vise (6.5" jaw width), and I have aluminum angle already. Brass jaws cost $85 and I thought that I coudl just fabricate something from the angle. Any experiences with aluminum jaws? -- * *Due to extreme spam originating from Google Groups, and their inattention * * * to spammers, I and many others block all articles originating * * * *from Google Groups. If you want your postings to be seen by * * * * *more readers you will need to find a different means of * * * * * * * * * * * *posting on Usenet. * * * * * * * * * *http://improve-usenet.org/ Aluminum will distort if you clamp narrow work like a bolt but otherwise it's fine. You can make jaw covers out of scrap sheetmetal and hammer the ends or the top to clamp around the back of the jaw. The thicker ones with magnets are convenient but reduce capacity. Some vises have reversible jaws with one side smooth, or you can make them out of aluminum or steel bar stock. I have a couple of sets of aluminum and copper jaw covers and snap on whichever set is appropriate, the good ones for filing nice work or the most beat-up ones to grab bolt threads. Jim Wilkins |
Soft vise jaws -- aluminum vs. brass
Ignoramus18547 wrote:
Are there any serious disadvantages of "soft jaws" made of Aluminum? The reason for my question is that I have a Wilton tradesman 1765 vise (6.5" jaw width), and I have aluminum angle already. Brass jaws cost $85 and I thought that I coudl just fabricate something from the angle. Any experiences with aluminum jaws? Either works. A nice piece of hardwood can work too. Depends on what you are trying to hold. The most important thing is to make sure crap isn't embedded in your soft jaws. Wes |
Soft vise jaws -- aluminum vs. brass
I would recommend the aluminum jaws over the brass. The brass will
chip off easier than the aluminum. Meaning if you hit it with a hammer pieces of the brass can come off. The aluminum can bend but can be bent back into shape also. If you are holding a specific object the brass will be a bit softer and not mark your work as much as the aluminum. If you can get some rubber or soft plastic and hot glue it to some metal or aluminum jaws that could help you if you have pieces that you don't want to mark up. |
Soft vise jaws -- aluminum vs. brass
On Wed, 7 May 2008 14:09:38 -0400, "Ed Huntress"
wrote: "Ignoramus18547" wrote in message m... Are there any serious disadvantages of "soft jaws" made of Aluminum? The reason for my question is that I have a Wilton tradesman 1765 vise (6.5" jaw width), and I have aluminum angle already. Brass jaws cost $85 and I thought that I coudl just fabricate something from the angle. Any experiences with aluminum jaws? I've used removable jaws made of aluminum angle for 40 years. They work fine. Just clamp the angles in your vise, mark off where to cut them so you'll have some little adjustable "ears" that you can bend over with a hammer, cut on those marks with a hacksaw, re-clamp, and bend the ears over so the jaws don't fall off. When you have to remove them, a screwdriver will pry them off. One comment. Aluminum being softer is a bit more likely to have chips embed themselves into the jaws so they probably need to be changed, or inspected, more frequently. Bruce-in-Bangkok (correct Address is bpaige125atgmaildotcom) |
Soft vise jaws -- aluminum vs. brass
"Bruce in Bangkok" wrote in message ... On Wed, 7 May 2008 14:09:38 -0400, "Ed Huntress" wrote: "Ignoramus18547" wrote in message om... Are there any serious disadvantages of "soft jaws" made of Aluminum? The reason for my question is that I have a Wilton tradesman 1765 vise (6.5" jaw width), and I have aluminum angle already. Brass jaws cost $85 and I thought that I coudl just fabricate something from the angle. Any experiences with aluminum jaws? I've used removable jaws made of aluminum angle for 40 years. They work fine. Just clamp the angles in your vise, mark off where to cut them so you'll have some little adjustable "ears" that you can bend over with a hammer, cut on those marks with a hacksaw, re-clamp, and bend the ears over so the jaws don't fall off. When you have to remove them, a screwdriver will pry them off. One comment. Aluminum being softer is a bit more likely to have chips embed themselves into the jaws so they probably need to be changed, or inspected, more frequently. Being very cheap, I often clean them with a big double-cut file. -- Ed Huntress |
Soft vise jaws -- aluminum vs. brass
In article ,
"Ed Huntress" wrote: "Pete Snell" wrote in message ... Ed Huntress wrote: "Ignoramus18547" wrote in message ... Any experiences with aluminum jaws? I've used removable jaws made of aluminum angle for 40 years. They work fine. Ditto. But only for 20 years.... ;-) If you use thicker stock, you can mill a couple of pockets for a couple of super magnets in each one to hold them in place. Pete Aha! Good trick. -- Ed Huntress A quick thought about soft jaw magnets... they will slightly magnetize your vise jaws. Some people don't seem to mind, but I for one hate magnetized tools. That is, the ones that aren't supposed to be magnetized. Many years ago I somehow ended up with an old TV degaussing coil (just a big AC coil with a switch). It works wonderfully to de-magnetize the vise, and other tools of most every description. Be sure to turn it on well away from the object being de-magnetized, move in and wave it around the object, then back out well away before releasing the switch. If you don't, you can magnetize whatever it is your trying to degauss even worse, depending on the exact instant of power termination. I keep my watch and cell phone away from it too... Erik |
Soft vise jaws -- aluminum vs. brass
Hey Iggy,
85 bucks!!! WOW!!! Sounds like they would be solid jaws!! I use two home-made kinds, and they are both just sheet formed over the steel jaws. Sheet aluminum, and sheet rubber. To make the 1/8" thick aluminum, clamp one sheet at a time in the jaws and hammer over to suit, one each anvil. Then clamp them both in place and tidy up. The won't last forever no matter what, so don't get all fancy. The rubber is "formed" in place by cutting to fold, and then gluing edges. Take care. Brian Lawson, Bothwell, Ontario. XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX On Wed, 07 May 2008 12:55:54 -0500, Ignoramus18547 wrote: Are there any serious disadvantages of "soft jaws" made of Aluminum? The reason for my question is that I have a Wilton tradesman 1765 vise (6.5" jaw width), and I have aluminum angle already. Brass jaws cost $85 and I thought that I coudl just fabricate something from the angle. Any experiences with aluminum jaws? |
Soft vise jaws -- aluminum vs. brass
In article ,
Ignoramus18547 wrote: Are there any serious disadvantages of "soft jaws" made of Aluminum? The reason for my question is that I have a Wilton tradesman 1765 vise (6.5" jaw width), and I have aluminum angle already. Brass jaws cost $85 and I thought that I coudl just fabricate something from the angle. I have a set of thick cast copper jaw caps made by Wilton for their machinist vice, and the copper cap works well. Joe Gwinn |
Soft vise jaws -- aluminum vs. brass
On May 8, 10:01*am, Joseph Gwinn wrote:
I have a set of thick cast copper jaw caps made by Wilton for their machinist vice, and the copper cap works well. * Joe Gwinn I have some copper ones too. They work well on bars but round stock dents them. |
Soft vise jaws -- aluminum vs. brass
On Wed, 07 May 2008 12:55:54 -0500, Ignoramus18547
wrote: Are there any serious disadvantages of "soft jaws" made of Aluminum? The reason for my question is that I have a Wilton tradesman 1765 vise (6.5" jaw width), and I have aluminum angle already. Brass jaws cost $85 and I thought that I coudl just fabricate something from the angle. Any experiences with aluminum jaws? Throw away the original jaws and replace them with smooth hardened jaws. If the jaws are already smooth as they should be on a fitter's vice, then get them reground if they are marking the work due to damage. Mark Rand (doesn't use soft jaws in his Record #24 fitter's vice) RTFM |
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