Hello everybody:) Jim in Texas, tinkerer and general junkman. Total engraving novice in need of a little advice. I just picked a magna graver II at a fleamarket cheap but the grease is pretty dry and the tool isn't working correctly. I looked on the web for a parts breakdown or even a phone number for the manufacturer but no luck. I have taken it apart somewhat but there are parts that are either pressed in or threaded. A trail of broken tools has taught me to find out first. I could soak the tool in solvent to clean it. I haven't a clue what kind of lubrication it requires to put back together. I also hate having a tool that I can't take apart and clean. Any help appreciated. I am looking forward to writing my name real fancy on all my stuff:) -Jim.

james anderson
12/5/2006 9:21:26 PM

hi ed .. i have my vise for about 10 years now and i had the same problem that you have so the first thing i did was throw that tire away and i went to a machine shop and had them make me a steel ring to fit my vise then i drilled 1/4 inch holes about 8 of then on the bottom of the ring and also where the vise sits in the ring and i then inserted Teflon pins in those holes my vise now works like a charm .. i hope this helps .. ron p.

Ron Nott
1/18/2007 12:52:07 PM

Ed,
I've never had a real problem but I would think you need to have the ball clean and free of any oxidation. I think a coat of wax would help too. Since going to a microscope, I rarely tilt the vise that much and when I'm doing large items,I find that I need to flip the tire over to keep the vise from tilting. Now... I do assume you have adjusted the drag for rotation???

Rex Pedersen
1/18/2007 1:54:49 PM

Hi Ed. My Magna Block is an old one and the rubber tire does not have the nylon inserts. I place a shop rag between the block and ring for smooth and easy movement of the block. I remove the rag when I work on a barrel or any time I don't want the block to move so easily. Works great for me. S

Sam Welch
1/18/2007 6:57:32 PM

HELLO RON, WHERE CAN I BUY SOME TEFLON MATERIAL TO MAKE SOME NEW PINS. I GUESS I WOULD NEED SOME 3/8 THS OR 1/2 IN ROUND STOCK TO TURN ON MY LATHE ?

ED DELORGE

Edward DeLorge
1/18/2007 11:31:16 PM

Ed
To save a lot of work the furniture sliders that you can get at the hardware store should solve the problem you can screw them into the rubber ring

Dave London
1/19/2007 6:59:04 PM

hi ed .. i really don't know i made this suggestion to one of my students and he also had a hard time finding some , may be if you go to eBay or Google the question like teflon stock .. but it works like a charm ..another suggestion is go to a tile supply store and get or buy 1 piece of 2ft x 2 ft square tile i use a glass one and place your vise on that it also works great .. ask lee Griffith i gave him a piece of it .. ron p.

see you all in reno ..

Ron Nott
1/21/2007 9:27:33 PM

hi ed .. here is a web site where you can order teflon in any size and shape .. www.professionalplastics.com ... ron p.

Ron Nott
1/21/2007 9:42:07 PM

paper, cardboard, nylon stocking, naugahyde, plastic shopping bags, etc, and etc all give different amounts of drag to the ball. experiment till you find a couple that you like ! whatever you do, you don't need to throw $$ at this problem !

j.d. swartzfeger
2/12/2007 5:06:30 PM