The VISES of Garage Journal

[RTM]

Love that red paint! Looks to be an unbranded G ******* Kit vise

Photo Index - G. Cumming Tool & Die - Kit Vise | VintageMachinery.org

You are right, someone said that about mine too. Need to add that bit to my inventory.

 

[Mr. Wonderful]

Ahem…..

 

[Mr. Wonderful]

I tried to get some better pictures when I got home but it was just too dark. It was indeed a 05198! Fairly good condition except for one jaw being replaced with a homemade unit. And to whoever offered $60 and $80 on this, thanks! The seller was so offended he waited for me to make it out to his town. 1.5hrs each way! I doubt anyone on GJ would lowball on one of these though. This makes only 15 known examples on our substantial thread!

I have a 05197 and I cannot believe the difference!!!

 

[Jayman17]

I snoozed and I lost, nice score Wr. Wonderful!

 

[Mr. Wonderful]

I snoozed and I lost, nice score Wr. Wonderful!

I think I found it 10 hours after he posted it. Does anyone know which Rock Island model jaws fit this??

 

[Outlawmws]

Awesome Mr. W!

 

[KMScott]

Here is a drawing for Rock Island 5” jaws. Can’t remember if they will work for you.

 

[fishwatcher]

I didn’t need another vise, but this caught my eye and I couldn’t pass it up. This is a Craftsman, Columbian made No. 506-51840 with 4.5” jaws.

It’s in well used, but clean condition. I’ll start with a light cleaning, polish the jaws, handle, nose and slide, and then lube it. Then probably keep the rest as is and use boiled linseed oil to protect the patina.

Thanks for any other suggestions you might have.

 

[colmal]

Yeah have that page, although, I'm murky with that era think that page is later than 1930's

This is a 1932 MacPhersons ( No Dawns apart from a woodworking in 1933 McPhersons )



This catalogue threw me again, as every other thing I have points to that vice being 1920's

1920's vices - very uncommon - Dawn on the dynamic, maybe a 2000's ish with that also, but that's it all the rest have Dawn on the static.




Got a few ready to patina this week

This is a late 20's,early 30's - the front ears on the static were discontinued around the start of 1930's, no Dawn on Dynamic but doe's have the early dots b/w letters and front ears kinda a in-between model with the size on the static as well. Also note the rear edge on the dynamic and has the non-rounded handle.

1I'm being teased - finally a 1920's example (Dawn on the dynamic) comes up for sale at a reasonable price ($30).

No mention of the broken static jaw ledge, the front ears on static appear to be ground down as well, after market handle (screw appears to be a Dawn)
Seems to be in good condition otherwise , these are only 2 pics of course, I'd probably still buy it, if un pictured side is good,

ffing pick up only thou (12 hour round trip by car)- only weighs 5kg/12lb

 

[micahd1997]

As promised, a few more pictures of the 1925 Parker vise technical drawings. These were drafted by a student named Harry Fenstermacher enrolled in technical school. One other similar set has surfaced dating back to 1910.

 

[Patrickm82]

Those drawings are awesome @micahd1997!

 

[Mr. Wonderful]

Here is a drawing for Rock Island 5” jaws. Can’t remember if they will work for you.

that is exact right one! Thank you!

 

[micahd1997]

Those drawings are awesome @micahd1997!

Thanks, Patrick! I’m thrilled to have them. As someone with nearly zero drawing skills, they blow my mind a bit

 

[MyLittleSpartan]

Hello everyone, first time poster and vise owner here, just finished restoring this Columbian 108, need to buy some jaws but all done besides that. Came out of a Ford steel factory that it's been working in since the 50s, this color was chosen because it's a late 50s Ford blue. Next to a 5.5" vise in the pictures.

 

[larry4406]

Hello everyone, first time poster and vise owner here, just finished restoring this Columbian 108, need to buy some jaws but all done besides that. Came out of a Ford steel factory that it's been working in since the 50s, this color was chosen because it's a late 50s Ford blue. Next to a 5.5" vise in the pictures.

Welcome aboard!

Nice vice and super nice shop filled with toys!

 

[micahd1997]

Hello everyone, first time poster and vise owner here, just finished restoring this Columbian 108, need to buy some jaws but all done besides that. Came out of a Ford steel factory that it's been working in since the 50s, this color was chosen because it's a late 50s Ford blue. Next to a 5.5" vise in the pictures.

Welcome, Spartan, and wow - beautiful 108! I’m not sure what your restoration consisted of, but from my pov you did an impeccable job. Very nice paint color. If you need recommendations for someone to make the jaws, I know a guy

 

[fishwatcher]

Hello everyone, first time poster and vise owner here, just finished restoring this Columbian 108, need to buy some jaws but all done besides that. Came out of a Ford steel factory that it's been working in since the 50s, this color was chosen because it's a late 50s Ford blue. Next to a 5.5" vise in the pictures.

Welcome and wow.. super nice job on the restore! I esp like the comparison to the Tradesman(?) next to it.

What’s the plan on getting jaws for it?

 

[MyLittleSpartan]

Welcome, Spartan, and wow - beautiful 108! I’m not sure what your restoration consisted of, but from my pov you did an impeccable job. Very nice paint color. If you need recommendations for someone to make the jaws, I know a guy

Did a little to restore it, full strip, make a new bushing because the old one was too thin, and had to braze part of a jaw back on. That was stressful because I only have an hour or two of cast brazing experience before this. Found a gentleman online that makes them and has reasonable prices, but thanks

 

[MyLittleSpartan]

Welcome and wow.. super nice job on the restore! I esp like the comparison to the Tradesman(?) next to it.

What’s the plan on getting jaws for it?

It's some bs snap on branded tradesman that the shop I work for has. And found a gentleman online that seems to do a good job and has reasonable prices.

 

[Patrickm82]

Did a little to restore it, full strip, make a new bushing because the old one was too thin, and had to braze part of a jaw back on. That was stressful because I only have an hour or two of cast brazing experience before this. Found a gentleman online that makes them and has reasonable prices, but thanks

Nice job on the repair I didn’t even notice it until you mentioned it. Welcome to the club!

 

[MyLittleSpartan]

Nice job on the repair I didn’t even notice it until you mentioned it. Welcome to the club!

Thank you, this is the best photo I have on hand to show the repair (on the left under the tape), did my best to blend it in.

 

[IRQVET]

(2) 7 inch BF Japanese made Craftsman under bench vises.

Both got stripped and sand blasted. One just got a hammered silver finish coat and is currently drying. Debating if the other will get the traditional Craftsman red or painted something else?

Also thinking about red or white lettering for the hammered silver vice?

Fun projects. . .

If anyone knows the best (and cleanest) method of painting those lettering (brush, sponge, paint pen?) please let me know.

I don't have the steadiest hand, which is why I ask.

 

[colmal]

Good Afternoon, or morning peoples, my morning was spent at a swap meet , first purchase was a Woden 9" 189B/2 Quick release.

After a spray of WD40, everything works, seems mostly complete, bar maybe some washers on rear and a mounting bolt for the QR, straight into to the molasses after stripping down and Ill have a better look later this week.
Don't know nothing about it, assuming it's more than a year old but that's it, going to be a user as it has the handy QR and decided my 7" Dawn wasn't quite big enough for the larger vice teardowns and rebuilds.

 

[colmal]

My second and final purchase for the day was an Australian Made replacement for the 6" overseas made Dawn I gifted for Christmas

Wasn't actually planning to replace it but you know - serendipity ?

1978 on Dawn 6" , I'll do a gentle clean-up on the top of the dynamic and replace the jaws with a new set and it should come up well.

32kg/ 70lb -Metric jaws which you can buy from Dawn new.

 

[colmal]

Good Afternoon, or morning peoples, my morning was spent at a swap meet , first purchase was a Woden 9" 189B/2 Quick release.

After a spray of WD40, everything works, seems mostly complete, bar maybe some washers on rear and a mounting bolt for the QR, straight into to the molasses after stripping down and Ill have a better look later this week.
Don't know nothing about it, assuming it's more than a year old but that's it, going to be a user as it has the handy QR and decided my 7" Dawn wasn't quite big enough for the larger vice teardowns and rebuilds.

I know something the B stands for Quick action, the 2 for 9" and The Dark Green examples are older/1930's - don't know what colour mine is.

1951 catalogue , 57 catalogue looks the same also
and 1931 catalogue -

 

[Old Radar]

If anyone knows the best (and cleanest) method of painting those lettering (brush, sponge, paint pen?) please let me know.

I'd clamp the vise lettering-side down over the edge of a stand or bench and then use a milled piece of scrap wood (a 1x2) with just enough paint on it to transfer to the letters. Touch and remove--don't scrape or spread.

 

[Shiftless]

I'd clamp the vise lettering-side down over the edge of a stand or bench and then use a milled piece of scrap wood (a 1x2) with just enough paint on it to transfer to the letters. Touch and remove--don't scrape or spread.

Interesting technique.
If it works for Old Radar, that’s good enough for me. Thanks for posting.

Is this a top secret method just now being publicized or have others been doing it this way and just not sharing???

Personally, I have been using a paint pen or for colors not readily available in paint pen format, I have used a Q-tip with the cotton swab end cut off.

 

[Beerhippie]

Interesting technique.
If it works for Old Radar, that’s good enough for me. Thanks for posting.

Is this a top secret method just now being publicized or have others been doing it this way and just not sharing???

Personally, I have been using a paint pen or for colors not readily available in paint pen format, I have used a Q-tip with the cotton swab end cut off.

Now he has to kill us all....

 

[Outlawmws]

I know something the B stands for Quick action, the 2 for 9" and The Dark Green examples are older/1930's - don't know what colour mine is.

1951 catalogue , 57 catalogue looks the same also
and 1931 catalogue -

My Woden 186-b/1 3" Fixed base machinist vise is NOT Quick release... So not sure "B means that...

 

[colmal]

My Woden 186-b/1 3" Fixed base machinist vise is NOT Quick release... So not sure "B means that...

I was just quoting the last paragraph of the 31 catalogues

 

[Old Radar]

Interesting technique.
If it works for Old Radar, that’s good enough for me. Thanks for posting.

Is this a top secret method just now being publicized or have others been doing it this way and just not sharing???

I think I came up with it from watching how old printing presses dab the print block faces on the ink pad and then touch the paper. It does take a little practice to get the right amount of paint evenly loaded on the wood block. Too little and you won't get even coverage--too much leads to all kinds of mess. The upside down bit just prevents paint drips where you can't clean them up.
I did experiment with using a wooden roller, like a thread spool when those were made of wood, but was never able to get the load correct to keep thin paint threads from lifting and falling between letters.

The Q-Tip method works well also--especially for smaller jobs.

 

[IRQVET]

Finished Product on the first one. Found some oil based paint pens, made the lettering super easy.

 

[Patrickm82]

Very nice @IRQVET !

 

[four.cycle]

^ pretty snazzy! too pretty to use!!!

 

[colmal]

Painted the two 2" Marples a late 30/40's and a 50's example and a 3"Rededa around the same era a few weeks ago.

I'm wondering what I've done at the moment thou, going to have to buy a lot more vices to justify what they are sitting on.

 

[Josh Dekubber]

I'm looking for a bigger version of my 974 1/2 Chas Parker.
Here is a couple Vises for sale a bit far but possibly driving distance.

Opinion on which one is better? 825 1/2 or 975

Need to see under jaw protectors on the 975

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[Josh Dekubber]

Finished Product on the first one. Found some oil based paint pens, made the lettering super easy.

Turned out Fantastic!
Nice work

 

[Outlawmws]

Not sure I believe the "Opens 10-1/2" - (Vise DB says 9)

Having said that, the 825-1/2 is about 50 lbs heavier than the 975. The 975 seems to be in slightly better condition.

 

[Josh Dekubber]

Not sure I believe the "Opens 10-1/2" - (Vise DB says 9)

Having said that, the 825-1/2 is about 50 lbs heavier than the 975. The 975 seems to be in slightly better condition.

Thank you, I appreciate the wisdom

 

[Josh Dekubber]

This is all I could find between the two Vises pictured above. Except the 825 1/2 isn't listed. 825-826 only