Axminster pen vice mod

[His Nibs]

After seeing Mark (flexi) has recently acquired one, I thought I would share a modification I made to the one I have, this saves a lot of time and fiddling in adjusting the jaw width.
I have added an idler cog wheel from an Abu 7000 multiplier fishing reel.


Richard

 

[flexi]

Thank you for that and thanks for sharing a great idea

 

[alpha1]

I have one of these pen vices I used it once then put it back in its box. I have never used it since I use a set of pen jaws on the lathe.
For assembling my pens once the blank is turned and they are complete I use an Arbor re loading press normally used for assembling ammunition. It works a treat.

 

[Phil Dart]

I can see that would save a lot of time Richard. I think I must be missing something though, as I can't remember the last time I had to alter mine - I just set it up years ago to open "jolly wide", and I've never had to touch it since. I think it takes something like 33mm across the diagional, and closes to nothing. The two rods either side prevent the vice from takng anything larger in any case, unless you chamfer the blank first. What am I missing?

 

[Neil]

I can see that would save a lot of time Richard. I think I must be missing something though, as I can't remember the last time I had to alter mine - I just set it up years ago to open "jolly wide", and I've never had to touch it since. I think it takes something like 33mm across the diagional, and closes to nothing. The two rods either side prevent the vice from takng anything larger in any case, unless you chamfer the blank first. What am I missing?

Not sure Phil. I think the bit from the Abu reel has replaced the nut which appeared to serve no purpose other than to be extraordinarily irritating as it needed adjustment to allow the vice to fully close on a variety of width blanks. I think the reel bit is more finger friendly than the unnecessary nut??

 

[alpha1]

A set of pen jaws is probably not a lot more expensive. Personally I would go with the pen jaws on the lathe.

 

[Penpal]

Beaut thinking and making mate

 

[His Nibs]

A set of pen jaws is probably not a lot more expensive. Personally I would go with the pen jaws on the lathe.

Dave, I drill my blanks on the lathe as well. I only use the pen vice for barrel trimming on the pillar drill.
Richard

 

[His Nibs]

Not sure Phil. I think the bit from the Abu reel has replaced the nut which appeared to serve no purpose other than to be extraordinarily irritating as it needed adjustment to allow the vice to fully close on a variety of width blanks. I think the reel bit is more finger friendly than the unnecessary nut??

Neil. You are absolutely right. To lock down the over centre/toggle clamp handle you need to adjust the length of the threaded bar that sets the jaw width for different size blanks. The cog wheel is a very quick way of doing this instead of the irritating nut and is definitely more finger friendly.
Richard

 

[Neil]

Richard, thanks, so you’ve taken apart what needs taking apart, removed the nut and then at a position that allows you full scope of the width of blanks, secured as a fixed entity the cog so moving the cog moves the thread in and out rather than locking it off. I have a variety of sea fishing reels that have served me well over the years so might just seek a part elsewhere! But a great mod. What did you fix the cod with?

 

[Neil]

I happen to be in Iceland at the moment so am amused as to the irritating spell checker that has changed cog to cod!

 

[His Nibs]

Richard, thanks, so you’ve taken apart what needs taking apart, removed the nut and then at a position that allows you full scope of the width of blanks, secured as a fixed entity the cog so moving the cog moves the thread in and out rather than locking it off. I have a variety of sea fishing reels that have served me well over the years so might just seek a part elsewhere! But a great mod. What did you fix the cod with?

Neil, everything in your post is what I did. The cod/cog I had lying around was a metal one, (they also make them in nylon). I drilled and tapped it and fixed to the threaded bar with loctite.

 

[Hallelujahal]

Apparently, so the missus tells me, we’re having cog & chips tomorrow night

…I’ll get me coat

 

[alpha1]

Dave, I drill my blanks on the lathe as well. I only use the pen vice for barrel trimming on the pillar drill.
Richard

I never thought of using it for that I will give it a go on my pillar drill.
Cheers.