Reviving a vise - AR15.COM

Posted: 12/1/2018 11:42:34 PM EDT

I've got a pretty nice 5" vise, but it's a bit older. Probably still 80-90%, but in most the out of view places it's got a fair bit of rust, though only pitting on one piece.

The main thing is that the roaring base would no longer rotate. I'm going to be cleaning the rust off, I'm familiar with that step, but I'm not exactly sure how to refinish it. I haven't refinished a moving part before, just painted pieces thag don't have contact with other parts.

How would y'all recommend refinishing it cheaply? I don't imagine paint would last at all. Would I be best to just leave it bare and keep it oiled? All the non-moving/contact points I'm fine on, I jsut don't know how to handle any of the parts that slide on and against each other.

Posted: 12/2/2018 1:45:23 AM EDT

[#1]

Disassemble.... blast down to bare metal... paint... reassemble. Oh... I use just a couple drops of 3 in 1 oil on the guide(s) and drive.

Posted: 12/2/2018 3:52:11 AM EDT

[#2]

Naval jelly works pretty well on stripping rust off. Just make sure you let it sit long enough. You could use whatever weapon cleaning CLP too, and if you have any gun grease, that would help long term. You can get away with some cheapo harbor freight wire brush wheels chucked into a drill for the rest of the clean up. Paint wise, rustoleum for metal surfaces is what you want. Obviously tape off the teeth and the moving hardware when you do paint.

It will look good when you are done.

ETA: If the hardware is locked up, treat it the same way as AR parts. Try oil, heat, or even stick it in the freezer for a night, then hit it with heat again.

Posted: 12/2/2018 4:55:48 AM EDT

[#3]

Quite a few similar vise restoration projects on YouTube.

Posted: 12/2/2018 8:04:46 AM EDT

[#4]

Quote History

Quoted:
Naval jelly works pretty well on stripping rust off. Just make sure you let it sit long enough. You could use whatever weapon cleaning CLP too, and if you have any gun grease, that would help long term. You can get away with some cheapo harbor freight wire brush wheels chucked into a drill for the rest of the clean up. Paint wise, rustoleum for metal surfaces is what you want. Obviously tape off the teeth and the moving hardware when you do paint.

It will look good when you are done.

ETA: If the hardware is locked up, treat it the same way as AR parts. Try oil, heat, or even stick it in the freezer for a night, then hit it with heat again.

View Quote

Cool, thanks! I've got a big tube of grease I was thinking to use, just didn't know if paint would immediately wear off.

Nothing is locked up yet, I disassembled it last night and sprayed it down with wd40. I'll hit it with wire brushes (drill/grinder/dremel) and rust remover to finish cleaning it up!

Posted: 12/2/2018 11:29:35 AM EDT

[#5]

There's a huge thread on this subject on thegaragejournal.com

Posted: 12/2/2018 12:09:10 PM EDT

[#6]

Quote History

Quoted:
There's a huge thread on this subject on thegaragejournal.com

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I'll check it out, thank you!

Posted: 12/3/2018 1:18:04 PM EDT

[#7]

Got a big toaster oven that parts will fit in?

I'd gunkote it (spray on finish from Brownells) and then bake it in the oven. Don't do it in the kitchen oven lest your incur the wrath of woman.

Posted: 12/3/2018 3:18:14 PM EDT

[#8]

Quote History

Quoted:
Got a big toaster oven that parts will fit in?

I'd gunkote it (spray on finish from Brownells) and then bake it in the oven. Don't do it in the kitchen oven lest your incur the wrath of woman.

View Quote

I've already done WRX headers and uppipe.

As long as I open the windows and light some candles, she can't even tell.

I picked up some rustoleom primer and then blue metallic to hopefully better match the paint that's already on there. Most of it's in great condition, it's mainly just the rotating base assembly and a few other moving bits. Screws and such are soaking in a rust remover (phosphoric or hydrochloric acid or some such. Can't remember, but used it with great effect before) that also helps etch and prep, "painted" the other parts with it as well. Tomorrow we'll see about hitting it with a wire disk and sandpaper for whatever's left on there, prime it, and then paint likely Wednesday.

Posted: 12/14/2018 6:30:59 AM EDT

[#9]

Pics?

Posted: 12/14/2018 7:59:34 AM EDT

[#10]

Just use a wire wheel to clean everything then degrease with some brake cleaner. Mask off what you don't want painted, and for the most important part. Use rustolem Hammered spray paint. Oh and make sure to put a primer coat on.

Before

Attached File

After

Attached File

Posted: 12/14/2018 10:36:16 AM EDT

[#11]

Beautiful

Posted: 12/14/2018 1:31:31 PM EDT

[#12]

What Nav222 said, only I didn't use hammered paint on this one.

I inherited this vice when my grandfather died about ten years ago.

My 74-year old uncle remembers playing with it when he was a kid.

It had 60+ years of gunk and grease. It was used hard.

Posted: 12/14/2018 1:47:30 PM EDT

[#13]

Quote History

Quoted:
What Nav222 said, only I didn't use hammered paint on this one.

I inherited this vice when my grandfather died about ten years ago.

My 74-year old uncle remembers playing with it when he was a kid.

It had 60+ years of gunk and grease. It was used hard.

https://www.AR15.Com/media/mediaFiles/134379/23svou0-771847.jpg

https://www.AR15.Com/media/mediaFiles/134379/1sfdvq-771846.jpg

View Quote

That's a nice one!

Posted: 12/14/2018 2:11:32 PM EDT

[#14]

Quote History

Quoted:

That's a nice one!

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Thanks!

Posted: 12/14/2018 3:21:06 PM EDT

[#15]

I watched this the other day. Very nice work.

Rusty Deadlocked Vise - Perfect Restoration

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U2jNeObHnZY

Posted: 12/15/2018 4:16:07 PM EDT

[#16]

Quote History

Quoted:
Pics?

View Quote

Didn't end up repainting it at this point, I didn't have the time to do as good a job as I would have wanted.

Cleaned rust off most the unpainted moving surfaces, gave it a good helping of grease, and it'll be getting mounted here shortly to put some AR's together.

Later when I get to actually putting a full bench together, I'll take it somewhere to get sandblasted before repainting.

Posted: 12/16/2018 7:23:54 PM EDT

[#17]

You could also use boiled linseed oil for a finish.

It looks good if the metal is clean.

[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Reviving a vise

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