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  1. #1
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    Default MCW Aluminium Vice

    I have been asked to place some information here on the workbench forum regarding the new Michael Connor Aluminium Bench vice mainly because it is the right place to post such information.

    I should get my predjudices out of the way first and they are twofold.

    Firstly, I am not keen on aluminium vices.

    Secondly I have committed to buying one of these MCW aluminium vices.

    Thirdly (so I can't count: Are we going to make an issue of it?) I would like to support Australian artisans wherever I can.

    In this instance Michael Connor is one of a select group of toolmakers including HNT Gordon, Colen Clenton, Harold & Saxon and Chris Vesper and they seem to be tied together in a collective rather like the impressionists, the surrealists or the cubists. Except, that these toolmakers have their feet more firmly planted in the real world.

    This is not really a review: In fact it isn't a review; It is an impression. (Ooops, back to the painting imagery).

    Rcently I visited the Brissy WWW show and the first stand that accosts you is that shared by Terry Gordon, Michael Connor, Harold and Saxon and Colen Clenton. It was for me an overload on the woodoworkers' tool senses. Their tools I describe as tactile. They feel as good as they look and they work even better.

    I was talking to Michael Connor about my son's digeridoos and Michael was holding one his new vices. As I have said elsewhere, I became memerised by this vice. It is an object of beauty and solid. There is no doubt in my mind that it works well.

    I plan to build a 2.4m workbench in the roubo style with a leg vice, a tail vice (HNT Gordon) and now also with an MCW bench vice on the other long side. This bench is to be my indulgence (vice?), made from spotted gum, milled and dried by me after felling the tree.

    My rationale is that after going to all this trouble, why would I skimp on an item like a vice?

    The MCW vice will compliment the other two vices and being made from high quality aluminium it should look just as good as it performs for a long while. Not cheap at $550, although I will be getting the same preferential rate as any other forum member through Fence Furniture's group buy, which has forum approval.

    It does not have a quick release mechanism, but it doesn't need it. Neither does it need timber cushioning jaws as the aluminium is less agressive than steel.

    One more thing. No I haven't had approval from the treasurer yet, but there is to be a concerted lobbying campaign which will provide the appropriate result. I am confident of a satisfactory outcome and any settlement will include the workbench.

    Regards
    Paul
    Bushmiller;

    "Power tends to corrupt. Absolute power corrupts, absolutely!"

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  3. #2
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    Quote Originally Posted by Bushmiller View Post
    ..It does not have a quick release mechanism, but it doesn't need it. Neither does it need timber cushioning jaws as the aluminium is less agressive than steel.
    Paul - I agree that that a quick-release is far from essential. My own front vise has no quick release, & only on rare occasions do I wish for one. However, I think I would still be putting some sacrificial wooden inserts in it if it were mine. I'm pretty careful with my tools, but inevitably, you have the odd slip & accident - not a problem when you can replace a bit of cheap wood, but a nasty ding on your shiny aluminium jaws will reduce the resale value.

    A complaint I hear about aluminium is the way the oxide smears on nice, clean wood surfaces - the alloy used on this vise may not suffer from this problem, but it might be another reason to consider adding some wood....

    Cheers,
    IW

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    I asked Micheal about screw holes on the face of the vise for attaching a timber face and he says he recommends just gluing suede straight onto the alum. The idea of having the thread enclosed to prevent crud build up is a great one. It also obviates grease from the thread from getting on the job.
    Regards, FenceFurniture

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  5. #4
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    Quote Originally Posted by IanW View Post
    Paul - I agree that that a quick-release is far from essential. My own front vise has no quick release, & only on rare occasions do I wish for one. However, I think I would still be putting some sacrificial wooden inserts in it if it were mine. I'm pretty careful with my tools, but inevitably, you have the odd slip & accident - not a problem when you can replace a bit of cheap wood, but a nasty ding on your shiny aluminium jaws will reduce the resale value.

    A complaint I hear about aluminium is the way the oxide smears on nice, clean wood surfaces - the alloy used on this vise may not suffer from this problem, but it might be another reason to consider adding some wood....

    Cheers,
    Ian

    I have to confess that had the option of putting atimber cushion into the vice in the back of my mind. There is no provision for holes, but it would be simplicity itself to drill and tap. It thought I would try it out first and resort to a timber cheek if I thought it was neccessary.

    Perhaps a piece of your she-oak to keep up the good looks.

    Regards
    Paul
    Bushmiller;

    "Power tends to corrupt. Absolute power corrupts, absolutely!"

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    Quote Originally Posted by Bushmiller View Post
    ......
    Perhaps a piece of your she-oak to keep up the good looks.
    Paul, you'd be welcome to it if I can find a suitablly-sized piece, but not sure I would recommend She-oak for that job, due to its hardness. I prefer something soft because it grips better & is less likely to mar work. The maker's suggestion of leather faces is a good idea, & very easy to do.

    I guess my natural reaction to bare metal is conditioned by iron jaws, and using wood inserts is largely to protect edge tools. But aluminium won't damage edges, so the inserts would be protecting the metal, in this case. I think the truth is, I'm just an old conservative, and would end up fitting the inserts 'cos it just doesn't look right without them....

    Cheers,
    IW

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    Default Eeee, I hadn't thought of that!

    Quote Originally Posted by IanW View Post
    I guess my natural reaction to bare metal is conditioned by iron jaws, and using wood inserts is largely to protect edge tools. But aluminium won't damage edges, so the inserts would be protecting the metal, in this case.
    A very good point indeed Ian - I hadn't considered edge tools being damaged. And that of course brings up a supplementary point: if you have a steel vice, and you cover the face with timber you won't have made the edge tools safer at all, because the only part to receive the covering isn't exposed to the tools anyway, and there is still stacks of steel to catch those loverly edges on, including the vise handle, thread, supports, vise body etc (I'm talking about if the tool slips in your hand).

    It sounds like another very good reason for alum rather than steel.
    Regards, FenceFurniture

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    Quote Originally Posted by FenceFurniture View Post
    ....... if you have a steel vice, and you cover the face with timber you won't have made the edge tools safer at all, because the only part to receive the covering isn't exposed to the tools anyway....
    ?????
    Not with you, Brett, me lad. The wooden inserts on my metal vises, and most I've seen, extend above the metal jaws, which most certainly gives a good measure of protection to plane blades, saw teeth & other sharp edges likely to contact them during normal work procedures. I'm sure I'm not the only person who has over-done a saw cut & hit the top of the vise, or had a piece of wood suddenly slip in mid plane-stroke & descend to vise-jaw level. Not a big problem (unless a finger is in the way ) when wood is the only material encounterd, but a situation likely to cause much angst if it's iron..

    The screw boss, handle, & other bits aren't likely to come in contact with sharp edges, unless you really work at it......

    Cheers,
    IW

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    Yes, understand what your saying Ian, bur I mean in case of accidental slipping or careless contact. Better to have no steel within cooee.

    EDIT: I should add, that it is only a minor point, but better than nowt.
    Regards, FenceFurniture

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    Anodising? You could have some wonderful colours there.

  11. #10
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    Quote Originally Posted by bsrlee View Post
    Anodising? You could have some wonderful colours there.
    Funny you should mention that bsrlee. I canvassed that with Micheal, but he is very reluctant to anodise at the moment. Apparently it adds a reasonable cost.

    Mind you, you could have some great colour combos. I was thinking of one colour for the handle, and another colour for the rest. You could go bling colours, or perhaps use that nice old industrial green (you know that fairly flat green that was common in the middle of last century) with perhaps a cream coloured handle (or clear).It would suit the look of the vise admirably.

    I have a couple of blocks of alum (2" square profile) that I use as stop blocks for 25 years, and they have very little (hardly any) oxidising on them. In fact I would say that they haven't changed since I first bought them, and they wouldn't be of the same quality alum that Micheal uses.
    Regards, FenceFurniture

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    It is possible to anodise aluminium in the workshop - I remember doing it in chemistry class at school, many moons ago. You are working with acid, though, so care is needed. If you choose this path, make sure you update us with pictures.

    Regards,
    Chris.

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    Good Morning All

    Perhaps the above comments on the effects of oxidation and softness of the aluminium in vises has been a little overstated.......

    I have been using a pair of portable Zyliss aluminium vises since 1983 and they are still performing very well. I have had to replace the plastic jaw liners about every four or five years but that is all. The aluminium is little more marked than steel of similar vintage and I have never stained any work with aluminium oxide. Remember, we are discussing a woodwork vise, not an engineering vise, and the aluminium is a lot tougher than any timber in any joiners vise.

    But then, I try to do better, but I cannot be a perfectionist..

    Fair Winds

    Graeme

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    But all the girls would go for them if they came in pink, or purple, or aqua....

    I'll just crawl back under my rock now

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    Quote Originally Posted by bsrlee View Post
    But all the girls would go for them if they came in pink, or purple, or aqua....

    I'll just crawl back under my rock now
    Yes. I can visualise it now,

    "Would you like to come into my shed? I have a vice I'd like to show you."

    Regards
    Paul
    Bushmiller;

    "Power tends to corrupt. Absolute power corrupts, absolutely!"

  16. #15
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    Quote Originally Posted by FenceFurniture View Post

    Mind you, you could have some great colour combos. I was thinking of one colour for the handle, and another colour for the rest. You could go bling colours, or perhaps use that nice old industrial green (you know that fairly flat green that was common in the middle of last century) with perhaps a cream coloured handle .
    I know this is an old thread, but just in case you are still looking in from time to time: the colour to which you refer is called British Racing Green

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