Share
Results 1 to 1 of 1

Thread: Fabricating a Ridgid #21 Pipe Vise Mounting Box to Fit a Regular Mechanic's Vise.

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Aug 2014
    Location
    Westerville, Ohio
    Posts
    72

    Default Fabricating a Ridgid #21 Pipe Vise Mounting Box to Fit a Regular Mechanic's Vise.

    Scored a nice set of Ridgid pipe threading vises, dies, and ratchet off of Craigslist for $200.00. No cracks in the die bodies and the cutting teeth look rather unused.

    The bench vises are nice but permanently mounting them to a bench is rather poor planning with limited shop work surface real estate.

    No worries, a dive into the steel on-hand supply turns up the necessary components. An I-beam with a 4" flange will work as the pipe vise mounting base. Although, the pipe vise will have to be angled out of phase with the mechanic's vise for the mounting bolt holes to fit within the confines of the I-beam flange.

    The I-beam was cut and coupons of metal made to act as end caps to stiffen up the assembly. 1" wide strips of 0.25" metal will go on the bottom of the I-beam webbing so the setup can't slip out of the vise accidentally during use.

    Once everything was welded up, a 1/2" transfer punch was used to mark the holes to be drilled in the fabricated mounting box. The drill press put the holes exactly where indicated by the punch. There was no need to file, ream, or die grind any slop in the holes. They lined up perfectly with the pipe vise allowing everything to bolt up with 1.5" and 2.5" long, 1/2" diameter bolts.

    The cast iron of the pipe vise will crack long before this mounting box fails.

    The #23 pipe vise is a bit bigger than this #21 example. I'll do the same thing but use the receiver hitch of the pickup truck as the "base" platform. Attempting to thread the bigger pipes of a #23 vise would just cause this mechanic's vise to torque over on its side.

    Tomorrow, I'll sand blast the mounting box and shoot it with some rattle can paint.

    ------

    Notice the photo of the mechanic's vise? I bought the vise and stand off a co-worker when his father died. The father was a woodworker with no metal experience. All that angle iron is assembled with nuts and bolts... I can only imagine the amount of time and effort it took to build that thing.
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails Click image for larger version. 

Name:	100_3939.jpg 
Views:	400 
Size:	148.2 KB 
ID:	13461   Click image for larger version. 

Name:	100_3941.jpg 
Views:	391 
Size:	148.9 KB 
ID:	13463   Click image for larger version. 

Name:	100_3940.jpg 
Views:	363 
Size:	147.7 KB 
ID:	13462   Click image for larger version. 

Name:	100_3945.jpg 
Views:	370 
Size:	149.3 KB 
ID:	13466   Click image for larger version. 

Name:	100_3943.jpg 
Views:	376 
Size:	139.3 KB 
ID:	13465  

    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	Mechanic's vise.jpg 
Views:	419 
Size:	149.3 KB 
ID:	13470   Click image for larger version. 

Name:	100_3947.jpg 
Views:	368 
Size:	148.2 KB 
ID:	13468   Click image for larger version. 

Name:	100_3948.jpg 
Views:	386 
Size:	138.1 KB 
ID:	13469   Click image for larger version. 

Name:	100_3946.jpg 
Views:	383 
Size:	147.5 KB 
ID:	13467  
    Last edited by fyidiy; 07-20-2016 at 01:27 AM.

Similar Threads

  1. Hack Mechanic anxiously awaiting first EverLast machine!
    By MasterMech in forum Introduce Yourself
    Replies: 1
    Last Post: 09-07-2015, 02:14 AM
  2. 2013 Summer project #2-Vise Grip modification
    By youngnstudly in forum Other Custom Fabrications
    Replies: 0
    Last Post: 10-01-2013, 10:58 AM
  3. Project #3 (210 EXT Contest) by DVA: Vise Stand
    By DVA in forum Other Custom Fabrications
    Replies: 4
    Last Post: 02-08-2012, 07:50 AM
  4. Vise Base
    By Jake98 in forum Hobyist Projects
    Replies: 2
    Last Post: 01-28-2012, 11:21 PM
  5. WP-20 Euro vs. Regular Handle
    By redbeard in forum General Welder Questions
    Replies: 5
    Last Post: 12-20-2011, 08:57 PM

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •