Universal Vise Restoration

[jmhoying]

I picked up a band saw (subject of another restoration soon) in a Craigslist ad yesterday and the seller also had an old lathe for sale in another ad. I wasn't interested in the lathe, but in the lathe photos, I spotted a vise that interested me. I worked out a deal on the band saw and he threw in the vise. I got it home and spent a couple hours cleaning it up and I think it'll be a handy item in the shop. The base is keyed and fits perfectly in my Bridgeport.
It was made by Universal Vise and Tool, Parma, Michigan. Jaws are 3 1/2" wide.
Here's the Craigslist photo that I spotted it in.


Back home in my shop.


A lot of crud and some light rust.
More photos in the next message.

Jack
Fort Loramie, Ohio

 

[jmhoying]

Here are some photos of the dissembled and finished vise.
Universal Vise and Tool. Multi-axis, tilting, swivel vise.


All shined up!






Jack
Fort Loramie, Ohio

 

[T Bredehoft]

That certainly is "Universal," three axes. Only thing more you could ask for would be jaws that would hold any shape, but that's really asking a lot.

Nice job on cleaning it up.

 

[ch2co]

That some vice! Looks like it will be very useful, if not send it to me and it will. ;^) Great job of cleaning it up, what did you use for de-rusting, elbow grease or chemical or both?

Chuck the grumpy old guy

 

[jmhoying]

That some vice! Looks like it will be very useful, if not send it to me and it will. ;^) Great job of cleaning it up, what did you use for de-rusting, elbow grease or chemical or both?

Chuck the grumpy old guy

Thanks. I just used some GoJo hand cleaner and a stiff brass brush for most of the cleaning. The tougher areas and light rust were finished off with Scotchbright pads with running water.
Jack

 

[mattthemuppet2]

ooh, that's cool. What was the lathe, out of curiosity?

 

[jmhoying]

ooh, that's cool. What was the lathe, out of curiosity?

It was a South Bend. Not sure of the model. Missing things like the tail stock, very dirty, but they still wanted $1000.00.

 

[mattthemuppet2]

ah, I see. The missing tail stock is a bummer, but that taper attachment alone would fetch decent $$. How can you lose a tail stock on that size lathe anyway?

so what do you have planned for your crazy 3 axis vise?

 

[jmhoying]

so what do you have planned for your crazy 3 axis vise?

It'll probably be one of those tools/fixtures that sits on the shelf for years before a need for it turns up. If I ever have a need to mill a part at a 32 degree bevel, at a 41 degree angle, at 17 degrees to the mill axis, it's the vise for the job!
It's fairly heavy, so it could handle light to medium work in the Bridgeport.
Jack

 

[mattthemuppet2]

true, I have a bunch of tools like that. But when you need them, there's usually nothing else that will do the job and you'd be stuck without one!