cegreen
Well-known member
I like those plastic jaws. Where did you get them?
The VISES of Garage Journal
- Thread starter mjozefow
- Start date
autopts71045
Banned
Here's a tip for you guys that own a Wilton Bullet. This photo was sent to me from a friend asking what would cause that to happen. In talking, he happned to mention his son works on cars and also uses that vise. That will happen if the vise is over extended and you impact it with something heavy, like a end of a rear end bouncing into it. Stay within the vises's specs on opening max, and never drop a very heavy piece into the bar from any distance.
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If you referring to my post. They are from Lowes.
Mecrez
New member
I thought I would add to this thread.
I found this vise in scrap pile.
It looks better than it was since it has been covered in penetrating oil.
The vise was completely seized and was a lot of fun to get apart.
Mid process shot. I was using electolytic rust removal. You can see the "body" of the vise after rust removal and the jaw prior to rust removal.
This is the vise cleaned up and working.
I thought I would add since I hadn't seen to many Record vises. The quick release is super slick.
I did have to braze the rear lead screw support back together, but didn't take pictures. The brazing is not pretty, but I think it will work.
The vise currently has no jaws, I was considering making some soft jaws for it, does anyone have suggestions on what works well?
I found this vise in scrap pile.
It looks better than it was since it has been covered in penetrating oil.
The vise was completely seized and was a lot of fun to get apart.
Mid process shot. I was using electolytic rust removal. You can see the "body" of the vise after rust removal and the jaw prior to rust removal.
This is the vise cleaned up and working.
I thought I would add since I hadn't seen to many Record vises. The quick release is super slick.
I did have to braze the rear lead screw support back together, but didn't take pictures. The brazing is not pretty, but I think it will work.
The vise currently has no jaws, I was considering making some soft jaws for it, does anyone have suggestions on what works well?
CouchSpring
Well-known member
Arne73 asked.
Here's a special purpose vise-
Anybody know what it's for?
Its for leather work.
Here's a special purpose vise-
Anybody know what it's for?
Its for leather work.
sanya
Member
picked this one up today for 25 bucks. 5" jaws and opens up to about 8". can anyone tell me anything about it? its not the oldest and not the biggest but im mounting it to my toolbox so its the perfect size for me.
Reed vises are fantastic, you got a really great deal especially for such a large size and in great shape too. The jaws and pads look great and it doesnt look like anyone took a hammer to the handles. If you cleaned it up and repainted it i'm sure you could make quite a bit on the flip. Easily a $150-$200 vise there.
It will serve you quite well and could easily be passed down generations. 5" is plenty large enough for a home do-it-yourselfer or shop.
It will serve you quite well and could easily be passed down generations. 5" is plenty large enough for a home do-it-yourselfer or shop.
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MrMark
Well-known member
If you look at the old ads I think you will find that a "utility" vise was something marketed to every household. It was a light duty all-purpose vise, to be contrasted with the heavy duty top of the line machinist vise. Note the anvil on this utility vise. I have not seen an old american machinist vise with an anvil. Machinist vises are not for beating on. That utility vise is no doubt stronger than anything made today for under a couple hundred.
Reed makes quality stuff across the board, and certainly did in the old days. If it was tested i'd actually be surprised if their vises varried in metal quality. I certainly wouldnt call a 5" vise all purpose light duty simply due to its bulk and weight. I have an old 3" reed you could call that.
Likewise machinist vises lack a pipe grip jaw which i find comes in handy quite often for gripping things like a small axle. Given the choice i'd take the above any day of the week and would be happy to put in a pepsi challenge with a machinist vise.
Likewise machinist vises lack a pipe grip jaw which i find comes in handy quite often for gripping things like a small axle. Given the choice i'd take the above any day of the week and would be happy to put in a pepsi challenge with a machinist vise.
sanya
Member
yea its definitely not huge but i like it. its kinda sloppy too but lines up good. the size is perfect.
next to my chinese vise i just painted. that one is going in the garage.
next to my chinese vise i just painted. that one is going in the garage.
Goobzilla
Well-known member
I got this Wilton at an auction a couple years ago. Haven't done a whole lot with it yet appearance wise but it works great!
Rudyjr
Well-known member
In the process of finally finishing my garage and going through some things from my grandfathers house I found this vise. I do not know much about it other than it says Yost Meadville Pa. Any information on the restoration of this would be appreciated. I found some information on Yost with the search function but I have not seen a similar vise. I do not know what the threaded hole on the movable jaw is for either.
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MrMark
Well-known member
Would the wilton vise experts list the desirable Wilton models to look for on CL and garage sales.
There seem to be so many types of Wiltons, i.e., tradesmans, C1, C2, etc.
Which are the better ones, and which are the lesser models?
There seem to be so many types of Wiltons, i.e., tradesmans, C1, C2, etc.
Which are the better ones, and which are the lesser models?
spongerich
Well-known member
All of the 'Bullet' Vices are definitely worth buying if you can get them for reasonable money. If you look at eBay, you'll see that these almost always bring over $100 unless they're seriously damaged or missing parts. The 4-4 1/2" ones frequently go up to $250 if they're really nice. Oddly, the little 2" ones also command a premium. If you're looking for something to restore, those are the best choice.
All of the other medium sized USA made Wiltons are mid-pack in terms of values. I just picked up a 5" Wilton Mechanic's vise at auction for $22. It's a very nice vise, but I wouldn't trade my 4" Bullet for it. If you're buying something to keep, I'd look at Reed, Prentiss, Parker or any of the older heavy vises first. They're often cheaper and IMO better made.
The newer Chinese Wiltons are extremely useful for keeping boat from drifting while fishing.
Lastly, there's always a premium on Really Big Vises, Wilton or otherwise. If you find any Made in USA vise that's over 100 lbs for < $100 that's not broken, you should probably ****** it up.
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autopts71045
Banned
That Craftsman is an absolute beauty..A line of old Reeds and Hollands have that same identical 4 bolt base. Thats a keeper!
mkirkpatrick
Well-known member
Here is my latest Craigslist vise. Appears that from 1948-1957 it was sold at Sears. The jaws are in great shape and it works very smoothly.---------$35.00
Warranty for 20 years
I got the same craftsman vise a couple weeks ago, except with a swivel base. I think it is a great vise, mine is 3 1/2 inch jaws, has the original green paint.
This vise had a little green showing thru a very bad silver paint job when I got it. I couldn't tell what shade of green that it was for sure. I was torn between painting it the original color or red. It ended up red.
mkirkpatrick
Well-known member
It is a industrial light shade of green. I was thinking about repainting mine,(if I do i was thinking about the rustolium hammered green) but honestly the paint is a little wore down, there is not rust, and like you the jaws are in great shape, I took them off, ran a tap and die over the threads, oiled and greased it now i have to build a bench to mount it on. I paid 30 for mine. Looked at some completed auctions on ebay and saw one sell for 125, so you got a pretty fair deal. Some one one here said that these may be made by columbian. Still trying to see if that is true. I think you will get years of use out of that vise though.
My small collection of vises.
Left to right is a Chinese Irwin 5", a Wilton 6.5", a broken Rock Island 4", A Columbian 3.5", A Wilton Bullet 3", An abused Columbian 3.5", an unmarked drill press vise, a 3.5" Americana, A clamp on Columbian 3" and a no name 2" clamp on. The crazy thing is, I didn't think I had as many vises as some of the people who show them off until I decided to collect them all for the family picture here. I know I have 3 more also at other locations. The others are a 5" chinese POS at a buddy's, a 4"? Columbian at my dad's place, and a 4" Alltrade POS at my shop.
-Dane
Left to right is a Chinese Irwin 5", a Wilton 6.5", a broken Rock Island 4", A Columbian 3.5", A Wilton Bullet 3", An abused Columbian 3.5", an unmarked drill press vise, a 3.5" Americana, A clamp on Columbian 3" and a no name 2" clamp on. The crazy thing is, I didn't think I had as many vises as some of the people who show them off until I decided to collect them all for the family picture here. I know I have 3 more also at other locations. The others are a 5" chinese POS at a buddy's, a 4"? Columbian at my dad's place, and a 4" Alltrade POS at my shop.
-Dane
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Here's my vise. I got this when I bought my father's house after he passed on. The vise is a Hollands # 24 it has a 4" jaw and opens 8" it also rotates 360 degrees. Thats about all I know about it other than its been in our family at least 50 years. This vise has been around as long as I can remember.
If anybody knows anything about these vise's please post.
al
If anybody knows anything about these vise's please post.
al
Motown 454
Well-known member
- Joined
- Sep 25, 2008
- Messages
- 1,359
I haven't even started my garage yet but love these old vises. So I bought a 515 Prentis Bull Dog machinest vise. Here are some pictures from the add.
Do you think this is from the mid 40's
Do you think this is from the mid 40's
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spongerich
Well-known member
I'd guess that it's older than that and was re-sold in '44. I think steel was in short supply during most of the war and I suspect that making new vises for civilian use wasn't a high priority.
Prentiss made great vises. Clean that one up and you'll give it to your grandson some day.
autopts71045
Banned
The Hollands and Premtiss. Two excellent displays for this thread.
mkirkpatrick
Well-known member
Here is my craftsman from between 1949 to 1959, weights about 46lbs, 3 1/2 jaws.
At one point in time this was Elroy's main go to vise:
WOW.......I got one just like that !! I got that when I was a kid and used it for models and small stuff.
Here is my craftsman from between 1949 to 1959, weights about 46lbs, 3 1/2 jaws.
Look's good!!!! The green that was on the Craftsman vise that I have was more of a darker green. Probably wasn't the original paint either. Are you mounting the vise on your mobil workbench in the picture?
mkirkpatrick
Well-known member
Look's good!!!! The green that was on the Craftsman vise that I have was more of a darker green. Probably wasn't the original paint either. Are you mounting the vise on your mobil workbench in the picture?
I was thinking about it,
it was a sunny day and that is my dump truck, take stuff to the dump with it. Figured if I exposed the photo for the vise the gray color of the hood would be a decent back drop.
WOW !! I see that !! I think I bought mine off one of those "bargain tools" tables somewhere around "64-65. I know of 3 of them now that survived !!
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DougB442
Well-known member
Here's my Chas Parker # 434-1/2A
autopts71045
Banned
Hey Doug, does that parker have roll pins holding on all 4 jaws? I don't know Parkers inside and out, but I believe anytime there is the letter "A" behind the #, it was made after Parker closed down and the Parker equipment and name was bought by Union Mfg. Co. who continued making vises into the middle 50's. not sure though. I had a 474A Swivel and now I had one 4341/2 and one 4341/2A.
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DougB442
Well-known member
I'm pretty sure the 'A' denotes the Swivel Base.....
Two roll pins per upper jaw, one roll pin per pipe jaw.
autopts71045
Banned
I'm really not sure how Parker numbered their vises but I do know that my older 434 1/2 has solid pins holding all four jaws and the two "A" Parkers both had roll pins. That 474A said New Britain CT on the side, and Union did make Parkers for a while. Its anybody's guess.