What is a Record No. 3 engineering vice anyway?

Well, Record is a company which makes tools. An engineering vice is one with metal jaws, designed to hold metal while you cut it, bash it, bend it, heat it, grind it, file it or whatever you need to do to it. Number 3 relates to its size, like this one:

Record No. 3 Engineering Vice

Whenever I get the chance, I like to buy old tools because the build and material quality tends to be higher. The picture above is from after I finished the renovation. It’s mounted on a wooden block so that I can grip it in a bench vice (that’s a vice attached to the side of a workbench, like the one below).

Record 52 1/2 Woodworking Bench Vice

Why renovate an old vice, or any tool?

The steel quality in old tools, I mean from the 1970s or before, is typically far superior to anything you can buy new today. As long as you avoid anything with obvious surface pitting, a layer of rust will usually clean off ready for sharpening or painting. Besides the fact that you can keep it clean or sharp more easily or check for damage, I just like the look of something clean and looked after. 

So how do you renovate a vice?

Ah, good question! Have a look at the video and see what you think. I spent a lot of time scratching my head which I’ve edited out!