Tool Talk
Woodworking Forum => Woodworking Forum => Topic started by: OilyRascal on January 10, 2013, 06:58:07 PM
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I've had this guy for a good while and stumbled across it today; a Littco #165 bench vise that clamps onto the bench. It's not a big boy, having 5" jaws. It is missing the foot on the on the clamp turn-screw that holds it to the bench. I hadn't heard of Littco before seeing this. Hope you enjoy. I'd be interested in your experience, or creative thinking, with fixing the bench clamp - also welcome any discussion around Littco or the vise.
(http://i1154.photobucket.com/albums/p534/alphinde/CIMG5018.jpg)
(http://i1154.photobucket.com/albums/p534/alphinde/CIMG5017.jpg)
(http://i1154.photobucket.com/albums/p534/alphinde/CIMG5016.jpg)
(http://i1154.photobucket.com/albums/p534/alphinde/CIMG5015.jpg)
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Find a "cupped" washer- like used to space the shock bolts on a motorcycle- of appropriate size and place it there, then lightly peen the screw so it stays there but still rotates freely.
(http://performancelongboarding.com/media/catalog/product/cache/1/image/9df78eab33525d08d6e5fb8d27136e95/s/h/shot2-12.jpg)
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This style vise is the forerunner of the Stanley 700. I've got one of these (stashed where I can't get at it to see if the maker is the same). Made by more than one company. Every wood worker ought to have one -- when you need this vise, nothing else will quite do. It will clamp two boards at right angles to each other, It will clamp onto a saw horse, and nothing beats it for working on doors or wood sash.
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Thanks, Papaw! That's a great idea and one I will be sure to try out.
Branson - I would have been a while thinking to use it to hold two boards at a 90 - versus having it clamped to a bench and using the one jaw set. Thanks for that tip!
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I've got one of these somewhere, mine is made of cast aluminum, probably a Craftsman since it was my Dads. They are "the" vise for holding a door on edge for hand planning and such.
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Littco may stand for the Littletown Vise Co. I have one like yours but don't know who made it.
I never thought of using it to hold two boards at right angles. Thanks for the tip.
Mike
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Founded in 1916 as "Littlestown Hardware and Foundry Company" using Littco as the brand. Name is now Littlestown Foundry; still in business in LittleStown PA.
http://www.littlestownfoundry.com/history.htm
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for the vice clamp pads, I used fender washers with holes that just fit over the tip of the screw... (sometimes press-fit)
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How do you put the cup in the washer so the pin on the end of the threads doesn't hit?
Mike
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You can buy cup washers. Otherwise ,I guess you could "cup" a fender washer with an arbor press.
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A pair of Littgo vises I've acquired, one with swivel, and the other has lost the swivel. On the small side, but good for certain things.
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for the vice clamp pads, I used fender washers with holes that just fit over the tip of the screw... (sometimes press-fit)
I use several fender washers stacked to distribute the force, main thing is the hole fits on the tip & rest on the boss of the screw.
(can peen the tip to retain the washers.) easier to fit fender washers (drill), I find other washers holes too big to fit on boss.
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A pair of Littgo vises I've acquired, one with swivel, and the other has lost the swivel. On the small side, but good for certain things.
I like them, and wish I had one. Do you have a magic hat somewhere you pull this stuff from? I believe you may have a few vices :)
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I have never made them for a vice,but have repaired a number of C clamps by turning bar stock down in the lathe to fit the end of the screw. Turn the part nearest the threads down to about an 1/8 in wall around the hole. Clamp the new part, installed, to a steel plate, heat the collar red hot and peen it down so that it holds on the end of the threads. It looks like there is a slight undercut on the end for this purpose. If you are careful peening, it will swivel when you are done.
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Find a "cupped" washer- like used to space the shock bolts on a motorcycle- of appropriate size and place it there, then lightly peen the screw so it stays there but still rotates freely.
What he said!! Here's a couple of pics of my #165. Looks like that is exactly what was done.
Brian L.