Restoring a Wilton bench vise and making copper soft jaws

Restoring a Wilton bench vise and making copper soft jaws - Vise Restoration

Рет қаралды 67,756

Жыл бұрын

This old 1950's Wilton bullet bench vise is one of the most used tools in my shop and it was in need of a restoration. It also needed a new set of soft jaws so I made some out of copper.
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Пікірлер: 168

@tracybowling1156 Жыл бұрын

I always like when you explain things that no other metal melting YT does. And I had zero clue a vice had that many parts. It looks wonderful!

@Bagthebag Жыл бұрын

i agree

@Bigfoot14000 Жыл бұрын

Very nice, I like that you didn't try to make a display show piece out of this old work horse. I do think either silver or white would look nice on the lettering without making the vise look like it is over-restored.

@skrimper Жыл бұрын

Absolutely agreed. An off white

@paullosasso7147 Жыл бұрын

Totally agree, a lot of those full restoration videos look nice but I’d be worried about using things looking that pretty

@JJShankles Жыл бұрын

Your channel has become my favorite chill background video to watch. Even though I may never get into casting, it is so satisfying to watch a craftsman at work.

@sirfer6969 Жыл бұрын

This is what I came here to say...

@Joe_of_Arc_ Жыл бұрын

I always love seeing one of your videos pop up on my feed. Excellent job 👍.

@Kami8705 Жыл бұрын

You can do a final milling pass on the jaws while they are in the vise(bolt the Wilson vise to your mill table) and it will make them perfectly matched

@lamMeTV Жыл бұрын

the voids are adorable

@iceplanetchris2052 Жыл бұрын

I really enjoy these restoration style videos

@Carguy2008 Жыл бұрын

You have the golden touch. Everything you make/restore ends up looking really cool.

@ben_hell4437 Жыл бұрын

Do you need the Midas touch?

@Carguy2008 Жыл бұрын

@@ben_hell4437 The Midas touch is technically a curse, and that talent is a gift.

@carlmcgee1623 Жыл бұрын

Worth a fortune !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

@rachelg552353 Жыл бұрын

Nice project as always. Will be interesting to see you figure out and fix the bubbles in the copper issue. 👍🏻

@borghorsa1902 Жыл бұрын

Love copper, the way it looks, the way it feels. First time seeing copper jaws but it makes sense. Saved this video to my "metal works" folder playlist

@ForSquirel Жыл бұрын

There's something about old 'tech' and being able to still use it that's really beautiful. This project was a definite example of that

@mikerobinson6606 7 ай бұрын

Great work.

@leonzorg Жыл бұрын

The result is so good!

@jimmy_valin5186 Жыл бұрын

your videos are the ones I look forward to the most, thanks for another great video

@GT_Racer347 Жыл бұрын

That was a very satisfying video to watch!

@SC.243k Жыл бұрын

Great work

@justsluiceit Жыл бұрын

I love restoring vises

@solondarville1020 Жыл бұрын

Love your videos you make me wanna try lost pla casting so bad but I dont have a foundry

@Joe-sm4ql Жыл бұрын

Try lower melting metals like pewter

@Joe-sm4ql Жыл бұрын

You can melt it in a frying pan

@solondarville1020 Жыл бұрын

I’ve got a small pewter statue I picked up from goodwill I just gotta do some more goodwill hunting! I have a 3d model of Jonathan Davis microphone stand and just been dying to make a metal version of it 😍

@zumbazumba1 Жыл бұрын

@@solondarville1020 You can melt aluminum in a steel pipe(instead of crucible) over a campfire . If you want to make it fancy you can dig a hole in the ground and use a iron pipe as oxygen supply. Then you attach a fancy 10$ hair dryer to a pipe and it will melt it in no time. It does not need to be expensive to work.

@hugoschmeisser2484 Жыл бұрын

you should totally send that vise to my mechanics for restoration.

@OldguyChris Жыл бұрын

Turned out very nice

@geohazelman7039 Жыл бұрын

Content like this is what keeps me coming back to KZfaq

@Mr-Highball Жыл бұрын

Nice job 👏

@doylerabjohn3435 Жыл бұрын

Great video, l love the soft jaws

@Paul_Lane Жыл бұрын

Looks nice and not too nice to work on. Great video.

@bullfrogpondshop3179 Жыл бұрын

I have the same voice! I don't know if I have any intention of restoring it like you did, but your video was enjoyable to watch, and a great reference if I ever decide to do so. When you mentioned the screws holding the Jaws were damaged, I thought to myself, "I'd use cap screws." Sure enough, that's what you did. Nice!

@znefas Жыл бұрын

seeing you use your CNC and lathe is quite the show, and the pieces you make with those relatively newer tools look really good! honestly can't wait to see what else you might cast, or how you will address the copper parts' voids

@davidsellars646 Жыл бұрын

Very nice work!

@starrman60 Жыл бұрын

A most excellent job. The copper shines through perfectly

@IrishLion-re8bu Жыл бұрын

BEAUTIFUL restoration sir. I have this exact vise in my shop and LOVE IT :-)

@stevewoods8116 Жыл бұрын

He said it had been stolen, know we know by who! hahaha

@deepbludude4697 9 ай бұрын

I recovered the same exact vise off a sunken boat. A Steven's Brothers 56" yacht laid down in 1956 she displaced 44000 lbs. At the time she hit the water, she came in at a hefty 34000 lbs. The vise was down below in the engine room (2 ea Gray marine diesels) settled into the mud took me forever to get it off the bench. After recovery I cleaned it up, it worked fine. I kept it on my bench in Fl for years now its residing on my welding table in NC Arkansas, I just pulled it apart again to clean it up and lube her. Outstanding piece of equipment that just keeps on giving with minor maintenance.

@DMSColMustard Жыл бұрын

Just my opinion, but I love the voids in the jaws. It fits well with the rest of the vice being dinged up

@TheDistur Жыл бұрын

Cool vise!

@The-Chairmen Жыл бұрын

Very nice work

@kevinfitz3721 Жыл бұрын

Outstanding job and love the look of it

@derekwagner157 Жыл бұрын

I really enjoy your work. There's a sound to your voice where you can just tell that you really enjoy doing what you do.

@victoriaeads6126 Жыл бұрын

Would you even WANT to remove the dings and dents? They don't impede the function, and they help tell the story of the life of this vise. I think it looks perfect with a clean, polish, paint, and fresh jaws. It's a lovely workhorse of a tool!

@robertlevine2152 Жыл бұрын

Flattening the anvil would have been something to have considered. Although small, at times they are handy for straightening small parts.

@wyattsdad8561 3 ай бұрын

I just spent hours flattening mine with a file. I just finished restoring my Wilton Cadet from the late 60’s. It’s so nice now and everything works so smoothly.

@RestorationAustralia Жыл бұрын

Very cool process, nicely done.👍

@chickenpants Жыл бұрын

The copper jaws look great. The paint goes really well with them and the steel ones. Great job.

@Enigma-Sapiens Жыл бұрын

Great old vise and a very nice restoration job!

@barthanes1 Жыл бұрын

Oh man, thanks for not going overboard and grinding out every beauty mark she had. I like my used tools to look used.

@shaunhall6834 Жыл бұрын

I have this vise. It was given to me in new condition as it had never been used. What a great tool it is!

@markgeorge3960 Жыл бұрын

Great restoration! Love the copper jaws!

@_BigLife_ Жыл бұрын

Well done I like it. Really impressed that you cast your own pieces.

@sirfer6969 Жыл бұрын

Those voids looked nasty but watching the restoration process was fantastic.

@BrilliantDesignOnline Жыл бұрын

Great choice of color. Now the jaws have 'lightening' holes; you meant to do that, yeah, that's the ticket. I think I would explore some thrust bearings inside and out, for the acme screw (like Jason-Fireball Tool: 16" vise). All in all, great rebuild.

@cadetpoor101 Жыл бұрын

I am starting to also 3d print and cast my own designs thanks to the ideas in your videos. Great channel bud keep up the good work.

@andrejohnson6731 Жыл бұрын

This was an interesting deviation from your usual videos - a welcome change! Loved it!

@josephortiz9721 Жыл бұрын

I knew here , I just subscribed and have been watching your videos for hours love it :)

@j.ressler395 Жыл бұрын

I actually like the characteristics of the voids in the copper. It shows that it was man made.

@alanbockelman Жыл бұрын

Compared to those natural wild jaws

@j.ressler395 Жыл бұрын

@@alanbockelman compared to the ones pumped out by machines Bockelman, ya smart ass.

@Galvamel Жыл бұрын

I would love to see the repair/replacement of the copper jaws.

@guifrakss Жыл бұрын

To me, the vise looked better before the paint job, The new jaws look great and functional and the dogs were super cute.

@curtism7203 Жыл бұрын

nice vice! you should get some tpu like sainsmarts stuff and use that for soft jaws! it works soo good and doesnt break.

@josiahgesink9112 Жыл бұрын

You should do more restoration videos plz

@PBRJOHN684 Жыл бұрын

That's a great restoration mate 👍 I quite like the voids on the copper jaws as it just goes to show you have put your own stamp on it 👏

@all1soul Жыл бұрын

Sweet

@Sir_Uncle_Ned Жыл бұрын

Yeah, those voids are certainly not great, but I love how you kept the assorted dents and dings from this thing being used over the years. Every tool has a story behind it and I like seeing restorers preserve that where possible.

@BrassLock Жыл бұрын

Very nice. But for those who can't progress towards a home foundry, wooden jaws are a perfectly good and functional alternative, can quickly be constructed and exchanged for special applications such as gripping PVC pipe for precise filing, cutting, heat-bending and making heat-formed fittings.

@crazy_mind-ox8if Жыл бұрын

Don't worry, the voids just add character haha. Nice video as always. Are you self taught with castings or how did you learn to make the molds so well?

@jakobhalskov Жыл бұрын

Very interesting with the voids you experience in your copper castings; I was immediately about to suggest absorption of air, but you seem confident to have ruled that out systematically. For the past two years I have been casting with my home made green sand and never seen anything like this, but yesterday I received 10 kilo grams of oil bonded sand which I will be testing out this weekend :) Looking forward to sharing my experience, and maybe one day we can do a collaboration! Best wishes from Denmark

@zumbazumba1 Жыл бұрын

I sudgest a book The complete handbook of sand casting - by c.w Ammen it has a lot of information. But his main advice about sand is keep it simple .He even described a simple test by hand which tells you if your sand is good for casting.

@jakobhalskov Жыл бұрын

@@zumbazumba1 Thanks Zumba, I will check it out! I think I know what 'test' you are referring to; it checks how well the sand sticks together. And as far as I can tell this does not influence voids in the final cast metal.

@dawnmoriarty9347 Жыл бұрын

@@zumbazumba1 always good to get book recommendations ☺ Although having checked I appear to have two copies! Not sure why

@KevinFlynnFlynnLIVES Жыл бұрын

I feel like it won’t be a video without you using the sand called Petrobond

@JesseTheG_ Жыл бұрын

Now I want to take my vice apart and clean it up

@Aamirbt1 Жыл бұрын

Looks great and always good to know that something you use has been serviced properly! I'd just solder the voids and call it a day. Or just leave the voids forever. Either way works.

@shadowcatanya Жыл бұрын

Gorgeous job on it, love that you simply restored it back to beautiful condition. Still, such a shame on those jaws. So saddening that the Copper Castings keep doing that.

@jakepowell4058 Жыл бұрын

The voiding in the copper looks very unique, I think you should keep it.

@WhatIsYourMalfunction Жыл бұрын

I think the voids in the copper jaws actually fits with the overall restoration. The vise isn't perfect either. And over time the jaws will get beaten up a bit anyway. Great job.

@junkredo2518 11 ай бұрын

It’s funny watching on my phone I thought the jaws were wet. It took me till the very end to realize those were the voids you kept mentioning

@BDFireFist 11 ай бұрын

I'm not quite sure what cause the voids exactly but if I take guess, I think may be petrobond sand release some gasses due to the heat and the air bubbles get trapped in the metals while they are still in the liquid state so as the metals cool down it leaves voids in the material.

@mattyal9347 Жыл бұрын

I have noticed these holes when I melt copper wire from motor windings but not anywhere near as much from coated electrical wires. I think your suspicions with petrobond is correct

@flashgordon6238 Жыл бұрын

The date code for the vise is under the guide rail bolted below the dynamic jaw tube. A quick way to break down the vise is to pull the three horseshoe screws, remove the horseshoe washer, spin out the spindle handle and Acme screw. The dynamic jaw and tube can then be slid out. Easy way to clean and lube it.

@StarlordStavanger Жыл бұрын

Looks like someone's been watching 'my mechanics' YT channel! :P great work and great video!

@jeffjefferson2676 Жыл бұрын

You need to put a lot more grease inside of the vice if its going to survive the next 100 years. Greetings, Jeff

@MRR-qv3bw Жыл бұрын

Would love to blast this with dry ice just to see what it looked like new!

@davidvarnes7708 Жыл бұрын

Most 'restoration' channels: Gently prize the parts apart using liberal amounts of penetrating oil, blow torches, and the occasional appliation of 2 pounds of force. Robinson Foundry: BAM! BAM! BAM BAM BAM! Love it.

@sawyerrob949 Жыл бұрын

I have the same vise; it was my dad's as far back as I can remember. IF, I ever restore it, I'd for sure want the finish to look original, other than the added "character" it obtained over the years. SR

@leonzorg Жыл бұрын

"Smoke free"😁

@budisansamuelfabian6233 Жыл бұрын

i see copper i hit like 🧡

@aserta Жыл бұрын

If you have dents that annoy you, you can always smack them back into submission. You can either use a chisel (always flat with rounded edges) or just the ball end of a hammer. With a little bit of patience, you can dress up most dents.

@reprapmlp Жыл бұрын

5:46 about the voids - have you tried burning-out the printed pattern from the mold before pouring molten metal in? There may be some remnant gas that fails to escape before the melt solidifies around it.

@starhawke380 Жыл бұрын

The original steel jaws have that crosshatch pattern cut/molded into them. Is there any benefit to cutting that into the copper?

@Serbianguy432 Жыл бұрын

Great job on the restoration. I really liked that you didn't try to turn the vice into something it isn't. The fact that there are signs of use only add to the character of the tool. Keep up the good work, your videos are always a pleasure to watch.

@IsraelHV Жыл бұрын

Hi! Love your videos (major fan), is there a reading material you recommend in order to learn how to design the 3D printed element to pour a succesful cast? I want to learn more on that topic and you seem to be really good at it, in fact everything related to casting will help me lots! Please and thank you. Or maybe if you can show in one video all the process about the casting from the modeling, 3D printing to the cast and build itself that would be really cool, like all the decisions you do in order to have a clean cast.

@kentieber7309 Жыл бұрын

very cool, if you were going too checker these jaws for better grabbing, how would you do it or would it not work being copper?

@TMatt007 Жыл бұрын

More lube!!. If you didn't paint it or lube it, it's going to rust. Great video.

@alliwantedisapepsi1492 Жыл бұрын

Nice restoration. If you find solutions to the gassing / voids in copper or brass please let us now. I'm slowly following in your footsteps and it seems like everyone has void problems but no one has a solution. A vid on how to clean and degas copper bronze alloys would be great. Thanks for posting.

@samuelmuldoon4839 Жыл бұрын

At 2:50 you said that there was not much that could be done about fixing the dings from someone hitting the vice with a hammer. I have watched several vice restoration videos and what you can do is fill the grooves and crevices using a stick welder. After filling the crevices with molten welding rods, you can grind off the excess with an angle grinder or dir grinder.

@zumbazumba1 Жыл бұрын

That depends if its a cast steel or cast iron body.Steel is not a big deal but cast iron is a pain in ass to weld.It can be done but its a lot of hassle for a few dings. You can weld cast iron with both 6013 and 7018 electrodes but it needs a lot of preheat and slow cool down (a bucket of preheated sand is best ,cover the part and let it cool off naturally ). Safer version is to buy electrodes specially designed for that but they cost a lot since there is nickel and silver in them. Not worthy unless its gonna be a wall hanger .

@Nobe_Oddy Жыл бұрын

nice resto job! simple and just what a tool in use needs! about the air in the copper.... I remember watching another channel where he did some casting but he use bentonite clay/cat litter mixed with sand or something like that. I wish I could tell you the exact details but it was a while ago and so I thought I could at least tell you the name I did remember so you could start down the path.... I think there is some of the oil in the petrobond evaporating into gas, but I really don't know for sure... I hope you figure it out :D

@jakobhalskov Жыл бұрын

Yeah, until now I have been casting on my channel using home made "green sand" which is made by adding a bit of bentonite and water to a portion of sand. This has worked great, even though my sand is a bit coarse. Yesterday I received 10kg of non-branded oil bonded casting sand, that I will be testing this weekend. Curious to see if I experience the same copper-air-bubble-problem :)

@veegee24 Жыл бұрын

I love your videos. Can you please post the part number or link to the scotch brite wheel you're using at 3:05? Also the oil based industrial enamel you're using at 3:47? Also, what flux do you use for casting copper? As for the voids in the jaws, you can easily fix them with a TIG torch and regular solid copper electrical wire as filler. I have a theory as to why the voids are forming. It's possible that the oil in the casting sand is burning off rapidly and enlarging the casting volume. The outer sections of copper would quickly solidify unevenly and cause voids to form in the middle. Maybe try packing the casting sand even tighter, with more pressure, perhaps with a hydraulic press.

@Whoislorns Жыл бұрын

Absolutely love your content mate! Do you think you could cast the metal parts to a snare drum!? Lugs, strainer rims and air holes? I’ve always wanted to make my own snare drum but have never wanted to just buy the metal parts. There are some great companies that make raw untreated maple shells for this and apparently they are incredibly good quality (maple).

@d__dunbar9123 Жыл бұрын

Great job.. I just recently found you, & subscribed, & hit the bell immediately. Watched a lot of your videos already, and enjoyed them. My only request is that you find a way to film the sandblasting process. Anyway .. keep up the great work!!

@rickeyburke2596 Жыл бұрын

Petro bond is your problem, you need to use sodium silicate sand, also known as CO2 sand. Make sure your mold is well vented.

@MistaMoneyMan Жыл бұрын

I was really curious to see how you were going to make the crosshatch grip on the jaws but you just left them smooth 😕 However amazing and execelente as usual!! Thanks for sharing

@MikeGarcia-vn1gm Жыл бұрын

I bet a TIG welder would have filled in all the voids in the copper.

@jsweizston5410 8 ай бұрын

What you should purchase next to advance your machining capabilities..SURFACE GRINDER. Even if it's a manual one, you'll thank me later! Harig grinder is what I'd suggest!

@Skyliner_369 Жыл бұрын

I believe it's the copper trying to affiliate with the decomposition products of the oil like CO, CO2, and whatever else might be created. You might need to add something to the copper to kick out the products, or use a different sand for copper. Maybe a curing sand? Or bar molds?

@rogeriocosta1035 Жыл бұрын

It a beautiful wise! Why do not cast the copper in a square open mold from the beginning? Looks that the original idea would be a more complex part.

@kenparnell4297 5 ай бұрын

It's a good clean up and I love the work you put in on the new jaws, but you didn't use a primer before painting and that I just can't forgive. You get a paper with silver trim star for your efforts.

@GermanDarioCarte Жыл бұрын

Excelente!!!

@KrakenCasting Жыл бұрын

Nice one. It's weird that copper/petrobond keeps giving you those issues. I've never made anything big enough to notice. Is there a reason you left the faces of the jaws clean instead of putting some cross hatching on there?