Custom Copper Nickel Vise and Arbor Jaws For Rosin Tech.

[Joel W.]

Hey guys and gals, I am testing the waters here to see how much interest there is in custom made rosin jaws for Vises and Arbor presses. All made from 90/10 copper nickel designed for rosin tech extraction.

For those with a small dedicated rosin vise, I can make blocks that get glued in place.

For larger vises, they can be bolted in place for easy removal.

For an Arbor press, we can figure it out the same way.

These blocks are sized to be heated with two adjustable 60w soldering irons and without the need of a PID controller.

Prices will be determined once we come to an agreement on a particular design, materials and labor costs.

To give you an idea on sizing, my blocks are about 1" x 2" x 1" thick and they heat up to 255f max on high in 20 minutes.

I will post some more pictures soon or check out the rosin tech thread for more information.

Here are my first set of Cuni jaws made for a large vise with a 5" bolt pattern. They can be modified to fit a smaller vise with a 4" bolt pattern as well.

Here are some arbor press blocks I made that are about 1.5" x 2.25"

Stay tuned and thanks for looking.

Edit: I need to give credit to @shark sandwich here as he gave me the idea with his larger copper plates.

 

[weenstoned]

Possibly interested. Any price ballpark?

 

[Joel W.]

Were you thinking vise jaws or arbor press plates?

 

[weenstoned]

I don't have either yet, just using a vise grip. Most likely vise jaws.

 

[Joel W.]

I sent you a pm Sir!

Edit: I will build a set for a 4" vise (2" bolt pattern) next and you can have a look.

I am a worker bee, so deciding prices is not one of my strengths. I will try and put something together soon.

Edit. These are the type of soldering irons I like to use, they are 60w 120v with adjustable temps. I may have linked 220v irons in the rosin thread by mistake.

My first set of jaws in action.

 

[2clicker]

Joel what is the hardness of CuNi like?

 

[Joel W.]

@2clicker

Here is a chart I found with the hardness listed.. The Cuni I use is 90% copper and 10% nickel, so it's a little tougher/harder than just pure copper but it does not conduct thermally as well as pure copper does..

It is all we use for marine heat exchangers. It's much softer than 70/30 cuni.

The 90-10 copper-nickel alloy (CW352H, C70600) is the most commonly used wrought copper alloy for marine engineering and can be found in seawater systems for naval and commercial shipping and offshore oil and gas production, as well as in desalination and aquaculture. Alloys with higher nickel content, and those which are more highly alloyed with chromium, aluminium and tin, are used where greater resistance to flow conditions, sand abrasion, wear and galling are required, as well as higher mechanical properties or castability.

 

[CrazyDiamond]

You know I'm in!

 

[Copacetic]

I'm interested too!
I already have 2 60 watt solder stations, and a vise.

Do the materials you're using have particular advantages over others?
Or are they just the best materials for the task that you have availabe to you?
(please don't think that I'm questioning the choice. Just seeking enlightenment!)

 

[farscaper]

just dropping a message here so I can play in this thread too. @Joel W. excellent thread!

cant wait to get a new vise going so I can implement some joeltech cuni plates

 

[Joel W.]

Do the materials you're using have particular advantages over others?
Or are they just the best materials for the task that you have availabe to you?
(please don't think that I'm questioning the choice. Just seeking enlightenment!)

No worries, I don't know if there are better materials out there or if this is the best material? but it is what I have available and it works well distributing even heat and it's plenty strong enough to squish flowers.

 

[Joel W.]

My first set of 2" x 2" blocks for @CrazyDiamond 's arbor press are ready to go out. These are a 1/2" wider than we talked about but I feel they will work better for you. They are within +- .001" front to back. The holes are drilled using a 21/64" bit and 1 3/4" deep to fit my iron of choice. If you want the smaller blocks instead, I have them here.

 

[CrazyDiamond]

In my best Lil Jon....YYYYEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!
Bigger is better, lol.

 

[Joel W.]

Perfect! These will go out in the morning.

Thank you.

 

[herbivore21]

Nice work brother! Hey could you post a video of this in action? I know I've already got a hydraulic press setup in the works but I know a number of people who could love something like this as a smaller option Hell I might even want something smaller for emergencies myself

 

[Monsoon]

My first set of 2" x 2" blocks for @CrazyDiamond 's arbor press are ready to go out. These are a 1/2" wider than we talked about but I feel they will work better for you. They are within +- .001" front to back. The holes are drilled using a 21/64" bit and 1 3/4" deep to fit my iron of choice. If you want the smaller blocks instead, I have them here.

How do these attach to the arbor press exactly? I'm guessing it would be compatible with most/all arbor presses?

 

[Joel W.]

@herbivore21 I will try to take a video this weekend for you but it will have to be from my vise? Same thing, just 90 degrees sideways...

@Monsoon , I think the plan was to JB weld these to some plywood, and then that gets jb welded to the arbor press ram. I thought about making some tabs that stick up off the top block like a U shape?

 

[herbivore21]

@herbivore21 I will try to take a video this weekend for you but it will have to be from my vise? Same thing, just 90 degrees sideways...

@Monsoon , I think the plan was to JB weld these to some plywood, and then that gets jb welded to the arbor press ram. I thought about making some tabs that stick up off the top block like a U shape?

For sure bro I'd prefer to see the vice one

 

[Joel W.]

I did have a 66 sec press video in the rosin thread using a vise and a hairpress but I need to make a new video anyways.

I will have to pick up some store bought herb on Friday to squish as I am down to the bottom of the barrel on my good stuff.

@Monsoon . yes I think they will work on any size Arbor press.

I could copy the mount type from your recent post in the rosin thread.

Edit: thanks guys!

Edit2: I have also been sourcing Cuni round bar if any one would rather have round solid blocks vs square welded plates, speak up now.

 

[Copacetic]

......
.......Edit2: I have also been sourcing Cuni round bar if any one would rather have round solid blocks vs square welded plates, speak up now.

SPEAKING UP!
A very simple round 'puck' with a hole drilled along the axis and threaded to fit bolts or whatever would allow the use of a ceramic heater from the likes of Hakko to be inserted into the hole without compromising the strength of the puck.

Another small hole drilled radially could accommodate the wires from the heater (on second thoughts - probably be better and easier to simply cut a channel big enough for the wires in the 'end' surface away from the 'squish surface')

I suggest the threading as it would allow easy solutions for the puck to be bolted to many different things, vise jaws being one example, or a little bit of box section for an arbour press is another.
My own choice would be a short tube to cup the top of a 'bottle jack' (cheap, high tonnage solution, just needs a strong 'frame' to sit inside, to press against)

Would this be easy to make?

 

[Joel W.]

Easy to make yes, but i am just going to stick to blocks/jaws only for this thread since vises and presses are already on the shelf.

The soldering irons are about an inch thick so that pretty much sets the thickness of the blocks so there is no interference between the irons.

These should hold up fine in a vise or Arbor press but I can't say a hydraulic press won't crush them instantly or over time. They are 90% soft copper.

Feel free to post a drawing/sketch.

 

[Joel W.]

I dug through what I have left and found a few good nugs to squish @herbivore21. I used a tripod instead of my knees this time.

This is .53g pressed for about a min (I should do 2 shorter presses instead) at 225f, .11g back in the first press and the nug was still gooey with rosin.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1CXlCanoH2l0xZ_7BwW32WmaM9Hp-afGyCQ/view?usp=sharing

 

[herbivore21]

I dug through what I have left and found a few good nugs to squish @herbivore21. I used a tripod instead of my knees this time.

This is .53g pressed for about a min (I should do 2 shorter presses instead) at 225f, .11g back in the first press and the nug was still gooey with rosin.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1CXlCanoH2l0xZ_7BwW32WmaM9Hp-afGyCQ/view?usp=sharing

We need to talk brother! That is fantastic work! I have one of those very soldering irons already too lol

 

[BoogerMan]

Yep I think I'll be getting this setup too at some point in the near future. Unless the d-nail press ends up performing to these standards but I'm just not feeling too confident from what I've heard so far hopefully the 2x2" cuni plates work out! But even then, it is hard not to get this vise setup because of how affordable it is!

That was a beautiful squish 21% yield

 

[EpicNameGuy]

Potentially interested in either vice jaws or fittings for an arbor press. I own neither so would be buying the vice / press / irons potentially also. It's a function of price for sure whether I pursue it but def interested.