Vise pad for holding 8mm threaded rod

thingiverse

If you build, e.g., Prusa Mendel printers, you'll spend a lot of time cutting and filing 8mm threaded rod. I created these vise pads to hold this size rod securely in a bench vise without slipping and without marring or damaging the threads on the rod. Can optionally include small disc magnets, available here to secure the pads to steel vise jaws when the vise is open (if you put them in right, they also hold pairs of the pads together so they don't get separated in your tool drawer). Instructions Print two of the pads on a 3D printer, then (optionally) press-fit the disc magnet in the holes in the vise-facing side of the pad (your bench vise will work nicely for the press-fitting operation). Attach/place one pad on each jaw of your vice, then hold a section of 8mm threaded rod horizontally between the pads. Slowly tighten the vise, wiggling the rod as you do so until it settles into the groove in the pads, then tighten the vice securely to hold the rod for cutting and filing. CAD file is for the Alibre Design tool.