DIY Tip of the Day - How to Break a Bench Vice

[Karlt]

You will need a bicycle wheel with a screw-on freewheel that's been on for a fair few years, and freewheel removal tool.

Fit the tool. Try to turn it with a spanner to ensure the freewheel's on nice and tight and isn't going to move easily.

Clamp the tool in the vice. Turn the wheel anticlockwise. Give it a good shove; these things can get quite tight after a few years and need some force. When you feel movement, keep going through the cracking sound.

Well done. Your vice is now broken and your freewheel is still firmly attached for the next time you need to break a vice.

(Serious note - I did get it off on the end by dint of trapping a large adjustable spanner in what remained of the vice down near the bottom where there's less movement in the jaws.

 

[gbb]

Been there...not in a cycling related job but i have broken a 6 inch Record vice before. Trouble is, the bigger they are, the tighter you feel you can do them which usually means abusing them.
My wheel/freewheel one was similar, use the wheel to get good force. Clamp freewheel tool in vice, lay wheel on tool, turn rim to unscrew freewheel...BANG, shimano freewheel removal tool (brand new) shattered into pieces. Perhaps overclamped it in the vice but i was aware of the risk so thought i'd done it up just enough. Hey ho...new tool and try another day.

 

[subaqua]

Been there...not in a cycling related job but i have broken a 6 inch Record vice before. Trouble is, the bigger they are, the tighter you feel you can do them which usually means abusing them.
My wheel/freewheel one was similar, use the wheel to get good force. Clamp freewheel tool in vice, lay wheel on tool, turn rim to unscrew freewheel...BANG, shimano freewheel removal tool (brand new) shattered into pieces. Perhaps overclamped it in the vice but i was aware of the risk so thought i'd done it up just enough. Hey ho...new tool and try another day.

when we were in college one of the first things we got taught was to never leave the jaws tight together with nothing in them . one muppett ( not me) decided he wanted to see how tight he could get the vice on a 2p . hand tight came , then leg tight, then 20 stone jumping on it tight , at which point the vice fractured and he fell on the floor and knocked himself out .
lecturer was not a happy bunny.

 

[sight-pin]

Maybe you should of sought some Ad..vice first

 

[fossyant]

Time for a Vice upgrade. Can't have too many upgrades.

 

[tyred]

DO Shimano do vices?

 

[classic33]

Time for a Vice upgrade. Can't have too many upgrades.

Can you have too many vices though?

 

[fossyant]

Can you have too many vices though?

 

[Gravity Aided]

He hadn't a single redeeming vice.
Oscar Wilde

 

[Gravity Aided]

We have so much vice in this country, we spell the other differently, vise, so as not to confuse people unduly.