Blacksmithing for Beginners - How To Forge A Leaf Spring For A Post Vise

Blacksmithing for Beginners - How To Forge A Leaf Spring For A Post Vise. This video demonstrates how to recycle a car leaf spring into a new spring for your vise

[@jackaverage3407]

Best spring forging. I watched so many, yours is the most elegant and clearest explanation. 🏆🥇

[@demastust.2277]

I really had a fun time forging the spring for my post vise. It felt as if I was playing a part in making one of these vises. Someday I might make one.

[@rpower1401]

I'll be making one of these tomorrow morning, thanks for the clear concise video!

[@DavidKirwanirl]

Very interesting, can't wait to get myself a vice like this for my shop!

[@djdanzy]

Damn this guys good. very talented young man and im envious of your anvil and the drop in. Thats damn cool ol son

[@bruceprosser8332]

Thanks for making this video. I got one of these about a year ago and am in the process of getting it installed in my new shop. The old spring was not with it and while I kind of intuited the process it was good to see that my thinking was going in the right direction. Thanks again!

[@hardwurkindaddy]

I just purchased a post vice, sans mounting plate and spring. Thanks for this video, makes it look fairly simple to create the spring.

[@MrGiXxEr]

Another video here of yours motivating me to check off some of my to do list. One of my leg vises was missing its original spring and I've been meaning to fix that. Works like a charm and very easy to do, thanks for the inspiration!

[@aridemedina8770]

Thanks for teaching me how to replace a missing spring in my leg vise. 👏👏👏 fro Brazil 🇧🇷

[@hitnmiss49]

Thanks for a great tutorial on how to make the spring. I need to make one for my vise but you know how that is you never have time to do things for yourself.

[@kimcurtis9366]

Thanks so much for this video! I traded for a really sweet post vise a while back and the only thing wrong with it is that the original spring had been lost and someone made a really poor attempt at making another one! As I said, really poor! It doesn't work at all! This video will get it up and running! Thanks, again for this great video and for all the other videos in your series! They are a rel help to me!

[@baddogforge5181]

I've been watching your vids for awhile now and I've got a post vise identical to yours mine was missing the spring as usual but I had a piece of 5/16 leaf spring and used this video to make mine worked great thanks much

[@jakei8322]

thanks again for the great tutorial, now i can actually get my vise fixed.

[@lookcreations]

Looks like the spring on my vice is due for replacement. Should make for a good project when I get the forge. Thanks for the videos, I'm slowly working my way through them. All the best Mat

[@drason69]

Excellent! I have one with a broken Spring, and will use this video to help make a new one. Thank you

[@gregboyer3086]

Great video. Solved a big problem for me.....a vise in really bad shape with no spring.

[@willwyatt7023]

beautiful work. I have a leg vise that belonged to my great-great-uncle which needs restoration, one thing being a new spring.

[@tropifiori]

Very timely as I have been thinking how to do this for an od vise I found.

[@mikeeberle8432]

Nice video! :)

[@jjppres]

Thanks Dennis! I was really glad to find this video. Picked up my first vise an the spring is with it but does not contact both sides. I needed to find a video that showed how the spring work and its proper location. This was great! Now to make a new spring.

[@williamwazere]

Literally just thinking about this. May not need to do it on this vice I picked up recently but it's good to have the resource here if I need to!

[@JayInOz1]

That's exactly why I want to see it- thank you Good Sir. Jay

[@df-intheshop330]

Alright - it's on the list

[@fieroboom]

Awesome! 😁👍

[@michaelramey3859]

I have the same style spring on my vise and have been considering switching it out for the style you made. Another perfectly timed video. Thanks

[@df-intheshop330]

If you have one too I guess it was built that way. I always thought it was something rigged up latter

[@eviltwinx]

Very handy video!

[@user-gt3cg6wf1g]

thanks again for the great tutorial,

[@CharisWilliams]

Awesome work!

[@williambland3201]

Great presentation... My next project

[@MultiReinforced]

nice work, it is very easy to learn from the way you explain it, this is a job i have on the cards

[@df-intheshop330]

Glad to help

[@emafex]

Very cool

[@alexmclennan3011]

very nice

[@TalRohan]

I have done a few of these , with the last one I tried mild steel and I hate it, its too thick I think, and there is not very much spring in it so was an absolute swine to get into the vice and put all the wedges back ...definitely worth using the leaf spring no matter what anyone else says

[@marcelocoelho7032]

Parabéns, maravilha. Fazia muito tempo que eu esperava por esse vídeo. tutorial 100%. Obrigado amigo.

[@MrGunPilot]

Excellent

[@alexandrecosta8024]

PRIMOROSO E BELISSIMO WORK

[@tropifiori]

Thanks DF. I am dort if a beginner, but i think i will attempt that.Frank

[@df-intheshop330]

Great. If you have any more questions - let me know

[@tropifiori]

I need to fabricate the part that holds the vise to the bench. If you ever could show how to do that it would be great.ThanksFrank

[@df-intheshop330]

Sure I'll do a video on that. In the meantime The link here has a few shots of the columbian vise bracket that is on the vise in the video. It's basically just a heavy piece of angle iron with a u bolt holding the vise if that helps you out. www.dropbox.com/sh/wfdahgcx03m18nb/AACWcZBbtjJtv2xKTkTRV362a?dl=0

[@bruceprosser8332]

Picking up a post vise tomorrow morning that is missing this spring. This was a perfect instructional on what I need to do. I am going to be using some unheat treated 3/8" 1095 and draw it to a blue temper. Do you think this will be sufficient. Thanks!

[@sethjones5078]

Bruce Prosser yea I'd say it would work

[@janmorse2162]

Great tutorial! Do you heat treat the finished product in any way before install???

[@df-intheshop330]

I never have. It wouldn't hurt of course to heat treat it ( tempered to a full blue ) but all you need is the extra hardness of the spring steel because this spring flexes so very little.

[@TheRussianWoodworker]

Thank you so much for this video. I found a leg vise for $8 and it's missing the spring. I've been holding off from restoring it because I was scared and didn't know how to make the spring. Now I just need to find some spring steel to use. Can I use any kind of different steel?

[@sethjones5078]

The Russian Woodworker mild steel should work if not you can find them cheap at scrap yards good luck

[@michaelramey3859]

I thought the same thing.

[@Mark-bm9dx]

You do great work, thank you. I bought another post vise yesterday and the spring in it needs to be adjusted. Could be broken even, not sure yet. Can I adjust it cold or should I heat it and adjust? It is the original spring. Thanks

[@df-intheshop330]

I would take a file to it first to get an idea of how hard it is. If it has been heat treated you will need to anneal it first before changing the shape. At that point I would try using the spring without heat treating it. If it works fine - you're done.

[@Mark-bm9dx]

DF - In The Shop Excellent. Didn't even think about it being heat treated. Thank you for the reply

[@Rhethion]

Would it have been possible to restore the original spring by re-treating it?

[@jasonscott7803]

👍✌️

[@matthewmarting3623]

Well done sir! I believe we have the same model of vice. I believe the spring on my is original, and it is mostly identical to the one you made aside from an extra 1/2 inch or so more fish tail. I'd gladly trade you though because mine has a horrible squealing noise whenever I open it (but not when closing).

[@df-intheshop330]

Can you pin point where the noise is coming from? It sounds like something needs grease.

[@matthewmarting3623]

I was inspired by your video and actually did that first thing this morning. I've discovered it is missing the outside bearing ring, and the screw/handle assembly has been grinding against the semi-triangular hole in the vice jaw itself. I've greased it for now and will put making one on my to do list for when I get access to either a foundry or a lathe. It's easily 100 years old and will easily last another 5-10 without anything too terrible happening. And strangely, the grease doesnt seem to help much. I think it has to do with the harmonic resonance of the 3 contact points when screwing in (against spring pressure), which is why unscrewing (relieving the pressure) has no squeaking.

[@df-intheshop330]

The bearing ring doesn't have to be machined. If you made up a ring using a large diameter round bar (5/8 or 3/4 ? ) That would allow the screw box to pivot smoothly as you are tightening the vise up.

[@matthewmarting3623]

I'll think on that. It would certainly be in the spirit of your channel to forge it. If I have a go at it, I'll let you know how it turns out.

[@nicko9404]

great video! this is going to come in handy got a 35lb post vice that has a spring probably for a hundred pounder and up! Can a spring that is to big cause damage to the vice?

[@df-intheshop330]

I guess having a spring that is too strong would place an excessive amount of wear on the screw thread but that would take a very long time and a lot of use. The main problem with having the wrong spring is needing that much more force to open and close it. It might be hard finding the right thickness of spring steel for the blank. The leaf spring I used in the video was just under 3/8. You are probably looking for something that is 1/4 - 3/16 ?

[@nicko9404]

thanks for the help keep up the great videos!

[@christopherneelyakagoattmo6078]

I'm thinking if you have a spring that is too heavy; you could cut it in "half" and draw it out to a thinner and lighter strength. Half being perhaps too drastic. 3/4 or 5/8 of the original length could be much more appropriate. Especially if you are keeping the fitting on the end held by the bracket.

[@JayInOz1]

Great video as always. Now- someone has to ask :) - can we please see a close up of the handle and latch on the door behind you in the video? Thanks muchly. Jay.

[@df-intheshop330]

No problem - It isn't an antique it's something i put together.

[@expatconn7242]

what kind of anvil do you have ? nice .. looking for one you have any leads .. great vid learned something else thanks

[@df-intheshop330]

I have no idea who made this anvil. There are no marking on it. The small square horn was added latter.

[@rerawho]

What did you do for heat treating this spring? I forged a leaf spring for my vice but haven’t heat treated it yet.

[@df-intheshop330]

I didn't need to heat treat this spring. The range of movement is so small on this vise that just the natural toughness of the steel provided all the spring I needed.

[@MauledByBears]

Hey Denis, how much clearance do you give the bottom end of the spring above the hinge assembly? I'd imagine that when you close the vice, the spring unbends and the ears have a chance to catch on the hinge. Any more tips for sizing the spring?

[@df-intheshop330]

When I set mine up I just had it resting in that square corner of the hinge. The u bolt for the bracket was loose enough so that the spring could slide up as I closed the vise. I just just tightened the u bolt after the vise was fully closed. As for sizing, don't be in a hurry when you are doing this you may need to dismantle the vise several times to bend the spring one way or the other to get the tension right.

[@MauledByBears]

DF - In The Shop Thanks! Leaving the bolt half-tight until it's closed is a good idea.

[@mollettforge5373]

did u heat treat the spring, or did it still have enough spring to it that it didn't need heat treated

[@df-intheshop330]

That's right. The spring moves so little that using spring steel gives it enough flex to work fine.

[@rayandrews23]

Thank you for the video on how to respring a post vice. I have some other parts missing on my vice and need your help in fabricating new parts. PM me if you would like to get more information or I can post my problems on here for others with the same problems and need help. Ray

[@df-intheshop330]

I did get a couple of request on how to replace the mounting bracket so I will be doing a video on that soon. If you need something else, let me know and I'll try to include it in the same video. If you need to send me pictures you can email me at [e-mail] Thanks

[@rayandrews23]

Thank you for the reply. I will take some pictures and send them to your gmail. I will send them in jpeg and web friendly. Ray

[@jacopoviola8590]

hi, why isnt the spring heat treated? does the steel give enough spring like this? or it' just not shown? thanks

[@df-intheshop330]

The end of the spring moves so little that the natural toughness of the steel provides enough spring to work well. Not a problem if you want to heat treat it but I've found it isn't necessary

[@jacopoviola8590]

oh ok thanks a lot. i'm amazed you managed to respond in such an old video, kudos!

[@madmack1981]

Hi! Browsing on KZbin I noticed that ‘old way’ blacksmiths use all these vise while the most modern blacksmiths (no anvil and hammer) use modern vise.. WHY????

[@Scott.Elliott]

how thick is the leaf spring you used?

[@df-intheshop330]

About 5/16"

[@meelas010]

brilliant. i realised however that when you put the screw mechanism in, you didn't put the baring washer in the right spot.

[@df-intheshop330]

This vise is backwards. The washer does go in the back. The screw box has a rounded shoulder to accept the washer.

[@meelas010]

ah ok. i was just going off of the vice ive got and the ones ive seen.

[@thornwarbler]

Good repair. I notice in your vice that what appears to be the thrust washer is on the screwbox on all my post vices that washer is between the front jaw and the face of the boss that the handle is fitted not saying i'm right just pointing out the difference.....................Cheers

[@df-intheshop330]

Your right. These vises ( Columbia ) are backwards. The screw box has a rounded inside edge and needs a washer that is cupped on the inside and flat on the outside to sit flat up against the back leg of the vise. Just the opposite of the older hand forged vises.

[@thornwarbler]

Interesting. So those vices are fairly modern?If so they look like decent units.

[@df-intheshop330]

They are good vises but they are purely functional - they just don't have the style of the older vises with the turned details and chamfered edges. These are drop forged so I'm guessing they were available into the 1950's. I don't know anything about the company's history. Somebody told me they were bought out by Wilton but I don't know that for sure.

[@rdgo4141]

is not need to quench it after forging sir?

[@df-intheshop330]

Not for something like this. The spring moves so little that the inherent toughness of the spring steel will keep it from loosing it's tension.

[@sblack48]

Anvil envy!

[@expatconn7242]

I missed out on 2 leg vises 1 lv By 6 hours @ 45 bucks 2 nt lv By 30 min @ 80 bucks

[@df-intheshop330]

If you are just looking for a good forging vise don't pass up the old style all steel machinist vise that weight 100+ lbs. They will do all the work a good leg vise will do and they are a lot easier to find

[@nedkline886]

why does the vice even need a spring

[@df-intheshop330]

Other than the obvious job of holding the front jaw open the spring is what makes the vise useable. It applies pressure to the front jaw and holds the screw assembly in place. There has to be a surprising amount of pressure on the from jaw for the vise to work properly. Not having a spring doesn't make it impossible to use the vise but it does really slow you down when you are doing hot work. see my How to screw up your vise video. kzbin.info/www/bejne/h6GkhYKfl6ekZ5Y