Thread: Dawn No9 Vise - quick release spring needs replacing

without seeing the quick release spring, I would guess it is a torsion spring. they can be found all over the place. you will just need to measure up the old one.

to get you by though, you could always jamb a piece of timber between the quick release handle and the shaft to hold the half nut engaged.

Yep, its a torsion spring. I should have my camera again tomorrow, so will post a pic.
John, I rang the spring manufacturer that China suggested (Thanks China) and while they can replicate it, there will be a fee for setting things up to make a 'one off'. I'll see if Wheelin' comes up with some good ideas or replacements (thanks mate, as always you are ever helpful) but I'm tempted to get a batch of springs made up to spread the 'set up' cost. I'll have to see what the per spring cost would be, but I'm tempted to get 20 or so made and offer them through the hand tool preservation groups and this forum and see if I can bring the individual cost down to something sensible. The fellow I spoke to said that after setting things up, I may as well get a heap made instead of just one as each successive spring will cost very little compared to the set up cost. What he said makes sense. I'll keep you informed.

Brob and Steve,
Good ideas, but I'm starting to think that the time spent hunting for the part (and fuel costs) might have added up to enough already. The annoyance factor has been enough already! I've been hanging a weight off the quick release lever on a bit of rope to make the vice work... its not ideal at all. Sometimes I think I'd be better off buying new tools rather than cheaper old tools.... but each to their own, as always.

pic

Curious - how much was the fee?

$50 - $60.
For an engineering shop with a few (?) $100, 000 capital, employing tradies at Aus rates, taxes, workcover, super, insurance, rent, gst, jam money and a senior tradie to think about it and make it happen... seems fair. Over 20 springs it would be $2.50 - $3 + a per spring rate. The same cost as a call out fee for a tradie to come to your house.
Maybe it would work out to $5 - $6 a spring over 20 or so. ?

Clinton, Isn't this the same vice?

http://www.dawntools.com.au/products...2.pdf?20110428

This was on Dawn's website. I'm surprised to hear they don't sell parts for it

Clinton let you down today as another matter took precedent. First thing tomorrow.

Now I see what it looks like in the photo there are alternatives such as drum brake springs ..........

This is Jubliee Springs here donwnunder

Torsion Spring | Single & Double Torsion Springs

Images of torsion springs

Torsion Springs - Industrial Torsion Springs, Double U Type Torsion Spring and Double Torsion Springs Manufacturer & Exporter from Thane, India

John,
Maybe its me, but 5 or 6 calls and they are still telling me that they don't have the part, and have not for years.

Clinton I didn't forget honest.

I had a quick look for a spring in my containers nothing suitable I am sorry.

In look at mine closer I can see as I said a break shoe retainer spring looks ideal with a small amount of manipulation. A wreckers maybe best or a good auto supplies like Repco might be of help take the old one along.

If you had the gear you can do your own. you obviously don't have the gear or you wouldn't be asking here, but I will run through how I would be trying to do it.

A spring say off a kids trampoline , in which the steel it is made from is close to the same diameter as your missing one.
I have one here , it's 2.5 mm and this sort of project is why I collect springs.

And an oxy torch to heat it with . A rod the size of the internal rod your spring sits on , with a slot sawn in the end.

Heat the spring , stick the red hot end in the slot , heat and wind the right amount of rotations. get the whole thing red and back wind it a little to expand it, so when it cools it does not shrink onto your rod and never come off while cold. let it cool then work on the straight bit with the loop in the end with some pointy nose pliers. cut it off the trampoline spring while red hot.

Get it up to a cherry red colour quench it I would be using water and I have done springs that way . those with more experience may say oil ? I dont know. when cool shine it up with sand paper, re heat slowly till the steel goes through the colours and reaches blue. quench again . you have now re hardened and tempered a spring.

I did some for a secret drawer once, I made them out of some band saw blade steel
[ or it could have been the steel they wrap packs of timber in ?] I've forgotten. it was approx 25 mm wide.

When I installed the first set [2 springs] half an hour under load and they snapped. I went out and spent another 20 minutes doing a second set , when I did the first quench I made sure I did not heat it as bright as the first time , I tempered to the same colour . they are still going strong.

Rob

Have a trampoline spring i could donate to your cause if you want it

Thanks wheelin, appreciate your efforts.

Rob, good to know the process, but you are right, not the gear to do it.

Pacman, appreciate the offer, but....

Clinton, I found this lying around at work. It's off an old futon couch. Although I haven't tried it on my dawn yet, I'm fairly certain it will fit. I can cut it in half and send you some to try.
ImageUploadedByTapatalk 21360497673.592231.jpg
ImageUploadedByTapatalk 21360497727.270625.jpg
ImageUploadedByTapatalk 21360497757.270950.jpg

Sorry to rain on your generosity, but the spring in the photo is wound in the opposite direction to what is required. The spring should "wind up", not "unwind" when the lever on the shaft is pressed to open the vise nut.

If you can find a suitable commercial tension spring, it should be soft enough to cut and form without the need for heat treatment as previously suggested by Auscab.

Regards,

Chas.