Irwin Record No.3 Mechanics Vice 4in

Product Information

The vices are Record No 1 and No 2 models and are engineers' vices designed to be mounted onto a workbench or other strong surface.

Did you ever consider adding a deadman to your design? For support of long lengths whilst held in the vice? I’m thinking of incorporating one whilst i’m going about building a bench – i’ve always managed without in the past, on my current ‘bench’, but I can see it’s value.

Both vices were very dirty and rusty where they had been kept outside for some time and on the threaded parts and undersides were years of grease and grime. For over 40 years we have had a No 1 Record vice in our shed/workshop and it has been well used and abused over the years with the clamping handle being very bent and twisted from using extension bars to increase the clamping force. The plan with the newer vices is to restore them and use the larger No 2 vice to replace our old No 1 model. I’m not sure if anyone is interested in ways to clean up rusty old vices but I’ve done quite a few so I hope the following helps someone: The vice was in the house (well, garage) when I bought it. I recently had a good tidy up and re-arrange which included re-locating the bench and vice. You have got them out now but the way to do it is use the impact driver bit in the screw slot but with the jaws clamped on it then release the screw 1/4 of a turn with a spanner on the flats of the bit.

I’ve wanted to learn the skills for a long time (it’s in my blood from growing up around it), and your videos have really given me a firm direction in which to begin building them – so thank you for the videos you make and the time you sacrifice to impart your wisdom. You’ve got a love and passion that’s clearly apparent and is completely infectious. Two weeks ago I found a woodworking vise in a thriftstore, no brand on it, usual blue paint, in a very good condition. Price was good too – equal to that of a Big Mac. All it said on the front jaw was ‘No. 57’ and ‘Made in England’.I wasn’t too popular with the wife for stealing her hairdryer but it was worth it, the vices are completely rust free. Record vices were made by The Record Tools Factory, Sheffield in the UK and manufactured vices between 1909 to 2000. The business was then taken over by Irwin Tools. I bought the impact driver for the first vice I did up, a record no.4 with screws in a similar sort of state. Much to my surprise they came out really easily, unlike today! A small model maker's vice I machined out of aluminium when I was an apprentice, which has come in surprisingly useful over the years!

However, that said, if you mostly make smaller projects such as boxes (like I do) and can get a 52 for cheap or even free (as I did), I think it is undoubtedly a handy and capable vise.

RECORD To Suit No 6 Vice Mainscrew & Handle,Nut,Pin,Spring,Washer & pin. C & F

I see the weld, definitely fettling post weathering pre machining, standard practice in non stressed areas like that. The paint I'm using is hammerite smooth blue, which is less than half the price of the roundel blue I could find online. Thankfully this isn't a Record vice, so feel absolutely no obligation towards what colour I'm painting it. It’s in good condition really, everything works as it should, clean, jaws close tight – can’t complain at all. No idea how old it is – 50s/60s I would have thought. How heavy is it? I hear the steel ones tend to weigh less than their cast iron counterparts due to the additional strength, but can still take a good beating.