ralmike screwless vise

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dethrow55
Posts: 2
Joined: Sun Sep 30, 2018 11:04 pm

ralmike screwless vise

Post by dethrow55 »

hello all new to the group from el paso texas. ive just recently piced up a 3" screwless vise on ebay ,after cleaning it up some what discovered a name ralmike south plainfield nj. 042-a. was wondering who this maker is ? look somewhat like a tormac ! heres a few pics thanks
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SteveM
Posts: 7763
Joined: Mon Jun 27, 2005 6:18 pm
Location: Wisconsin

Re: ralmike screwless vise

Post by SteveM »

Ralmike was a tool distribuor / maker that went out of business a number of years ago.

I hear good comments about their products.

You see their stuff on ebay periodically.

Steve
dethrow55
Posts: 2
Joined: Sun Sep 30, 2018 11:04 pm

Re: ralmike screwless vise

Post by dethrow55 »

thanks steve . why are there only 2 through holes in the fixed jaw ?
SteveM
Posts: 7763
Joined: Mon Jun 27, 2005 6:18 pm
Location: Wisconsin

Re: ralmike screwless vise

Post by SteveM »

dethrow55 wrote: Mon Oct 01, 2018 8:57 pm thanks steve . why are there only 2 through holes in the fixed jaw ?
The two holes in the fixed jaw that face the movable jaw are for removable jaws - they could either be hard jaws or softer steel or aluminum jaws shaped to hold a particular part.

The hole on the side is for a stop - typically a small bar of steel that hinges on that to let you position the work against it before tightening to have multiple parts in the same location.

Steve
TimTheGrim
Posts: 115
Joined: Sat Sep 13, 2003 2:47 pm
Location: El Paso, TX

Re: ralmike screwless vise

Post by TimTheGrim »

Having worked in or run a dozen shops in NJ there was always something or other in the crib from Ralmikes Tool-a-Rama.
Light years better than that periods ENCO offerings but not quite up there with Hermann Schmidt or Suburban.
The dominance of MSC and easy access to some other local, cut rate outlets like Grand Tool and Quad Machinery that were selling good quality Polish, Spanish and Yugoslavian imports made it tough for Ralmikes to maintain a market share. At the same time NJ was shedding Mfg jobs like a mange ridden dog. And that’s why I wound up almost ready to retire over here in Horizon.
Welcome to the forum.
Illigitimi non Carborundum
'96 Birmingham mill, Enco 13x40 GH and Craftsman 6x18 lathes, Reid 2C surface grinder. Duro Bandsaw and lots of tooling from 30+ years in the machining trades and 15+ years in refinery units. Now retired
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