Replies

1. 
   fleminwr | Mar 25, 2002 03:54pm | #1

   I know what you are talking about, and yes, they are slightly sprung towards each other.  I guess what I am talking about is that the rear jaw's surface (the one that sits next to the wooden cheek and comes in contact with the work) doesn't seem to be 90 deg to the mounting surface (the four bolt holes / slots) or parallel to the rear part of that casting.  Is this normal? (pardon the pun)  It seems to be about 87 to 88 degrees to the mounting surface.

1. 
   AntzyClancy | Mar 25, 2002 04:10pm | #2

   This sounds wrong.  The inside faces of each jaw should either be 90 degrees to the bench surface or cant in towards the work.  I think usually the back jaw is set to 90 degrees for easier mounting and the outside jaw is canted in.  Also, the back jaw is supported by the bench top and does not need to be canted.  I sounds as though your back jaw cants away from the work.  If that is the case, send it back.

   Todd

2. 
   fleminwr | Mar 28, 2002 10:18pm | #3

   I got a response from Record, which seems to clear things up.  I'll attach the text:

   Hello again folks 1

    

   I think I understand what you refer to  as the parallelism error. This should not be a problem.  

   Please let me explain: 

    

   Firstly there is a deliberate taper between body jaw and front plate jaw (toe-in). This is seen as a gap at the bottom of the jaws when the jaw tops are closed and touching. This is to ensure maximum grip of the workpiece in the vice, and greatly extends the useful life of the vice.

    

   Secondly, Record Woodworker Vices are manufactured automatically in high volume in our  very modern foundry. Its a feature of cast iron founding technology to apply taper to perpendicular edges of the patterns so that the pattern may be easily withdrawn from the mould to avoid the moulding sand breaking down and causing surface imperfections on the surfaces of the casting produced.

    

   This taper on the pattern is the taper you see on the face of the vice body jaw and represents the "error in parallelism" you describe.

   It would be possible for us to machine this face perfectly square, but this would add an unnecessary manufacturing cost (and therefore an increase in purchase price) to the vice.

    

   This should not present a problem if the vice is suitably mounted to the bench.

   Record vices are used throughout the world by the most professional and discerning of woodworkers.

   These people usually mount the vice so  that the body jaw, which is located on the front edge of the bench, is enveloped in a wooden apron or canopy. The face of this apron/canopy will of course be made perpendicular to the bench top.

   The timber on this face would be tapered slightly at the back to match the vice taper.

   An alternative solution is to tilt the vice on fixing to bench, by placing a thin washer between vice body bottom (front holes only) and the underneath surface of the bench.

   If this is not done, and the users do not wish to envelope the body jaw in a bench front canopy, then they will at least place a wooden face on both faces of the vice's jaw, which will need to be slightly tapered to make the body jaw square with the bench top.

   I attach a sketch explaining above info.  I hope you find this reply helpful.

    

   kind regards

   Hope this helps anyone else that might be as confused as I was . . .

   Bill

   
1. 
   javek5 | Mar 29, 2002 05:00am | #4

   Bill,

   Who did you talk to at Record?  I have two of the same size vice that I both a few months back.  The faces on both vices have a great deal of cup to them so that when closed, they only clamp on the sides, not accros the width of the vice.  I have had problems with a record number 7 plane also.  American Tool sent three different planes and not one of them met their specification of flatness within 0.003 inches on the sole.  They (Barry Pope, Sr. Product Manager for Record) now tell me that they will do nothing more.  I will be contacting the former head of Americal Tool as well as the CEO of Rubbermaid (who just bought out American Tool) to pursue this furhter.  In Texas, what they have done is in violation of several laws. 

   Also, forget about Tool Crib of the North.  When I found that I had a problem with these vices, I contacted them to have them picked up on a call tag for a refund.  They said that since it was past 30 days since I had received them, I would have to ship the vices back to Tool Crib at my cost.  They told me to go to the manufacturer with my problem.  Since I was not able to get any help on the plane, I wonder what my chances are on the vices. UPS says this will cost $54.00 to ship both back.  Maybe your contact can be of some assistance.  If not, I will let everyone know to stay away from Record products.

   Thanks,

   John