chugbug27 0 Report post Posted March 17, 2023 Ok! I'm hopeful someone can help... Again.. This time I'm dealing with an old Thomas vise that is missing the lever arm that is used to open and close the vise jaw. The lever screws into a hub, that itself screws into the vise, and I'm guessing / hoping it's a standard part I might be able to find somewhere, much like the thumbscrew / logo that y'all helped me with a short time ago. This is a pic of what the missing part looks like, only from another such vise. (The missing lever is blackened / darkened, unlike the one pictured here). 3/16" steel rod partly threaded on one end (threads are 8-32 and are 3/8" long with an extra 1/8" non-thrraded nub on the end) (1/2" threads would do fine), knurled on the other end. This is essentially what the lever / hub assembly looks like, taken out of the vise. I found this at an estate sale. It's part of a gun cleaning rod. The circled bit is similar to what I'm looking for (length, color, material), but the lever is too narrow and the threads too dense. The measurements of the missing part are: Thread - 8-32 Thread length - 3/8" to 1/2" Total length - 3.25" (this doesn't need to be exact) Diameter of rod - 3/16" Any help finding this part would be fantastic, so thanks in advance for any help getting me there or in the right direction. (Happy to send the gun cleaning rod to anyone who can use it, btw, just pm me, with first dibs obviously going to the first person with a good answer, if they want it.) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mark Knapp 0 Report post Posted March 17, 2023 Gimme a minute, I'll make you one. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
chugbug27 0 Report post Posted March 17, 2023 I'm speechless, thank you Mark. Can you use a gun cleaning rod? Maybe a beignet? You'll have to give me a shout if you're ever near New Orleans! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SalarMan 0 Report post Posted March 17, 2023 chugbug27 - As someone who has worked with Mark in the past...I can tell you with the greatest of confidence...take advantage of his offer. He is one of our true great people on this site!!!!! - George Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SalarMan 0 Report post Posted March 17, 2023 Oh yea - he's terribly expensive too - 😂😂😂 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mark Knapp 0 Report post Posted March 17, 2023 3 minutes ago, chugbug27 said: I'm speechless, thank you Mark. Can you use a gun cleaning rod? Maybe a beignet? You'll have to give me a shout if you're ever near New Orleans! I have checked my steel supply, I have 3/16 in stainless, it won't blacken (I was going to) Is stainless OK with you? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
chugbug27 0 Report post Posted March 17, 2023 It will definitely be used and appreciated, and truth is I may never find a blackened one... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SalarMan 0 Report post Posted March 17, 2023 UH OH...I may have embarrassed Mark. All in good fun my friend...all in good fun 👍😁 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
chugbug27 0 Report post Posted March 18, 2023 Here are pics of the exact one I'm looking for, if they're any help. I'm pretty certain it's a 8-32 thread, but I've asked the guy who sent me these pics of the real McCoy to reconfirm Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
niveker 0 Report post Posted March 18, 2023 Nice find there, Chug, even with the missing arm. I've been looking for one of those style vises for a while now, but I'm too tight to pay the prices I see them going for at auction. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Poopdeck 0 Report post Posted March 18, 2023 Chug, you can take the female threaded hub that you have to any hardware store where they have little nut and bolt thread count finder doohickey (for lack of a better name for it). They hang at every hardware store that has a nut and bolt department. Simply try threading the hub onto the different size studs until you find the one that works. That will be size threads you need for the male end on the handle. You can start with the 8-32 to see if you are correct. If not move on to the next. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mark Knapp 0 Report post Posted March 18, 2023 23 hours ago, chugbug27 said: It will definitely be used and appreciated, and truth is I may never find a blackened one... Stainless it is. Working on the "Trappers Fling" this weekend. That's our annual dinner and fund raiser. We will work on your part Monday. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
chugbug27 0 Report post Posted March 18, 2023 😎 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SalarMan 0 Report post Posted March 18, 2023 52 minutes ago, chugbug27 said: 😎 Is this the same vise that Elsie & Harry Darbee used? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
chugbug27 0 Report post Posted March 18, 2023 That's the one, I'll post pics when I get back home Pd, I'm in nyc for the week, so no can do til I get back. And niveker I have been looking for a while too and found it cheap enough... I'm a bit of a bargain hunter like you. Wasn't sure when I bought it that it would be what I thought it was, but it is. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
