broken vice qustion

[jack707]

I bought a 6" vice at H.F and the outside jaw broke off, and the only electros I have are 7018 and 8018 now I saw on you tube you can weld cast with 7018 but this is a vice that take stress so would 7018 hold or should I get Inconel?.

 

[Clint S]

Get a 20% coupon and get a new one. If it is not that old just try and take it back. Welding expert I am not.

 

[Rustyferrious]

There are a bunch of used vises on North WI CL. any of them would be better than a HF vise. Check out junk shops & used tool shops in your area. I'd never trust that broken vise again.

 

[Shield Arc]

7018 will work on cast steel. Not a good choice for cast iron!
Stick Electrodes - Welding Cast Iron

 

[Sawyer Rob]

Your best chance for success is brazing it...

You need to pre heat it, braze it, then burry it in cat litter for 24 hrs to cool...

Personally, I'd replace it.

SR

 

[Shield Arc]

Personally, I'd replace it.

Yeah, the cost of the repair will probably be more than the cost of the Harbor Freight vice.

 

[GPintheMitten]

I'll bury it in cat litter for 24 years.

 

[ruffdog]

I have a few of these vises and they have always held up and are made of ductile iron.
Wilton Columbian Machinist Bench Vise-5in Jaw Width 605M3

 

[Sawyer Rob]

There's a HUGE difference between a real Wilton and the cheapo chinese crapola vices... The crapola ones are some pretty poor quality cast...

SR

 

[4570Man]

I would take it back to HF. Why waste your time on it.

 

[LD1]

I would first ask what kind of vise it is? IS it one of them with with flat jaws on one end or you can rotate it 180 defrees and have pipe jaws? Like this 5 in. Multi-Purpose Vise

IF so, I had one of them and the outside jaw casting was hollow Snapped off first time I really used it.

Took it back and got a 6" version similar to this 6" Swivel Vise w/ Anvil but a pittsburg brand with lifetime warranty. (which they seem to have dropped and went with central forge and 90 day warranties.)

In either case though, their most expensive vises are $70. Throw a 20% off with that and its not worth the time and effort to repair. Cause knowing murphys law, it will fail when you really need it, or it will fail when when you have something heavy clamped in there (like a big hydraulic cylinder that you are rebuilding).

I cannot speak for the central forge, but the 6" pittsburg I have has been rock solid. And I abuse the crap out of it.

I also have one of these round-bodied wilton combo vises https://www.mscdirect.com/product/details/09207366. IT is a really nice vise but really $$$

 

[k0ua]

7018 will work on cast steel. Not a good choice for cast iron!
Stick Electrodes - Welding Cast Iron

My harbor freight vise was made of peanut butter. At least that is what I think it was made of when I tried welding on it.

 

[jack707]

Thanks a lot for the info yeah its not worth it. Next vice will be a wilton

 

[IslandTractor]

I read on the internet that Elmer's glue works as well as anything else when repairing HF vices. Worth a try.

 

[LD1]

Not enough meat around that casting. My pittsburg vice that was the same price as those is ALOT better. Wish they hadnt changed because they were worth every penny. If I remember I'll snap some pics when I make it down to the shop today.

 

[davesl708]

I read on the internet that Elmer's glue works as well as anything else when repairing HF vices. Worth a try.

Gorilla glue fixes anything. Or maybe so JB Weld.

The casting looks very poor. I don't think welding will be a benefit. It will most likely fail in another spot.

 

[ruffdog]

Better vises have more throat depth but need to be strong to support it.
Columbian 10205 605M3 5-Inch Jaw Width by 8-Inch Opening Machinist Vise - Bench Vises - Amazon.com

 

[ruffdog]

This Wilton would be worth every penny. Roadtrip!
Wilton Bench Vise

 

[cmore]

I think u might get away with welding it but it doesn't looks strong enough to take any heavy use. A weak design.

 

[jack707]

I found a wilton at Northern tool about 2 hr. drive 6" under 200