Hello,

I'm planning to build a vise for my AMMCO 7" shaper and I'd like some advice (no pun intended) regarding choice of material.

I have a block of steel (type unknown - it seems pretty soft and machines well) but I'm wondering if I should buy some cast iron.

If I use cast iron, would ordinary gray iron be strong enough or should I use ductile iron? I noticed that Dura Bar (www.dura-bar.com/products) lists 4 type of ductile iron with tensile strengths from 65,000 psi to 100,000 psi.

Also, where's a good place to buy cast iron? I'm in western Illinois, pretty far from any industrial areas, so I'd probably need to have it shipped. One piece approximately 2" x 4" x 12" would do the main casting and the movable jaw.

The vise is 4" wide; there's a photo here:
http://metalworking.com/Dropbox/AMMC...haper_Vise.jpg

and a drawing here:
http://www.eurospares.com/graphics/T...ShaperVise.pdf

Any suggestions?

Thanks! - Dave

65-45-12 is the most ductile (toughest) of the four grades.

John Oder

Dave,

Check your messages.

Bob

This is a really interesting thread, because the vise is often missing when a used shaper is purchased.

I was disappointed to find that the links did not work because they had been abbreviated. Below are the full URL's, and man, the eurospares one required some digging to uncover!

http://metalworking.com/Dropbox/AMMC...haper_Vise.jpg

http://www.eurospares.com/graphics/T...ShaperVise.pdf

Copy & paste into your browser......

I hope this thread grows and uncovers other designs for shaper vises and thoughts on materials, etc.

Thanks for pointing out the broken links - they're fixed now.

Bob: thanks for the pointer to a potential parts machine, but he wants to sell the whole package together. It was worth a try.

By the way, I have a set of more detailed drawings for the AMMCO shaper vise. They're in a strange Windows executable file (.exe) and I don't recall where it came from. It's a really annoying program to use, but it does have most of the details (though I think a few of them may be off a bit). If anyone wants a copy, let me know.

Dave

Dave
Awhile back SBLatheman had some SB shaper vise unfinished casstings he was selling. No screw or swivel base but the rest of the vice was complete. Now my AMMCo vise has a V form thread and the SB vise uses an Acme but other than that they are the same. Might be worth contacting him to see if he has any left.

Dennis