Can anyone identify these "RichCraft" tools?

paroikoi · Jul 6, 2021

Hi all. These 4 tools came in a couple machinist toolboxes I bought a few years ago. Most of the stuff I can identify and use. I don't know what these are. Does anyone recognize them? If I have no use for them (which I think I don't), I'd like to sell them...

I didn't think of putting anything into the photos for scale, but you can see a package of utility knife blades in the background for scale. They are around 5-6" long and about 1" wide.

Thanks in advance!

awander · Jul 6, 2021

They are strap clamps, used to hold material down on a machine table.

The end with the "rod" on it can be placed in a hole in the side of a part and used to clamp it down.

thermite · Jul 6, 2021

awander said:
They are strap clamps, used to hold material down on a machine table.

The end with the "rod" on it can be placed in a hole in the side of a part and used to clamp it down.

.. or.. the "tail" placed into a hole or notch in an outboard "riser" or stacked step-notch blocks and the OTHER end used to apply clamping force.

Just one more handy player in a mill/shaper/planer's arsenal of needfuls.

Not uncommon, "back in the day".. before all mills were ass-u-me'ed to be BirdPorts and all work thot to fit a Kurt vise or go pound sand.

Tyrone Shoelaces · Jul 6, 2021

Sometimes called “ Finger Clamps “ over here. For work that you can’t fit in a vice. The sort of jobs that sort out the men from the boys.

Regards Tyrone.

paroikoi · Jul 6, 2021

Thanks a lot, guys! Sounds like I can use them, so I'll keep them. I do sometimes mount things to the table on my Van Norman #12 (no Bridgeport here)...

(.50BMG muzzle brake)

boslab · Jul 6, 2021

Very nice casting too, I don’t remember well but I think that pattern first time I saw it was the Cincinnati milling book, good book
Mark

thermite · Jul 6, 2021

paroikoi said:
Thanks a lot, guys! Sounds like I can use them, so I'll keep them. I do sometimes mount things to the table on my Van Norman #12 (no Bridgeport here)...

Gots to be keerful wit' dat BirdPortless, Kurtless, s**t.

Next thing yah know, folk will point atcha and say "there goes an Old Skewl 'mill hand'"

thermite · Jul 6, 2021

boslab said:
Very nice casting too, I don’t remember well but I think that pattern first time I saw it was the Cincinnati milling book, good book
Mark

I THINK they are "drop" forged, actually. Not cast. 'merica - and the UK - usta do a LOT of that sort of forgings even for basic economy-grade end-wrenches.

thermite · Jul 6, 2021

Tyrone Shoelaces said:
Sometimes called “ Finger Clamps “ over here. For work that you can’t fit in a vice. The sort of jobs that sort out the men from the boys.

Regards Tyrone.

Hor-bore separates the men from the boys.

Or cold-water and crowbars? You'd have to ken Kalifornickyah?

Or maybe just English "Public" Schools?

SIP6A · Jul 6, 2021

Given the detail in the lettering there cast, you couldn't do that fine a lettering in a forging. If the OP could post a side view we could tell for sure.

paroikoi · Jul 6, 2021

More photos as requested. The last photo shows a double-stamped number. Wouldn't that suggest forging?

Josh

L Vanice · Jul 6, 2021

Looks like an investment casting to me. Wax pattern cast in a machined aluminum mold leaves a nice little parting line in the final steel casting, much less obtrusive than the sheared flash on a drop forging. And the parting line going into a couple of 90 degree turns and the round mark where the sprue was cut off nails it down.

Hand stamping the cavity or clamp model number into the aluminum carries the risk of double stamping the number. Not so ugly that they would scrap the mold and do the whole thing over.

Larry

paroikoi · Jul 6, 2021

L Vanice said:
Looks like an investment casting to me. Wax pattern cast in a machined aluminum mold leaves a nice little parting line in the final steel casting, much less obtrusive than the sheared flash on a drop forging. And the parting line going into a couple of 90 degree turns and the round mark where the sprue was cut off nails it down.

Hand stamping the cavity or clamp model number into the aluminum carries the risk of double stamping the number. Not so ugly that they would scrap the mold and do the whole thing over.

Larry

Thanks for the explanation, Larry. Makes sense...

thermite · Jul 6, 2021

L Vanice said:
Looks like an investment casting to me.

With the extra photos.. Concur.

boslab · Jul 7, 2021

I sort of assumed cast malleable iron due to seeing a spin caster, the “tree” was in a cannester, the canester then spun and metal poured in the top, wasn’t super fast but spinning, somewhat like centrifugal casting ( perhaps same machine)
Perhaps closed die forging as said, either way nicely made, quality straps.
Mark

DrHook · Jul 8, 2021

...I just want to know what the Muzzle Brake goes to...

DDoug · Jul 8, 2021

DrHook said:
...I just want to know what the Muzzle Brake goes to...

...It goes to "Eleven" ...

steve45 · Jul 8, 2021

I bet I could use those in the hole I accidentally drilled in my vise last week!!!

boslab · Jul 8, 2021

Don’t be sad, architects call a hole “negative space” sounds really trendy, kurt vise with negative space
Mark

paroikoi · Jul 8, 2021

DrHook said:
...I just want to know what the Muzzle Brake goes to...

My first .50 caliber rifle. Still a work in progress...

Can anyone identify these "RichCraft" tools?

Aluminum

Stainless

Diamond

Diamond

Aluminum

Titanium

Diamond

Diamond

Diamond

Titanium

Aluminum

Diamond

Aluminum

Diamond

Titanium

Hot Rolled

Diamond

Stainless

Titanium

Aluminum

Similar threads