Fireball releases a giant vise - the Hardtail

[MigGunslinger]

I have 2 each of the 8" minion and mega squares in Aluminum which are great for me but seeing some of the stuff you work with the larger cast iron pieces would probably be better. They are an absolute game changer for fabricating with structural tubing.

 

[ThePanzerFuhrer]

I have 2 each of the 8" minion and mega squares in Aluminum which are great for me but seeing some of the stuff you work with the larger cast iron pieces would probably be better. They are an absolute game changer for fabricating with structural tubing.

You think the aluminum would get wrecked too easy?

 

[MigGunslinger]

You think the aluminum would get wrecked too easy?

They seem pretty stout, I have dropped them on the ground and dinged up the corners a bit, but a couple seconds with a file will clean them up. You don't need to keep them wrapped in foam like a micrometer or something.

Only you know how large and heavy your typical fab projects are and how rough on stuff you are. I would not hesitate to get the larger squares in aluminum but if you are going to beat on them the price difference is not that much $185 vs $205 for the 12" mega square.

 

[bgaidan]

bgaidan what size and what squares did you get? I have been wanting to get a set, just don’t know which ones.

The code he gives you from signing up to his newsletter was better than his Black Friday deals.

I got one of each Mega and Monster in 8" and 12" and a set of Minions. You can see the 8" on the left and the 12" on the right in the last pic I posted and the vise should give you some scale.


I agree, for the scale of stuff you seem to usually be working on, you'd probably use the 12" more than me. But the 8" and minions will definitely be hand for smaller setups too. Just get one of each like I did! Don't forget to add a set of pins to the order too.


I'm not really sure why I spent extra on cast vs. aluminum.....other than I think it'll probably hold up better long term for the $$.

 

[budget76]

I only took one picture I was in a hurry. Tonight I’ll get more.

all I can think of when seeing this is the "it'll take a crane" to fix a flopped crane

you need a massive vise to build your massive vise

 

[ThePanzerFuhrer]

all I can think of when seeing this is the "it'll take a crane" to fix a flopped crane

you need a massive vise to build your massive vise

Then you wonder how did the first one get built.

Until later that day when you que up some Pakistani repair videos and then you figure it out.

 

[jptbay]

I bought the Minion 4pc package deal in iron, as I was worried about beating up the aluminum. They are small enough the extra weight doesn't bother me. If I were to get one of the big boys, I might try aluminum.

Give them a coat of anti-spatter spray once in a while and they stay looking good.

Products - This guy makes some handy squares and other stuff for metal fab as well.

 

[chaplinfj60]

i redid my entire layout of my shop over the last few months all for this vise.... can not wait.

well not for the vise but its big enough that it will need space. :)

 

[ThePanzerFuhrer]

i redid my entire layout of my shop over the last few months all for this vise.... can not wait.

well not for the vise but its big enough that it will need space. :)

It’s pretty awesome imo. Only reason I’m doing it.

I’ll get picture of the tube section I got together.

I have a appointment with my brother to get another bunch of flats cutout tonight. He had a dead piece of equipment infront of the plasma table this weekend. That was a big fuck no carrying a sheet of half inch to get it on the table.

 

[bgaidan]

I like that big F-clamp. I think I'll go grab some of the cheap HF bar clamps and weld a pin to them so I can drop them in my fixture table. Clearly I need something like that to build this vise so it's a justified purchase.


This has already sent me on a tangent looking and tables, fixtures, clamps, etc. It's really easy to drop a shit load of money on tooling! I'd love to justify one of the big BuildPro tables and about $5k worth of accessories to go with it.

 

[Duc]

I'm kicking myself for not buying this but no clue where I could have put the dam thing also

 

[ThePanzerFuhrer]

More pictures.

Went over to my little brothers tonight. He’s a nesting superstar. It took him 10 mins to get that all to fit. If he was using sheetcam prolly would have gotten it tighter and in less time. Enroute is kinda crappy compared to sheetcam.

Fucker fit. Not by much lol.

Here is the tube assembly. It’s in its max Closed postion. I assembled it and closed it all the way before welding the end with the tube on. That way the nut was aligned to the thread.

Jaw retainers with the 6” Irwin’s. They are about perfect. This is the 1.25”x2” bar stock.

Here is the acme coupling nut. 2.75” of thread. Not gonna strip that thing out.

Here it is compared to the regular nut. If you get two couplings and skinny wheel one into 2 or three separate nuts to use as lock nuts for the front bearing assembly. There will be less grinding to get it to fit the hole in the retainer plate

Here is the thread repairer I made to clean the nut up after the plug welds. It isn’t fancy but it worked to clean the burrs out.

 

[[486]]

10tpi acme?
That's where I had trouble with stripping nuts out, but we'll see

I like how most vises got a coarser thread both for the quicker adjustment and the additional meat they got in the threadform
but I suppose you got a socket and a cordless zipper-zapper to run the finer thread back and forth

 

[ThePanzerFuhrer]

10tpi acme?
That's where I had trouble with stripping nuts out, but we'll see

I like how most vises got a coarser thread both for the quicker adjustment and the additional meat they got in the threadform
but I suppose you got a socket and a cordless zipper-zapper to run the finer thread back and forth

Yeah the 10tpi.

 

[Mouse]

Are those the Irwin jaws?

 

[ThePanzerFuhrer]

Are those the Irwin jaws?

yes the 6” ones off Amazon.

https://www.amazon.com/Tools-Record-Replacement-Mechanics-T6D/dp/B0002JT60E/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?crid=33TURZK9RYCJA&keywords=irwin+6”+vise+jaws&qid=1639486639&sprefix=irwin+6+vise+jaws%2Caps%2C511&sr=8-3

 

[Mouse]

Thank you for the link. I'll wait to buy jaws until the jaw blocks are ready. The coupling nut above looks like a good idea. I'll need to look up the ACME 10 tpi part numbers at McMaster Carr.

 

[ThePanzerFuhrer]

Thank you for the link. I'll wait to buy jaws until the jaw blocks are ready. The coupling nut above looks like a good idea. I'll need to look up the ACME 10 tpi part numbers at McMaster Carr.

May want to go to a 6 tpi the 10 is kinda slow.

 

[bgaidan]

May want to go to a 6 tpi the 10 is kinda slow.

Fuck! I finally placed my McMaster order earlier today and just came back to read this. Don't know why, but I had it in my head that 10 was faster than 8. I'm a potato.

Just e-mailed them. Hopefully they can cancel it in time and I'll re-order.

 

[Pony_Driver]

Fuck! I finally placed my McMaster order earlier today and just came back to read this. Don't know why, but I had it in my head that 10 was faster than 8. I'm a potato.

Just e-mailed them. Hopefully they can cancel it in time and I'll re-order.

Or build two and compare them.

 

[bgaidan]

Or build two and compare them.

Well, I got pissed because McMaster didn't cancel my order and didn't even respond to me. They're usually pretty good at that. Then I noticed the draft replay sill in my gmail. Needless to say I have a 10 tpi screw and nuts. Now to decide if I want to pay the $60 stupid tax and order the 6.

 

[[486]]

meh, just go for it
you got a cordless brapperator to zip the vise open and shut, right?
only concern is with the threads pulling outta the nut eventually, but that's something to fix if/when it happens.

 

[ThePanzerFuhrer]

meh, just go for it
you got a cordless brapperator to zip the vise open and shut, right?
only concern is with the threads pulling outta the nut eventually, but that's something to fix if/when it happens.

2.75” of thread that will take a while. Lol

 

[Pony_Driver]

Well, I got pissed because McMaster didn't cancel my order and didn't even respond to me. They're usually pretty good at that. Then I noticed the draft replay sill in my gmail. Needless to say I have a 10 tpi screw and nuts. Now to decide if I want to pay the $60 stupid tax and order the 6.

If it makes you feel better, I bought a new set of vehicle AC gauges yesterday to check out my truck. When my buddy brought my vacuum pump back after 6+ months he brought my other new set of gauges too.

 

[ThePanzerFuhrer]

Now the holidays are done back to this project.

Did everyone get the flats I sent out? Anyone missing parts? I’ll get this taken care of first.

I got about another 6 sets of flats that are not spoken for and 6 sets of tubes not spoken for that can go out.

Had a few hours this afternoon and started working on some 6” jaw retainers. Will have 10 sets of these that are not spoken for. Hopefully tomorrow I’ll get them done, then work on making the front bearing covers.

Machined to length and step milled in. Will drill and tap them to the Irwin 6” vise jaw.

My poor Bridgeport doesn’t like a .25 x.700 cut lol.

These are faced and ready to get the step cut. The step goes kinda slow so I got time to start straightening up the machine shop.

 

[Clemson13]

These are faced and ready to get the step cut. The step goes kinda slow so I got time to start straightening up the machine shop.

Im still missing 2 pieces from the flats backage. They are the two rectangular pieces that weld into the vise tube. My box was shredded and the post office had taped the tatters together over the pile of steel On the fireball plans these would be the following 2 parts:
Fixed jaw back end cap
Tube cap support tab

How do i get my name on the list for the vise jaw flats (as well as the front caps when available). I cant wait to have this excess working

 

[ThePanzerFuhrer]

Im still missing 2 pieces from the flats backage. They are the two rectangular pieces that weld into the vise tube. My box was shredded and the post office had taped the tatters together over the pile of steel On the fireball plans these would be the following 2 parts:
Fixed jaw back end cap
Tube cap support tab

How do i get my name on the list for the vise jaw flats (as well as the front caps when available). I cant wait to have this excess working

Yes you were the one missing pieces. I have about 20pms in my inbox all with the same title . Was looking for you lol. If everything goes as planned I’ll get the front plates done next weekend, then I can shipthe Two missing flats with the jaw holders

 

[Duc]

What was the total for the flats and tubing?

 

[ThePanzerFuhrer]

What was the total for the flats and tubing?

$235 shipped

 

[Duc]

Ill take it. Ill get the plans on ordered.

Not sure what the fuck I will do with the thing but looks like a fun project.