WTK: Who has put the barrel in the vise....

[TooTech]

... and then turned the receiver with the receiver wrench?

Seems that the bench vise ought to get as good a grip on the barrel shoulder as my 27mm open-ended wrench.

How many followers of WECSOG have done this?

[W.E.G.]

Works great. Did one that way a few hours ago. It's a good idea to reverse the jaw blocks so that the smooth side of the jaw blocks contacts the flats on the barrel. I used a shim from the wall of a Budweiser can to prevent steel/steel contact. Use a STRONG vise.

[zoom]

This might not sound like a serious question, but it is. Why is it every time someone mentions protecting something in a vise with a shim from an aluminium can, they say the word Budweiser? Is there something special about a Budweiser can?

[Radio]

Speaking strictly from a clinical point of view, since I got tired of drinking over a decade ago, in my neck of the woods the proper implement would be a Blitz Weinhard can, not some commie gun-hating watered-down Budwizzer can. In case of emergency (store closed) an Olympia can was acceptable.

For snob appeal, a Coors can was chic until the mid-80s when it could finally be sold in Oregon. (Had been banned over pasteurizing issues. Believe it or not I used to make a little money on trips to Vancouver sneaking Coors down to my Corvallis friends. Go Beavers, Pac-10 Champions!!)

My last taste of Henry Weinhard's Private Reserve, back when that still meant something, was Bottling Number 102.

--(burp) Radio

--------------------

"Very sad life. Probably have very sad death, but at least there is symmetry." --Zathras

[kotengu]

Radio - you're in Corvallis?!?!?!?! I grew up there, Dad's still in Albany, shoots at the Albany range, etc. What a small world!

Matt

[TooTech]

BTT

More input desired!

[ricochet]

OK,
I just tried this. First, my Wilton vise has jaws that cannot be reveresed (I tried but mine has a splined guide pin). Next I tried an aluminum angle over jaws, but it was too soft and tried to 'spit' out the barrel as I cranked down on it. I then tried a Bud can (what, is there really any other beer out there?). This worked real well, except now my barrel flats have the vise jaw marks on the flats. It seems that nothing I do is easy lately. If you could rotate your vise jaws, as did Gary, it should work :)

[usmc326]

I would think that 1-2 layers of sheet lead on each jaw would work better, as
lead grips better than aluminum.

[Willard]

My vises (I've broken three) won't let me do that. the opposite edge of the jaw flexes, causing the holding side to open up at an angle, leaving too little of the vise holding the barrel. I need to find a mondo strong vise but so far haven't. the Sears and Sam's club models haven't held up. Where to find the strong affordable vise? For if the vise is too expensive it may be better to just get the barrel vise blocks.

Willard

[Radio]

Not quite, kotengu, that was in reference to the time frame, mid-80s. I was working at KFAT and KLOO back then. Since our format was Album-Oriented Country (yep that's a weird one, ain't it) we just HAD to drink Coors over Bud or Miller or Schlitz. (authentic Lone Star would have been better, remember this was just a few years after Urban Cowboy, but virtually unobtainable in Oregon.) Used to get plastered (well I WAS in my 20s) at the Peacock or Squirrels, or in Albany at Humpty's Dump. These were the days before tough drunk-driving laws and when I still had the incredible recuperative powers of youth.

Actually I lived in Corvallis twice, in the early-to-mid 60s and the early-to-mid 80s. We used to live on the extreme northern edge of town, on Circle Drive (now Boulevard) when there was a whole lotta NUTTIN out there. Payless on NW 9th was way out in the boonies, you were already in danger of bears by then and if you went much farther you might encounter Indians as well. :D My dad and I were both born in Albany although we moved to the Boise area when I was 8 and I grew up there before coming back.

Go Beavers! Sorta like being a Cubs fan.

--Radio

[Alaska Aviator]

I've assembled three so far putting the barrel flats in the vice. Made a shimm for the opposite side of the jaws so when tightened the jaws stay square on the flats.


:D
AA

[Deltaten]

Yup! What AA said,. I just blocked the other end of the jaws with a socket, or sumpin'else that's handy, the last time. Sheet lead protectors on jaws. Twist away!
Regards,
Paul

[gw11]

As far as Putting a Barrel in a vise, I use a couple of pieces of 1/4x1"x 2" or so Cold Rolled Steel Flat Bars on each side of the flats. If the Barrel does twist, The CR will be marked or even Mangled without harming the Barrel. By it's design the barrel is stronger than a piece of Cold Rolled Flat Bar, as long as it is thick enough to re-arrange it's structure instead of the Barrels . Also Colled rolled steel has squared edges , giving you the maximum in gripping surface.
If you use a Thin piece of anything, you will find the barrel contacting the Hard Vise as the thin material is squashed from the compression and twisting.
And if needed, put a piece of wood or aluminum or something, approx. the same width as your Barrel plus Flat Bars on the other side of the Vise, to keep it from twisting and breaking!
gw11