Thread: Twin screw vice

Looks good Cal, do you have any problem in keeping the jaws parallel to each other?

Regards
Keith

Just have to make sure I wind them at the same rate otherwise they bind, I have seen somewhere that there are gear and chain linked screws, that would make life easier!

Looks good!
Do you plan to line them with anything?
I lined my vice faces with rawhide leather and as well as protecting the timber being gripped the faces grip like there's no tomorrow with the lightest pressure.

The thought had crossed my mind Bob, I was thinking about even having another pair of soft jaws that would somehow fit into them. The hide sounds good too, I wonder how cork would go? It probably wouldn’t hold up as well as the hide.

A couple of sprockets and some chain would be good, although not sure how easy they would be to fit.
Regarding the soft jaws, Bob's suggestion of leather is the way to go.

Regards
Keith

You guys might be interested in this guys prototypes: https://www.instagram.com/aklein2303/

It uses a gearing mechanism, that can be pulled or pushed to change the ratio. He is moving into production.

This is a video showing how the vice works in low/high gearing....https://www.instagram.com/p/BoQuglynOKJ/

Apologies to hijack the thread.

aklein2303_6_11_2018_0_20_21_830.jpg

(can we PLEASE update the forum to make videos insertable?)

Originally Posted by Cal

The thought had crossed my mind Bob, I was thinking about even having another pair of soft jaws that would somehow fit into them. The hide sounds good too, I wonder how cork would go? It probably wouldn’t hold up as well as the hide.

My hides ones are 12 years old now and still OK despite plenty of abuse holding metal and rough saw timber. I use them a holt to hold threaded Al/brass pipe and rod because the leather doesn't damage the threads. As a result mine a tad dirty so that would be about the only reason for changing the leather.

That's a hard way to do multiple speeds, two sprockets of unequal size and wind the handle of choice would be easier, perhaps not as greater difference though. As for novel vices, look mum, no front handles to wind.....

https://sawmillcreek.org/showthread....81-Custom-Vise

Originally Posted by woodPixel

You guys might be interested in this guys prototypes: https://www.instagram.com/aklein2303/

It uses a gearing mechanism, that can be pulled or pushed to change the ratio. He is moving into production.

This is a video showing how the vice works in low/high gearing....

Apologies to hijack the thread.

(can we PLEASE update the forum to make videos insertable?)

Wow, bit of effort went into that design. Happy with my cheap and nasty, it will do the job I need it to.

Thanks also to Bob, I will have to see where I can get some hide from, the last bit I had is hanging on the shed..... All together now! Tie me kangaroo down sport.....Oh, probably not politically correct to start singing that these days [emoji848]

Bit late chipping in here, but a couple of comments.
First, you probably won't find the separate screws a huge handicap once you get used to them, unless you are constantly moving between parts of widely-varying thickness. using the 'fixed' metal screws like yours has the advantage of moving the jaw both in and out as they are turned, though this has the disadvantage in not allowing them to get too far off-square. The (wooden) screws on my twin-screw are fitted through a 'loose' hole in the vise jaw, which solves the binding problem, but means the jaw doesn't come with it when the screw is wound out.
Twin-screw vise.jpg

There is enough clearance in the holes in the front jaw to allow tightening at a small but useful angle to the rear jaw - handy for holding off-parallel pieces. When switching between pieces of equal thickness, such as when dovetailing drawer sides, loosening one screw is sufficient.

Swings & roundabouts, I think you adapt to it pretty quickly either way.

I tried using cork lining for jaws, once, and it didn't last long at all. Leather is far more durable, I've gotten 15 years or more out of leather liners, & like Bob, I consider the leather sacrificial, so it doesn't get molly-coddled.

Good leather isn't cheap, & not as easy to get as it used to be, so for large jaws like the twin-screw vice, I use thin pieces of a soft wood like Camphor-laurel, screwed to the inner faces. They give almost as good 'grip' as leather, and are easily replaced when necessary, unlike the leather liners, which are glued on with PVA and take a good deal more to remove & replace.

Cheers,

Thanks Ian, I contacted a leather supplier and was quoted $105 for a hide (no part hides sold) he calculated that it would be enough for 5 pair. That would last longer than me from your information and Bob’s.
I have a fair stash of Silky oak but it may be a little waxy for the job.
Will see what else I can find.

Originally Posted by Cal

Thanks Ian, I contacted a leather supplier and was quoted $105 for a hide (no part hides sold) he calculated that it would be enough for 5 pair. That would last longer than me from your information and Bob’s.
I have a fair stash of Silky oak but it may be a little waxy for the job.
Will see what else I can find.

I bought my leather pieces from a leather bikie jacket/belt supply/repair shop and I got enough pieces for ~$35 to cover both sides of 3 vices plus has a fair bit left over for other projects. The gentleman serving me at the shop was covered in tatts, had more studs through various body parts than his lather jacket, but was very friendly and helpful and let me rummage through his offcuts bin to get what I wanted. BTW it does not have to be raw or in one piece, even coloured pieces would be fine so If you can find an old damaged leather coat that could contain more than enough leather for your purposes.

If you have the readies then $105 for a whole hide is pretty cheap because leather has heaps of uses in a WW shop. Some of the other projects/ways I have used leather for include; Mallet heads, soft jaws for my MW, lathe and DP vices, and axe/hatchet head and draw knife bade covers. Maybe you could split a whole hide with some other members.
leather.jpg
cover.jpg
allwithcover.jpg

Cal

Just on sources of leather and because you don't necessarily need a single piece, you maybe able to salvage from other places other than old jackets. Ladies high boots could be a possibility. I keep old work boots for a similar purpose, but they are a little small for a vice like yours. I used an old welders apron for my vices.

However, I concede that a single piece of new leather is more appealing if the budget will stretch to such things.

Regards
Paul

Originally Posted by Bushmiller

Cal

Just on sources of leather and because you don't necessarily need a single piece, you maybe able to salvage from other places other than old jackets. Ladies high boots could be a possibility. I keep old work boots for a similar purpose, but they are a little small for a vice like yours. I used an old welders apron for my vices.

Leather from a welders aprons would be great.

SWMBO uses leather chaps for horse riding and the various elastics and buckles etc wear out after about 2 years so I get to use the leather from those for various projects. The last thing I made from one of these was gasket for the motor side of the DC impeller. My son even made wallet out of one of them.

I just checked out ebay and there are quite a few selling leather offcuts for a range of prices.
eg
https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/3-x-Blac...YAAOSw6iFbLY~Q