Hi folks,
Was out my local car boot on Sunday when I happened upon this impractically large old British vise, a Paramo No 6, about 35kg by my reckoning, 6 inch wide jaws that open out to around 9 inches!
I offered the bloke £8 and walked (well, hobbled...) away with the thing in a carrier bag.
Here it is - nice and rusty but no cracks or major damage. The handle is kinked and the jaws each have one sheared screw and one seized screw.
![](http://www.vanmildert.net/img/rich/DSC_1032.jpg)
![](http://www.vanmildert.net/img/rich/DSC_1033.jpg)
And here it is after phase 1 - lots of wire brushing, sanding, and some sandblasting. Got the HammerRite on order to get it looking like new.
![](http://www.vanmildert.net/img/rich/DSC_1034.jpg)
Couple of questions I was hoping someone could help with -
1) The main horizontal "sliding surface" on the mobile part has been used as an anvil/grinding deck in places, but the original flycutter marks are visible in others. I'm tempted to skim 1mm off the whole thing with a carbide face mill to get it like new. This would mean I'd have to shim the underside to keep the thing right though. Would it be hardened / would I be foolish to put some (say) 1mm stainless strips on the underside as a shim/gib? I'd probably epoxy them to the existing part. I would hate to bugger up a vise that has probably been in service for 50 years!
2) I put the handle in my (comparatively puny) 4 inch Record and did my best to straighten it, but it's ended up a bit of a snakey shape now. Can I just knock up a new one from a piece of mild steel or threaded rod (after I've turned off the threads!), or are these usually made of a harder metal?
Thanks for any tips on the above. Will post pics of the finished thing.
Lastly, I want to finish restoring this thing but if anybody feels they have a real need/use for such a large vice feel free to make me an offer for swaps. I'd be happy to keep it but really it's a bit wasted on me. I'm not after cash but if you've any milling accessories or a 240v 3 phase motor going spare I'd be happy to deal!