Thread: ARGG I hate DAWN Quick Release Wood Vices

I had similar issues with a cheap carbatec QR vice. Keeping it clean helped a bit but I was never quite happy with it. I had heard that Dawn and Record were the dog's &o!!o# but I guess they all get worn with age. I could get grip by holding the QR catch as I tightened the handle so the spring tension likely plays a big part.
I am now happy with a strait vice screw as there is nothing that can go wrong.
Regards
John

Thanks John
I agree if I hold down the quick release to prevent it from slipping, then 'all good'. Not something one would expect to do all the time.
Still don't under stand why it operates as expected clamping on one side but not the other!

Managed to uplod a very average video of the issue.

The reason it happens pronounced on one side is because the mechanism isn't symetrical. The racking that is caused in the second half of the video works against the locking mechanism and it will allow it to slip/jump teeth.

It's not a manufacturing defect - it happens to both yours, and there's a good chance that it happens to others when used in the same way. A manufacturing defect is more likely to show in just one of your examples, but this is a pretty clear demonstration that they were manufactured perfectly - perfectly the same that is It really just means you're using it outside the expected parameters it was designed within.

The video, besides it's average quality and poor production values (haha, sorry, just a joke), oh and that annoying black bar popping up, does show the torsion that is caused when you try to lock down on one side of the jaw. Watch the end of the QR bar - moves what looks like 10mm+ in relation to the other threaded rod, whereas in the first part with the timber in the other side of the jaws there's no movement detectable.

Is it a poor design? Maybe. Is it abuse of a relatively lightweight device, possibly. Can you avoid it somewhat? Probably, by either not clamping on the extremities or by using a spacer block of scrap from the same timber, or by holding the QR lever to keep the teeth seated while applying the tension...

Since they're a POS I'll give you $50 for the pair (knowing full well that the market value of them does not represent the fact that this "flaw" exists in all of them And again, that's a joke)

I don't have the answer for you but I watched these couple of videos of Record QR vices being pulled apart and reassembled and there might be something in there that points to the problem you are having.
Vid 1
Vid 2

Ha Ha
Thanks Poundy
Enjoyed your insightful musings into my problem and your constructive criticism as to my video producing prowess!
Using free software to reduce a trillion megabyte video to something that the forum will accept!
Thanks for the advice though; your explanation makes perfect sense. A space block to even up the asymmetry seems a good idea.

$50 for my Dads treasured vices!! - your dreaming! also a joke

Thanks Treecycle
Will definately check those vids out!

It's called "racking" the vice. Tightening with the workpiece outside of the supports to the point it looses parallel. As mentioned by Poundy, the solution is to have piece of material to balance the other side. I use a 250*100*50 wedge of pine to act as the balance wedge.

My Dawn 9", with 600mm wooden jaws will "rack", no QR on that one, my Dawn 9" QR will also "rack" and my "old" Record 52 1/2 QR would "rack" if I put the workpiece between the jaws, but outside the support bars. It's just part of the design of the tool.

Apart from the wedge, you can buy a "Moxon" vice or a "Twin Screw" vice, both of which have the support bars wide apart to minimise "Racking".

I have a No.9 and it doesn't do this... but it used to. I think the way I fixed it was to bend the tab (holding down the flat bar in the middle). It has a screw through it and appears right in the centre of the screen in your video. Looking at yours I'd guess it has to be bent down thus limiting the sideways movement of the bar which is causing it to slip.

I ditched my quick release vices a long time ago. I looked at the problem and came up with the idea that a "butress" thread was the problem. The replacement vice has a "square" thread, and have had no problems with the vice after that.

Jim

I've got a dawn QR vise which used to slip too. I pulled the spring out which puts pressure on the QR lever and either over extended or loosened it, I forget which way was needed, which firmed up the lever pressure. I don't get any slipping at all since then.

I should note that I initially overdue it, and needed to swallow a can's worth of spinach in order to activate the QR lever. When moving it to my new bench, I loosened the tension and it now functions nicely.

Thanks Pat
Maybe I need to expect less from my old man's tools or just consider the limitations of them

Hi Tccp123
I actually thought that too... and tried both increasing the spring tension and hammering down the retaining plate as you suggested.
Neither seemed to help

Thanks for the response LanceC
Was thinking along the same lines.
Tried to increase the pressure of QR plate. I couldn't get it to wind a full revolution without making it impossible to actually move the lever without said spinach!