On another, 'nother note, I have several workshop "vices", myself. My machinist friends here in the States tell me that much of the content of the ".rough casting." itself is ALSO filler these days! Most of this Chinese alleged "steel" either EATS machine tool bits at three-to-five-times the "normal" rate for REAL steel, or it has voids which belch abrasive dust when breached, 'cause they apparently dump the sweepings from their grinding-room floors right back into the blast furnaces, then start pouring ingots and castings before it's had a chance to slag-off. Collectors loves them some rust, b'golly! Fortunately, this was a fully-useable, "grande-dame" of a de-"vice" (chuckle), a veritable MOUNTAIN of metal, and looking now, perhaps even a bit better than when she first left the factory, how many orbits ago? On another note, I'd be amazed if you could find an "old" Chinese vise that's actually worth the sandpaper - you'd probably be better off re-smelting any such object and pouring a new one! (.unless it's REALLY "old", as in, ".before the so-called 'communist revolution'.", but then it might be an "actual antique".) You mentioned a possible ".coat of filler between the rough casting and the paint.". Had this been an actual antique, that amazingly-beautiful restoration job might've slashed-away somewhere between half and three-quarters of its "collectors' value". Happy about that.Ībsolutely gorgeous job! Of course, you're probably already aware of this, but others might not be, so I thought it might bear (possibly-pedantic) repeating: One does have to be somewhat careful to distinguish "good, old, useable" tools from "valuable, antique, collectable" ones. The Dawn however was good quality Australian cast iron with no filler. In most cases the finish you end up with will equal the effort you put into the work. If that is the case you're better using sandpaper to remove the paint and then fill any gouges or nicks with body filler before proceeding. If you are working with a Chinese vice (or most any heavy cast tool made in China) you may find a coat of filler between the rough casting and the paint, it hides a multitude of sins and most times it is best left there. I will say at this point that I have many "vices" but one I have had for many years, is vices. I did most of this with an angle grinder fitted with a wire brush. Anything goes at this stage, use wire brush, sandpaper, file. Make sure you have all the parts necessary to rebuild and then get into it.ĭismantle, clean and prepare the vice (or other tool that you're repairing). The first step is to assess that the job is worth doing, in this case the vice was still working.
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