The VISES of Garage Journal

[Beerhippie]

I broke my Ohio Forge vise last Saturday. I've had that vise almost 40 years. I'll fix it and use it in the shop. I was bending a 1/4" x 2" wide hinge with a 20" Crescent wrench when it let loose.
I replaced it with a Wilton XC Tradesman Bullet 6.5 inch vice. Had to bore new 13/16" holes and used 3/4" grade 8 bolts and nylock nuts on it and a **** ton of red loctite to hinder thieves.

I didn't know that Ohio was a city in China!

Bending a 1/4" thick strap hinge doesn't seem like that much force to break the slide... and I have a nearly identical 30+ year old vise (Roughneck brand)!

 

[ranger08]

this is for sale locally, six inch jaws anyone happen to know the maker, note unique shape of the vise chin

 

[Outlawmws]

used 3/4" grade 8 bolts and nylock nuts on it and a **** ton of red loctite to hinder thieves.

Weld the nuts to the bolts.

We found several broken wrenches at the front bumper of my dad's 67 International 4X4 with a "custom made" font bumper and warm 8000 lb winch - those bolts were all welded...

 

[freebirdwelds]

I didn't know that Ohio was a city in China!

Bending a 1/4" thick strap hinge doesn't seem like that much force to break the slide... and I have a nearly identical 30+ year old vise (Roughneck brand)!

That vise has been through hell, this is the 5th welding rig it has been on. Could of just been the last straw.

 

[freebirdwelds]

Weld the nuts to the bolts.

We found several broken wrenches at the front bumper of my dad's 67 International 4X4 with a "custom made" font bumper and warm 8000 lb winch - those bolts were all welded...

red loctite-ing the entire nut is the same as welding it. Quick work for a grinder anyways.
PS: I've been welding almost 50 years.

 

[colmal]

this is for sale locally, six inch jaws anyone happen to know the maker, note unique shape of the vise chin

I'd call that a Buy it now, work it out later, assuming the price isn't ridicules

 

[Beerhippie]

That vise has been through hell, this is the 5th welding rig it has been on. Could of just been the last straw.

Well, I'm a little less nervous about the ol' Roughneck that lives at the left end of my bench. It has an easy life by comparison.

 

[Old Radar]

didn't want to risk any damage, and after seeing this Video tonight happy with that decision.

Good decision!
As for the individual in the video, with apologies to Maurice Switzer:
It is better to remain silent and risk of being thought a fool, than to post a video on YouTube and remove all doubt.

 

[Shiftless]

It is better to remain silent and risk of being thought a fool, than to post a video on YouTube and remove all doubt.

Words of wisdom

 

[Patrickm82]

Good decision!
As for the individual in the video, with apologies to Maurice Switzer:
It is better to remain silent and risk of being thought a fool, than to post a video on YouTube and remove all doubt.

I think I would of left that one on the cutting room floor!

 

[Shiftless]

I think I would have left that one on the cutting room floor!

I suppose many of us who have rehabbed more than a few vises have NEVER approached a repair by clamping a slide in a vise and then hammering downward in a vigorous manner. Once a part like that hits a concrete floor, you will likely bust off a corner of the slide just like that. Unless I missed something, we viewers never saw that repaired corner in the final reveal.

 

[ALLFAST]

I broke my Ohio Forge vise last Saturday. I've had that vise almost 40 years. I'll fix it and use it in the shop. I was bending a 1/4" x 2" wide hinge with a 20" Crescent wrench when it let loose.
I replaced it with a Wilton XC Tradesman Bullet 6.5 inch vice. Had to bore new 13/16" holes and used 3/4" grade 8 bolts and nylock nuts on it and a **** ton of red loctite to hinder thieves.

Can you run a dab of tack welds around the threads? That’d keep the true random opportunists at bay…

If someone is planning in advance then you need to step up your efforts . Nice replacement!

 

[MadeByMiller]

Here is the current prototype of a mini vise I designed (based heavily on a Prentiss). The hardware to make it function is supposed to arrive Monday. It's tiny - 13/16" jaw width. The plan is to hang these on the Christmas tree as ornaments, and/or functional display pieces. They are 3D printed.

 

[Shiftless]

Here is the current prototype of a mini vise I designed (based heavily on a Prentiss). The hardware to make it function is supposed to arrive Monday. It's tiny - 13/16" jaw width. The plan is to hang these on the Christmas tree as ornaments, and/or functional display pieces. They are 3D printed.

Suggestion…
Figure out what your materials costs are, pro rated costs of replacement of your 3D printer and a reasonable profit and set your price. Put it on the GJ classified section and watch the orders pour in.
If you don’t already have a PayPal set up, get one so that you’ll be protected from non-paying customers. To me it’s worth it when dealing with people you don’t know.

 

[MadeByMiller]

Suggestion…
Figure out what your materials costs are, pro rated costs of replacement of your 3D printer and a reasonable profit and set your price. Put it on the GJ classified section and watch the orders pour in.

Thank you for your suggestion! I plan to make these for sale on my website, price is still pending based on what the numbers work out to when printing full production batches. I appreciate your interest and I'll keep the forum up to date here if folks would like!

 

[Overanalyze]

If you can get a soft wood dowel or scrap of wood, you can thread it into the hole to get an approximation of the thread pitch in the dowel, then hunt. Cheaper than buying a thread gauge. Beware tho, with the vintage of that vise, you may not be able to match the thread diameter & pitch at the local Ace or Big Box store, or anywhere, without having one custom made.

Rolled the dice and ordered a 7/8 fine thread bolt from McMaster and then drew up and 3d printed a bushing for it. It is perfect and it pivots nice and smooth now!

 

[colmal]

I suppose many of us who have rehabbed more than a few vises have NEVER approached a repair by clamping a slide in a vise and then hammering downward in a vigorous manner. Once a part like that hits a concrete floor, you will likely bust off a corner of the slide just like that. Unless I missed something, we viewers never saw that repaired corner in the final reveal.

I actually cringed from the first moment when he just casually threw it on the bench. Just really rough handling-it is still cast iron after all, and to be honest I have a little more respect for a 110 year old vice.
Also fairly sure most on here would use plastic jaws or a wood vice to clamp it.

 

[colmal]

I've been looking into these vices for the last few days, found examples marked 0, 1, 2 and 3.
Only descriptions have been unbranded or pre 1900's (stab in the dark ? )
Been looking at vice logo's etc but no luck so far, something similar was mentioned here as a Colton patent vice ?
I don't have an example, but may get one if I can find out the maker, does any one know ?


35mm.............................................................................................2"

 

[shibertus]

That old Massey is a cool vise. Do you have a picture of the marking on the other side of the slide where it says “Clincher” ?

 

[micahd1997]

Happy Thanksgiving fellow GJ members!

Both of these finds came within a week of each other, so I’m thrilled to display them side by side. Al little background first…

It’s well known that the Bagley & Sewall Company of Watertown, NY (hereafter B&S) was the earliest documented, sole manufacturer of Prentiss vises (as early as 1870). However, other details of the company’s history aren’t as widely acknowledged. One of these details is that B&S’s primary business was in manufacturing paper-making machines, collecting revenue from Prentiss vise castings as only a secondary source of income. Additionally, whether through pure contract or in-house outsourcing, the Prentiss eventually occupied an entire B&S factory in Feb 1913 according to a Dec 11, 1912 issue of the Watertown Daily Times. The article states that, “At the present time, the vise company only occupies the second story of the old machine shop…By using the entire old shop, the vise company will have about four times as much floor space as formerly and will be able to carry a much larger reserve stock of vises”. A Jan 12, 1941 issue of the same newspaper reinforces B&S (NOT Prentiss) as the manufacturers: “The Prentiss Vise Company, which is in reality the vise department of Bagley & Sewall company but which has its own New York City sales department…”.

This vise is a RARE (given the size) 18lb #521 with 2½” jaws. From scarce records, it seems that the Prentiss redesigned their Bull Dog line of vises in the mid 1930’s, during which time they changed the swivel base design to a split ring squeezed against the hub on the vise body by a small wrench. It was at this time that the company also changed the serial numbers of their vises and updated their logo to the circular cast stamp. You’ll notice how closely the design of the Prentiss stamp mimics the design of the B&S plaque (originally attached to a Bagley & Sewall paper-making machine). Less common Prentiss vises of this era sport a circular BRASS stamp which, given the rarity, one can assume were sold for only a short time.

 

[Shiftless]

micah:
Thanks for posting all that info on Prentiss vises.
I guess this would be an appropriate time to post a pic of my brass tagged 513.

 

[micahd1997]

My pleasure, @Shiftless. And yes - perfect timing! I love the patina on yours, and the black pain on the brass badge looks nearly complete. Very cool

 

[Shiftless]

Thanks for the kind words. I found this in my files from back in the summer of 2020 when I found this vise on C/L. Here is a shot of it sitting in the seller’s yard.

 

[four.cycle]

^ funny that the only other mention of "Prentiss" in the first 30 or so search results for "Bagley & Sewall" is in the write-up at VintageMachinery.org.

Bagley & Sewall / Bagley & Sewall Co., Watertown, NY / ca. 1823-1954, inc. 1882, acquired by Black Clawson Co., Ohio 1954 / bench vise / patent 258980 Jun 6 1882 John A. Blake / manufacturer of Prentiss vises ca. 1879 / http://vintagemachinery.org/mfgindex/detail.aspx?id=12087 / https://www.newruins.com/bagley-sewall/bagley-sewall-historic-summary/ / https://www.garagejournal.com/forum...-garage-journal.44782/page-2319#post-10946725 /

 

[Outlawmws]

something similar was mentioned here as a Colton patent vice ?

Colton is not like that as the outer jaw is the dynamic and those all have the inner jaw as the dynamic.

Those are closer to the Polish designs

 

[Stearman456]

My newly finished Toddler added to the deck of my tool cab. I gave it some non-marring, smooth brass jaws for gentle finishing jobs. Cute little thing.

 

[genog]

I got a hot tip from my friend and great guy Shawn (Allfast), who's a friend of many here....
His handle should be Allfast the Enabler

He told me to go grab that Parker 804


I hope you all have a Happy Thanksgiving!

 

[ALLFAST]

I got a hot tip from my friend and great guy Shawn (Allfast), who's a friend of many here....
His handle should be Allfast the Enabler

He told me to go grab that Parker 804


I hope you all have a Happy Thanksgiving!

How much do you want for it now?. Thank you Geno. It’s a keeper! Happy Thanksgiving to everyone!

 

[ALLFAST]

this is for sale locally, six inch jaws anyone happen to know the maker, note unique shape of the vise chin

Run don’t walk! That is a unique looking beast!

 

[Stearman456]

My 1941 or ‘42 four-inch Fishhook, just finished tonight. I took this picture just after cleaning my brush from doing the touch-up painting on the base feet. I’ll figure out where it’ll get mounted tomorrow.

 

[colmal]

I've been looking into these vices for the last few days, found examples marked 0, 1, 2 and 3.
Only descriptions have been unbranded or pre 1900's (stab in the dark ? )
Been looking at vice logo's etc but no luck so far, something similar was mentioned here as a Colton patent vice ?
I don't have an example, but may get one if I can find out the maker, does any one know ?


35mm.............................................................................................2"

Wasn't looking tonight but came across another one, hmmm they are starting to annoy me

 

[ALLFAST]

Are these little vises related to those stylish, steel worker’s “batwing” clamp manufacturers of the late 1800s? I recognize the flat/smooth diamond styling makers mark (and heart shaped clamp handles ) from some clamps I read about this week….

 

[colmal]

Are these little vises related to those stylish, steel worker’s “batwing” clamp manufacturers of the late 1800s? I recognize the flat/smooth diamond styling makers mark (and heart shaped clamp handles ) from some clamps I read about this week….

OOh, tell me more please, I've been looking as a friend bought one and asked if I knew the maker, there seems to be a sense that they are late 1800's, no proof or knowledge I can find thou.
I'm tentatively thinking they are English as there appears to be a more examples there, and a few in Australia as well, as well as the way they are numbered.

 

[colmal]

OOh, tell me more please, I've been looking as a friend bought one and asked if I knew the maker, there seems to be a sense that they are late 1800's, no proof or knowledge I can find thou.
I'm tentatively thinking they are English as there appears to be a more examples there, and a few in Australia as well, as well as the way they are numbered.

Just found this, ??

And this is described as a pre 1900, but yet to see a maker/proof anywhere

 

[ALLFAST]

Just found this, ??

And this is described as a pre 1900, but yet to see a maker/proof anywhere

Nice work Colmol.

The one I saw was a PS&W Co batwing clamp. IDK how long they offered their style handles ( or if they went to a more design later) or if they were into table vises for that matter.

Maybe a possible manufacturer to check out for vise offerings ?

 

[ALLFAST]

Picture…

 

[ALLFAST]

On second look, the raised and rather elegantly thick edge ribbing looks very similar on the vise and PSW clamps.

 

[Outlawmws]

The spiked triangular clamp screw pad leans, me to German made, but could be well into the 20th century as well, possibly as late as WWII.

 

[Bryan Burns]

A couple weeks ago I decided to look for a replacement for my Prentiss 524 because I had grown tired of the worn jaws slipping on parts. Vise has been in the family for some 50 years at a minimum. About a week ago I find a Charles Parker 974 1/2 at a estate sale and I thought it would do.
I asked how much the vise was and the estate sale person in charge said he didn't think I could remove it (the workbench was a mess) and said if I could remove it, he'd want $15 so I asked him if he would take $7.50.
(Just kidding about the $7.50)
I shopped for other stuff and went to pay for them and told the guy I'd give him $20 for the vise but needed to pick it up on Saturday when I had tools with me and wasn't working. (I went to the sale on my lunch hour, it was only a 15 minute drive.) Person in charge agreed.
I had the foresight to bring a 5 gallon bucket with me on Saturday because a drawer directly beneath the vise was so full of **** that I didn't have access to a square recess which would allow me access to the vise's carriage bolt nuts. I ended up filling the 5 gallon bucket.
It took me less that 30 minutes to remove the vise and then I just dumped the five gallon bucket on the floor.
Took the vise home and stripped the paint and got it mounted. I'm very happy it came with the a Parker wrench that the handle isn't bent because bent handles annoy me.
This photo is in the beginning of the removal process after I took the slide assembly to my car.

Photo below is vise as bought.

Cleaned vise next to Prentiss:

Vise installed:

 

[genog]

Congrats Bryan Burns!
You get a BIG You ****!