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Record Vise Set Up

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Record Vise Set Up

#1

Record Vise Set Up

Greg Goldin

Hi All. I'm new to the forum, but have been woodworking for many years. For some time, I've been using a made-in-England circa 1990 Record No. 53 as my face vise on my older Ulmia bench (like the one Chris Schwarz profiles here https://blog.lostartpress.com/2020/04/13/workbench-tour-no-6-vintage-ulmia-workbench/). I replaced the vise that came with the bench with the Record because the original vise was always finicky and racking. As the saying goes, "be careful of what you wish for...." The Record vise has proved to be just as maniacally obstreperous as the Ulmia vise was. I've repeatedly tried to get it to behave. It seems always to want to rack both vertically and along its length, so that it will grip insanely firmly along the top edge but only partially along the length while it might simultaneously fail to grip at depth. I've shimmed it every conceivable way, to little salutary effect.

I know that the vise is milled in the factory to close first on the left then squeeze tight to the right, and that there is a slight cant to the jaws, presumably to make it grip firmly from top to bottom. It never has.

So, the question is, do I, after lo these many years, jettison this vise (against, I suppose, Paul Seller's advice) and go with something like the Hovarter twin screw vise or the Klein Turbo Twist (a bit Steam Punk for me) or do I find a way to make this one work?

Does anyone know the true secret of making the Record 53 function as well as it ought?

I would build a leg vise, but that would involve building a very different base for my bench top -- essentially, changing the whole damn thing. I'd prefer not to. So, it seems, make the Record work or move on to another vise.

Thanks for your help.

Re: Record Vise Set Up

#2

Re: Record Vise Set Up

Bill Tindall

I added wood to the faces of the vice and tapered it as needed to close as needed. I don't have any problems gripping anything

Re: Record Vise Set Up

#3

Re: Record Vise Set Up

Greg Goldin

Thanks Bill. Maybe my approach of shims behind my wood facing is causing an on-going problem.

Re: Record Vise Set Up

#4

Re: Record Vise Set Up  *LINK*

Jim Matthews

Are there two parallel guides and a central screw?

Excess play along the guides can allow misalignment under tension.

In the Sellers class I took, all the vises were lined in soft (disposable) pine which was heavily scarred by past use. Some of them were "crunchy" in use.

I prefer a lining of heavy bridle leather, which is also compliant.


https://tinyshopww.blogspot.com/2016/08/record-no-53e-vise-clean-up-part-1.html

Re: Record Vise Set Up

#5

Re: Record Vise Set Up 

roger lance

Greg,

Maybe it's a matter of luck; but, my 53E has been good right out of the box.....never needs any shimming to adjust how the vise faces came together.

To my knowledge the vise was designed to close at the top first then close toward the bottom of the faces as pressure was applied. I can't say that the vise was designed to close from left to right from the factory.....that's not my experience and I've never heard that suggested before.

There were three vises in that size.....the 53....the 53E.....and the 53ED. Mine is the 53E easy, quick opening/closing......the 53 ED had the built-in dog.

If you have had these problems with your vise since it was new, I wonder if there is a part missing or a manufacturing flaw as these vises tend to work straight away......and are highly sought on the used tool market fetching premium prices approaching $600.

These vises will rack.....and to counter that I made a little aid to equalize the vise on both sides of the screw......


This is one of those things that you have to be hands-on to figure out.....

Re: Record Vise Set Up

#6

Re: Record Vise Set Up 

roger lance

This devise is also of great help in holding objects that are tapered in the Record vise......


Re: Record Vise Set Up

#7

Re: Record Vise Set Up

Greg Goldin

Roger, thank you very much for the images and the advice about making a wooden deck of cards to offset the side to side racking.

And, as both you and Jim suggest, I'm going to double-check the parallel rods to see that they are happily in alignment and tight.

I believe my vise must be a 53ED since it is definitely quick release and it came with a steel dog (which always seemed to me a metalworking aid not woodworking).

I've shimmed the moving jaw and the vise is working much better as of now. But I'm going to review all its parts this weekend and see how it goes.

Thanks again, everyone, for your help.

Greg

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