Just a quick tip that may be useful to someone else. I got a box of gear a while back that had a pair of one type of machinist jack but a single of another. Obviously, one jack does not make up a set, so I made another matching unit(I also reduced the height slightly on all of them so that in their lowest position they were not higher than the vice base).
I suspect these were machinist made as there was no branding on them and may have even been apprentice projects. The base had a curve to it that was almost elliptical in profile and I wanted to get it close to the other so that they at least looked similar.
To transfer the shape I used one of those profile gauges that you can get in tile shops (and other places) to pick up the profile from the original. I was then able to use a 3/8" radius tool to shave material off where (not) needed on the part before smoothing/ polishing.
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These jacks are a little different as they have a swivel pad on top (seen at the bottom of the following photo), so spread the load slightly. The other pair just have a ball bearing embedded in the top for a point contact.
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Michael
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