Oh bottle-locks not again!

[Sub MandrelParticipant @submandrel]

Tightening up my camlock mill vice I had that sickening sensation of it getting tighter then >ping<

 

The fixed jaw had fallen off – again. This happened a few years ago, and I fixed it with four M6 screws into the body through the lower part of the jaw. I just put the two cracked surfaces together.

 

This time the crack was exactly at the end of the screws. As I didn’t have any new screws – and the vice was still lined up – I milled the end of the base flat, then took a skim across the base of the jaw, so I could fix it flat against flat.

 

I was left with short holes, with a little thread in, so I deepened them using a pistol drill and tapped again nice and deep. Had to re-align the jaws slightly, but they were still nice and square (phew).

 

I don’t know how long this repair will last, but if anyone ever has the same problem, at least this is a get-you working fix.

 

I think I’ll get a fixed camlock vice and save this one for the rather rare occassions when I need the rotary base.

 

Neil

[Sub MandrelParticipant @submandrel]

[adyParticipant @ady]

If you’re going to do engineering stuff for years are you not better off buying a steel vice, or even making one?

[Sub MandrelParticipant @submandrel]

I have three other milling vices, three small bench ones and a Record No.3 and an even bigger steel (Paramo?) one waiting for the Record to wear out… both of the big vices were reclaimed from the recycling centre.

 

It’s just this one is camlock and is the best one for having the jaws in line with the long axis of the mill table. I will get a new one when I can afford it!

 

Neil

[Author]

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