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Two years in the past I wrote in regards to the ordeal of discovering spare elements for the favored (however now discontinued) US-made Jorgensen speedy motion vises. Unfortunately, after a few years of clean operation, the vise’s metal acme screw will ultimately erode the threaded bronze insert and lose its grip on it. Until a few years in the past, when Jorgensen was nonetheless making vises within the US, we might have simply ordered a new bronze insert. But after the corporate switched possession and moved vise manufacturing overseas it grew to become simply inconceivable to get these elements.
The cast-iron barrel and its bronze insert are the center of the Jorgensen quick-release vise.
Jorgensen’s vise inserts in numerous levels of damage.
One of our readers, Lee Tuftee, had precisely the identical drawback together with his father’s previous vise. The resolution that he got here up with is fast, straightforward, and cheap. He wrote to me and shared his resolution – which in essence is shimming the insert to push the worn-out threads nearer to the screw. Here is Lee’s explanations and photos:
“After making an attempt quite a few concepts, I re-worked the issue and got here to a pretty straightforward, everlasting, and relatively easy resolution.
I spotted that solely a part of the threading was worn and if I might transfer the threads inward to interact the threaded rod extra, the vise ought to work.
So, I lower a piece of sheet steel, roughly 14 gauge +/-, to suit into the insert beneath the bronze piece. Then I filed the bronze insert to permit it to seat on the similar degree as earlier than. I additionally floor out the threads to permit the acme threads from the screw to interact extra. This was performed with a Dremel grinding wheel that fitted into the threads almost completely (it was a gray-colored grinding wheel, a pretty widespread Dremel bit from my expertise). There was loads of materials left after eradicating a small quantity of the insert.”
The shim is simply a piece of sheet steel (unknown gauge, 14 or 16?) that I had. I transferred dimensions from the surface of the insert, adjusted it to suit with a file, and let the insert type it on re-assembly.
“When reassembled, the vise labored completely and was capable of take a man-strength tightening with out problem. I additionally suggested my dad to do AT LEAST half of of a flip, if no more, to function the quick-release mechanism. I figured by the best way the mechanism appears to function, a half of flip would totally disengage the threads and save put on. He used to solely go 1/four flip and you possibly can generally hear the threads grinding.
This saved a good vise from the junkyard and has been working nicely for over 5 years now. I don’t know if the inserts have turn into obtainable once more, however it could not want it for a very long time.
Just wished to move this on to you within the hopes of serving to out one other woodworker to maintain good instruments working.”
An vital facet of the insert restoration course of is addressing the worn-out threads. Lee floor the eroded areas (marked in inexperienced) utilizing a Dremel grinding wheel. The erosion of the insert’s threads occurs totally on the left and proper edges of the threads so it’s helpful to reform these areas by grinding away the bent bronze and deepening the threads. Lee talked about that: “…the insert’s radius actually seemed smaller than the screw’s, to the point of never fully seating in the center of the threads when I had it out and laid on the screw. Originally, my dad’s insert was worn out on the edges and had no wear marks anywhere other than the extreme edges of the bronze insert. I feel this step will make a substantial difference in how long the threads will last without being a difficult modification.”
Lee wrote: “The actual bronze inset is seated directly over the shim. After working out the mechanics of the quick release, I advised my dad to give it at least 1/2 turn to release pressure versus his usual 1/4 turn. That allows the carrier to drop the threads from the engaged 12 o’clock position to the 6 o’clock position and not drag the insert threads along the screw.”
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