Irwin Record No.3 Mechanics Vice 4in

Product Information

Before the vices could be primed and painted any remaining dust and dirt had to be removed using isopropyl alcohol and clean rags. The areas which did not need to be painted were covered in masking tape and then sprayed using Red Oxide primer and left for two days to fully dry. 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. That would have looked stunning just lacquered, that way it would have shown traces of all its colourful life (see what i did there).

I'm intrigued by the 1917 marking, could it really be that old ? maybe a date of patent/design or something ? 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. I did a bit of reading and Hampton were the originators of the Record name, they eventually merged with William Ridgeway Ltd to become Ridgeway-Record Tools, later renamed Record Tools and eventually sold off to Irwin Tools. I really like the suggestion of the kurust passivated finish then oil or maybe varnish, I have just the job in mind for it, if only I could remember what it is 🙁 seriously not long ago I was looking for that sort of finish, a light bulb lit up in my mind when you mentioned it but I have no idea what it was! I’m really happy with both of the finds, just at the time I was looking for them – they’ll look great on my bench (once I’ve built it!)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 actually have no need for the No3 other than keeping me busy, so I'll probably try and give it away to friends or family when I'm done with it, or keep it till one of my sons grows up and starts tinkering. It'll make a good door stop until then! 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.

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.Submerge in the acid bath for a further 12-24 hours then remove, scrub/power wash and also submerge in clean water for a few mins (do this while scrubbing to save time)

I do have two metalworking vises, so I expected the #57 to be used only for the occasional woodworking I do. However, it turns out that it has now become the vise I use the most, due to its location on the bench and height. Incidentally, the wooden-liner mounting holes in the rear jaw weren’t threaded, so I cut M6 thread in it myself. Not sure if the factory forgot to cut threads or whether doing so was normally left as ‘an exercise for the new owner’. I wasn’t too popular with the wife for stealing her hairdryer but it was worth it, the vices are completely rust free. 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.

RECORD T52-1/2ED END BRACKET WITH END WASHERS & PIN

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: