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I had gotten comfortable with using a folding hex key set with the vise, but my mini lathe lever nut got me thinking. I wish I had thought of this years ago, it's so much easier to use.
The body is 5/8" drill rod and the arm is 3/8". The body is drilled to fit a piece of 6mm allen key which is held in place (/prevented from turning) by two m6 x 5mm setscrews. The allen key hole is counter-bored to allow press fitting the the head of the bolt so that the bottom of the head is flush with the handle body. We'll see how long the press fit holds (...it did work its way out a bit, but had to be pressed back), a pin or setscrew(s) could be added if needed (... done).
The length of the arm (~120mm) and the distance of the arm hole from the end of the handle body (~40mm) are designed so that the arm just clears the vise when the angle of the bolt/handle is lowest (max out before a closer notch is used). There is a grove in the middle of the arm and a setscrew to keep it centered on the body (...now a mini thumbscrew). A ball plunger setscrew (from the inside) would allow the arm to be moved more easily if it ever got in the way (...rare).
...I made a new one with a ball detent and threaded rod (instead of a bolt).
Screwless Vice T-Handle
I had gotten comfortable with using a folding hex key set with the vise, but my mini lathe lever nut got me thinking. I wish I had thought of this years ago, it's so much easier to use.The body is 5/8" drill rod and the arm is 3/8". The body is drilled to fit a piece of 6mm allen key which is held in place (/prevented from turning) by two m6 x 5mm setscrews. The allen key hole is counter-bored to allow press fitting the the head of the bolt so that the bottom of the head is flush with the handle body. We'll see how long the press fit holds (...it did work its way out a bit, but had to be pressed back), a pin or setscrew(s) could be added if needed (... done).
The length of the arm (~120mm) and the distance of the arm hole from the end of the handle body (~40mm) are designed so that the arm just clears the vise when the angle of the bolt/handle is lowest (max out before a closer notch is used). There is a grove in the middle of the arm and a setscrew to keep it centered on the body (...now a mini thumbscrew). A ball plunger setscrew (from the inside) would allow the arm to be moved more easily if it ever got in the way (...rare).
...I made a new one with a ball detent and threaded rod (instead of a bolt).
