Is the Vice Mounted Correctly?

[oskar]

In the attached picture the vice is attached vertically to an aluminum block and I wonder if this is acceptable. The second picture shows the overall setup.

If the question is silly, as a beginner it’s normal to ask such a question but I prefer that than feel sorry later. I have never seen a vice mounted vertically.

For info, the vise is holding 2 aluminum pieces 5/8” square by 3” long and they are the arms which will hold the knurl wheels for a knurling tool I make. Since these wheels have to be aligned perfectly, they must be cut together. The partial slot cut seen on the front arm was cut when I had the pieces mounted horizontally and since I was not comfortable with that position I decide to mount them as shown.

Thank you
Nicolas

 

[JimDawson]

The vice will work fine in that position...... But (there's always a but ) I would move the whole setup to the middle of the table for better support, and c-clamp the parts into the vice. You have a nice heavy mounting block to c-clamp to.

 

[oskar]

Thanks Jim but I don't have good quality C-clamps of the required size so I will stick with the vice

Nicolas

 

[JimDawson]

Thanks Jim but I don't have good quality C-clamps of the required size so I will stick with the vice

Nicolas

Use the vice as it is, the c-clamp is for extra security. I normally use only the finest c-clamps from Harbor Freight, I guess that would be Princess Auto for you.

 

[oskar]

I didn’t know you from Oregon know about Princess Auto in Ottawa, lol. I remember when I was working I stopped once in Columbus, Mississippi at a bank to get some cash and the teller asked me where I was from. I said Montreal and she said where is that? I said in Quebec, then she said again where is that? I said in Canada and finally she said where is that? Well what can I say, I was expecting a bank teller to have some education but I guess I got the wrong one that day.

Princess Auto have an 8” C-clamp but expensive, with taxes / shipping will come close to CAD$60.00. I will search locally to see what I can find. Good idea to use them for extra security

I did already half of my cut (as a beginner I’m very slow) and worked well so far, thanks Jim

Nicolas

 

[JimDawson]

Yeah, some folks from the USA don't get out much I spent a lot of time all over Canada, from BC to PEI when I was traveling for work.

 

[silence dogood]

Oskar, us guys in Oregon can have the same problem as you guys in Canada. I was in the military visiting New York city and a guy asked me where I was from. I said at the time my home town was Portland. He said: Oh Portland, Maine. Oops my bad, no Portland, Oregon. Then he asked, Isn't that some place in northern California? Shrugged my shoulders and said close enough. Hey, you could had been from Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. Sorry guys I'm off the main subject on this thread, but I could not resist.

 

[Bi11Hudson]

Well, let's see here; I'm from the "deep south"(USA) and Canada is one of the few places I haven't been. Although, my spouse is from up that way. Would that count? Also, at least here in the south, a vice is a bad habit and a vise is a workholding device. Strainge how spelling works, nei?

To your initial question, there is no right or wrong way to mount a vise, especially a machine vise. Put it where it will do the job. However, the mounting should be strong enough to withstand anything you do to it. If you're cutting with a hacksaw, it doesn't take much to withstand the pressure. And it doesn't matter if it moves a hair. If you're punching with a hammer or milling to a half a thou, that's a whole nuther matter. And climbing on it, better take a brace to the ground and weld a few struts to the walls, too. If you need it stable, make it stable.

As far as "C-clamps" go, I have a number of very old C-clamps, probably from my father. And he's been dead for over 30 years. I have others that came from somewhere, I've had them since before Wal-Mart had two stores in one city. Some more from the dime store, about a dime a piece. And lastly, some aluminium ones that I've had since the '70s, for building models. The size doesn't matter, what matters is whether they will do the job. I wouldn't use a 3" dime store clamp to hold a spring on my one ton dualie. But then, I wouldn't use a 6" Johansen to hold a model part, either. It's all relative, ya do what ya got to do. Even a feather is strong in one dimension... ...

Bill Hudson​

 

[RWanke]

When my wife worked at the bank (before internet days) she spent one morning arguing with 2 of her younger co-workers that the good old US of A was made up of 50 states, not 52 as they both insisted (they said she was forgetting Alaska and Hawaii). She finally called the local library and asked the librarian to tell these two ladies how many states there are. The librarian just laughed and told them both "just 50". I don't really know if it's a scathing indictment of our education system or just some folks are dumb.

 

[BaronJ]

Hi Guys,

As you can see I'm from the UK, and whilst I've visited the USA several times, I've gotten/been caught out several times ! I recall asking a guy in NY where the lift was, to be told the taxi's are outside. Then someone else said "do you mean the elevator ?"
I wont go on...