Mystery Vice

[extoolie64Participant @extoolie64]

Greetings fellow model engineers and tinkerers.

I have been trying to find this type of “Quick release vice” for sale.

The ebay seller I originally purchased it from is long gone.

Any suggestions where I might find them?

Regards

Ron

[Nicholas FarrParticipant @nicholasfarr14254]

Hi extoolie64, I guess it’s one example of many types of drill vices that are available from many different suppliers.

Regards Nick.

[Clive FosterParticipant @clivefoster55965]

A unique design that didn’t catch on. maybe simply because it was not obvious how the quick release works from the promotional literature. I’d be unsurprised to discover that a majority of potential customers felt that the quick release wasn’t greatly necessary on such a small vice.

If it’s just the quick set you need rather than some very specific feature there are equivalents.

These days the Henrich design with its push pull operating rod and force increasing latching lever seems to be a common species of quick acting vice. Can be found in both genuine and pattern versions with the usual vast discrepancy in price. Genuine seems to be around £300 – £400 whilst pattern is £60 – £100. As ever with patterns its open to question as to how well the locking lever force increasing device and adjustment system have been copied.

The Cardinal speed vice with its half nut and lid out screw design doesn’t seem to have made pattern status or to be common in the UK. Hafta confess I’m not completely convinced by the open top half nut.

The old style British rack vices with sliding jaws and hook on screw buttress for tightening are pretty common but maybe a bit large. There is an attractive looking smaller import version, apparently machined all round, with the rack sunk into the body of the vice and driven directly by the screw about. Around £40 – £60 so obviously import.

My Henrich just don’t get used for some reason. The vice works fine but the big 6″ cross vice does well enough for everything. One day i may maker an auxiliary table for the Henrich and Nippy which would certainly do better for small work

Clive

[Nigel Graham 2Participant @nigelgraham2]

I have a cam-action vice: the moveable jaw is set just shy of the work then tightened onto that by an eccentric end on a long lever. I rarely use it, partly because it is a bit big for my bench-drill. Open to offers!

I have not seen this pattern elsewhere, really intended for batch work.

[Clive FosterParticipant @clivefoster55965]

Hi NIgel

Sounds like the Bison 6542 vice works in a very similar manner to yours. Around £250 up from various suppliers.

Toggle action were probably more popular for batch work in the UK. Effective but setting the jaw opening is a bit of a pain.

Clive

[John HaineParticipant @johnhaine32865]

Google Lens finds a very similar type here:

https://toolarena.eu/Drill-Press-Vice-3-Way-75-mm-with-quick-release

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