The power of oil

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Greatpotfarm
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The power of oil

Post by Greatpotfarm »

Here is a short post about something that impressed me this morning...

Yesterday, the NAWCC group that I belong to (Granite State Timekeepers) held one of its meetings, and amongst other exiting happenings, I acquired a 100+ year old engravers vice. It was free, thanks to Dennis, at Carignan Watch Repair, who had it as a long forgotten spare.

It is dusty, and it is rusty, with a couple of parts that need attention, but despite it's age and use, the parts that matter are still perfect!

And here is why I think it perfect, and why the title of the post:

An engravers vice, or ball vice as it is also called, is made of two sections, a sphere cut in half, with the top half (the half with the jaws) swiveling atop the bottom half. The two halves are not bolted together or in any other way mechanically connected. The top half just rides on the bottom half with only a couple bearing surfaces touching.



The photo is of me holding the entire vice suspended in the air by only the top half... it is the adhesive and cohesive forces of the oil in the perfect bearing surfaces that are keeping the six pound bottom half from falling off!


Screenshot_20230917-121959.png






And here are the 1/2 inch wide bearing surfaces (on the perimeter only) that provide all the holding power for such a feat. Those few drops of lanolin based oil is all it takes ...

Screenshot_20230917-122031.png







Another perfectly machined tool from a century ago...
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Re: The power of oil

Post by Kip »

That was quite a nice grab you picked up.

Now...what are you going to do with it?
Kip

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Visit the CWArchives for everything CW. Historical, specs, manuals and resale. It is all there.
Greatpotfarm
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Re: The power of oil

Post by Greatpotfarm »

@Kip I already fixed all the minor flaws, gave it a good overhaul and made a leather tilting base that I can eventually adapt for use under the microscope.
I think this will be a very versatile general purpose vice that will allow me to tilt and swivel my work without repositioning it in the chuck...
IMG_20230918_160430477_HDR.jpg
at the moment, I'm researching the best glue to temporarily secure and support bridges, plates and dials so that I can engrave them without distortion. The old timers all had their own formulas of tar/shellac/beeswax that they used, but modern thermosetting plastics have taken over.
Given some practice, I think I can get quite good at miniature carving, and for that, a quality ball vice such as this is an indespendible tool.
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