Save where you can, not where you shouldn't

[Jeff Wittrock]

Or, the title could read "Don't send a piece of all thread to do an acme screws job".

I used a length of plain old 3/4-10 all thread from Menards to make a cheap leg vice for my bench. It held up for about a year.

Admittedly, I did not treat the vice (or my bench) with loving care. That poor leg vise (and the bench) get used for much more than woodworking.

I guess I'll be buying a real bench screw or at least an acme screw that will hold up a bit better.

For now, I just flipped the screw around so the bad spot is in an unused position until I take the time to make or buy a new one.

-Jeff

[Brent Smith]

It's the old saying "Cry once, or cry often". Price isn't the be all and end all of deciding the quality of a tool, but I think it applies more often than not. I stopped trying to 'save' myself a few bucks years ago. The way I see it now, if I'm going to put out money, I'm going to buy the best I can afford and not worry about it again.

[Rich Kelly]

When you buy all-thread buy B7 rod. It is harder and lasts longer.

[Johnny Kleso]

Go to Enco and get a 3/4 or 1" acme threaded rod and nut...

Rods
http://www.use-enco.com/CGI/INPDFF?PMPAGE=768&PMITEM=408-0210

Nut
http://www.use-enco.com/CGI/INSRIT?PARTPG=INSRAR2&PMAKA=407-2210&PMPXNO=941978

Oil Finish is fine you dont need Alloy Steel

[Jim Koepke]

Get a couple of nuts and make a twin screw vise. Unless you want a vise with a 3 foot opening.

jim

[Jim Koepke]

I think the wrong nut may have been linked to by Johnny.

If you get the acme thread, you want an acme nut.

http://www.use-enco.com/CGI/INSRIT?PMAKA=407-2226&PMPXNO=2615537&PARTPG=INLMK32

jim

[Tim Put]

I think Johnny's link was right. That page doesn't say it's acme, but the catalog does http://www.use-enco.com/CGI/INPDFF?PMPAGE=769&PMITEM=407-2210.

The one Jim links to is left-handed.

[David Keller NC]

Regarding the title of the thread - I think Aldo Gucci summed the choices up really well:

“The bitterness of poor quality is remembered long after the sweetness of low price has faded from memory.”

[Douglas Brummett]

Ouch. That Acme thread is expensive. I looked into it before. I am usually turned away since you can buy a complete vise screw for less than tool and material houses sell the threaded rod for.

Oops, isn't this thread about doing it right instead of being a cheapskate. Doh!

[Jim Koepke]

The one Jim links to is left-handed.

OOPS!!!

Think I will do it the easy way and just buy the vise screw already made.

jim