Copper Soft Jaws for Bench Vise

[Paul Jones]

Ever since seeing on YouTube the copper vise jaws used in Tom Lipton’s shop, I have wanted to make a pair for myself. The soft copper jaws replace the original serrated steel jaws installed on my 4” Wilton bench vise. I used a ½” thick by 8” by 4” solid copper bar that I bought on eBay using Buy-It-Now. I rough cut the jaws using a horizontal metal bandsaw and finish milled the parts on my modified Unimat lathe and milling head. I duplicated the counterbored holes using the dimensions of the steel jaws. The copper jaws prevent marring parts held in the bench vise and also provides a great heat sink when silver soldering parts.

[Captainleeward]

Hi Paul Great pair of jaws. I was gonna make some but took the easy way out and used magnetic sign rubber like on the refrigerator magnet type.they get smashed but keep the part from gettin marred. your jaws are better.

[Paul Jones]

Captain,
Great idea about using the magnetic sign material as a liner in the the vise. Along the same idea, I recall seeing one of the YouTube machinists use small strips of magnetic sign material as a liner for metal lathe chuck jaws to protect parts from marring. On my "to list" is to make "clip-on" lathe chuck jaw liners out of 0.03" thick copper sheet material.
Thanks for the comment,
Paul

[kbalch]

Thanks Paul! I've added your Copper Soft Jaws to our Vises category, as well as to your builder page: Paul Jones' Homemade Tools. Your receipt:

Copper Soft Jaws by Paul Jones

tags: vise, soft jaws

[Captainleeward]

Paul, I sometimes use electrical tape for short parts in the chuck on the lathe when I want the knurl to stay good.