Hello. I recently purchased 6 very well used miter vices (see photo). I'd like to get them cleaned up. Can anyone advise me on how to disassemble them? Thanks much!
The vise in the picture doesn't really look that bad.
I have seen and used some much worse than that one.
It's not a Stanley, but it's not a Chinese knock-off.
You don't really need to disassemble the vises to clean them.
Don't use any water or you will create rust on the cast iron.
I personally own 8 vises similar to that, some are Stanleys and we have 8 more at work.
I have used miter vises for 48 years.
If the only issue is the glue and it's Corner Weld or some other framing glue, you can take a heat gun, like the shrink wrap gun, and just heat up the metal in the glue areas and the glue will just peel off of the metal with a chisel or screwdriver. (don't burn your hands)
Here in Arizona in the summer, we can just put them outside in the sun for a while and they will get hot enough for the glue to peel off.
Good luck.