Paloma Vise (need jaws)

The key to a proper set of vise jaws is the proper material and heat treating. Although I am sure you could get a set of jaws made at a voc/tech high school that would fit, I doubt they would be satisfactory. In short, the only way I see to properly repair this vise would be for a competent machine shop with an engineer with a metalurgical background to identify the material used, and apply the proper heat treating. As someone else pointed out, this would likely be more costly than a new vise. Unfortunately, the vise in question is no longer made, so unless a used one can be found, it looks like a different make is in order.

This looks like a great vise. from what I see on the net if someone manufactured it, it would sell. I wonder if with modern tooling it would be less expensive to make?

Eric

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Originally Posted by Flyfish Dog

A JVS school would be good place to start. I know my son can do just about anything on the CNC machine but without seeing one but cost of producing a new one might not be cost effective enough tho.

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Knowing a little about the capabilities of a good machine shop, I would think machining jaws for a vise would be something they could do with very little effort.

Not to belabor the point, but I worked in machining and manufacturing for over 30 years, and as an outside salesman and applications engineer for a steel service center for 10. I agree that any competent machinist could make a set of jaws that would fit the vise, but that's only part of the problem. The type of steel and heat treat method will determine the longevity and effectiveness of the jaws. From the picture, it seems they have a longer unsupported length than most vises. I'm betting that it was a flaw in the heat treating process that caused the original jaws to break, and I'm not at all surprised that welding didn't work. My advice is to look for a used vise of that type, or purchase a new vise of a different type. The OP could spend a ton of money having vise jaws made that were too soft, too hard, or too brittle.

There is a pamola lathe on ebay right now. Might be worth
looking into if the collectors dont drive it up too high.