Welding Tips and Tricks

When you drill into your vice twice in a row.

Faaaark I hate that. Like little permanent badges of incompetence.

I never understood why people choose to do that? Am I missing something??? At least you can fill it and fly cut it to get it back flat.

I'm sure at some point I've done the same, but I don't sweat it. If I did, the vises on the mills here have had so many people do it before me that I'd be hard pressed to tell if there was a new divot.

I'd avoid welding on it unless you don't like straight square parts. You'd need a surface grinder to dress it back up and you'd need to hit both top and bottom to get it to sit flat again. Maybe better to just tape off the flat surface and paint the holes with florescent orange paint as a reminder to use parallels next time.

PS: As a side note, I also use various sized 6" lengths of aluminum bar as parallels for general use. It's a ton easier on end mills or drills if you should catch on em, and a it keeps all my sets of hardened ground parallels parallel. Most stuff I do doesn't require the precision of a hardened parallel matched set, so I don't get worked up about the fact that a part might be sitting lower by .0003" over 5" on one side.

Use Devcon to fill any "maori carvings", it makes cleaning easier and you won't snag your hand on a chip doing a final wipe before mounting a job or vice on a table.

When it come to stuff of this sort there's only two kinds of people.....them that have and them that will. Don't sweat it. And when you get home just remember that friends don't let fiends drink lite beer.

Best regards,

I use those divots as a reason to have two vices. I named my two vices. Rum and Beer.

At least it’s a sign that you actually use it. I’ve seen more than a few shops that are not much more than a showcase for a idiot . As for the holes……you should see mine


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I feel your pain.

My "Buffalo Fan and Forge" drill press is older than I.

I still recall the Oh-shit when I put that 5/16" divot in the table.

Cheers, Alan