The VISES of Garage Journal

[RTM]

Just because he's not local to me, I sought out a professional service near me where I can have it scanned

I understand completely. If I had something that unique n rare, I would not trust it to a PKG delivery service either. Pick your company, had trouble with all lately.

 

[ararat]

It's been a cold snowy week confining me to the shop so I cleaned up a few of the vises that have waiting their turn. They are all sitting on a Prentiss 22 in the group shot. All are Prentiss, a 504, a 514, and an older No. 3. The 514 Bulldog was in great condition and didn't need much so I left what finish it had intact. Even the jaw faces are pretty nice. I think the 514 fixed base used the same dynamic jaw as the 524 swivel base which is why it has both numbers cast in it.

The No. 3 was a bit rougher so I fixed a few bites in the casting and gave it a coat of flat black as it was the factory color. Not seen as often having the swivel jaw on a vise with a fixed base. I had to make a new swivel lock pin for it but it's now solid enough for full usage.

The last one to get the works is a 504. Advertised as an iron workers vise they are not very common. This one was is in pretty good shape but as I was already in painting mode it got a coat of flat black as well. It also needed the lock pin made. It uses a pinch bolt, missing in the pic, for the swivel base lock and it seems pretty positive. The pics. Ed.

Love the black on vises

 

[Andy FitzGibbon]

Damn, shipping not available.guess I am out.

Bid at $4200... I am also out

 

[A&P mechanic]

Hi GJ,

Here is some beneficial information I learned from @drivesitfar

I have a 5 inch Yost clamped to my workbench in the garage but wanted a small vise to use on a sawhorse in the backyard. Recently, I bought a new Wilton clamp on vise but it was not perfect. The Wilton is made in Czech and the handle did not spin smoothly the entire 360 degrees after lubrication, so I returned it.

Anyway, Drivesitfar recommended a used made in Switzerland Zyliss aluminum vise. He explained these were originally sold at trade shows. I did some research, the company stopped making vises but is still in business making kitchen utensils, kitchen products etc. The vise is aluminum and I had to cut slots in my sawhorse to make it work. I like the vise for small tasks like sanding. This vise is not for hammering on because it is aluminum. I paid around $60 shipped for this.

Overall, if you are looking for a light duty portable vise, Zyliss is what I recommend also. More tool feedback to add, I really these Ridgid sawhorses too and am impressed that the sawhorses are made in Israel. Have a good weekend!

 

[IRQVET]

Off topic, but what is the best grease/oil/lubricant to use on vise? I'm in a humid climate where things can develop surface rust quickly.

 

[micahd1997]

Off topic, but what is the best grease/oil/lubricant to use on vise? I'm in a humid climate where things can develop surface rust quickly.

Fluid Film…hands down, 100%, no questions asked, slam dunk. I live in humid Texas, and I’ve used it for years on tools in my open-air shop. A variant of it was invented during WWII for application on submarines to keep them from rusting.

The liquid is slightly brown and has a scent that takes a little to get used to, but I haven’t found anything else that works as well. Apply it liberally. It’s not the kind of thing that you can just spray on and wipe the bulk of it right off again. Your tool will glisten a little. Also, it has a way of really bringing out the deep black of steel and cast iron. Highly recommend

 

[Outlawmws]

Overall, if you are looking for a light duty portable vise, Zyliss is what I recommend also.

For Light wood working jobs and similar, a Zyliss is a good choice. It's been discussed before. I have two; One complete in box and another that is just the basics, 2 working jaws and the rail. I first saw one a friends brother had and he did a lot of detailed woodworking I was impressed as he whipped it out stuck it to the edge of his bench did s quick job and was done.

Its not the answer for every woodworking job, but it can be quite handy, and is very portable.

 

[Mr. Wonderful]

Off topic, but what is the best grease/oil/lubricant to use on vise? I'm in a humid climate where things can develop surface rust quickly.

I believe there’s an entire thread here about vise lubricants. Of course I can’t remember the title. Should be easy to find. Tons of info there. Agree 100% with the fluid film except in instances when I don’t want it to darken the metal. In that case I use Johnson’s paste wax.

 

[ararat]

I believe there’s an entire thread here about vise lubricants. Of course I can’t remember the title. Should be easy to find. Tons of info there. Agree 100% with the fluid film except in instances when I don’t want it to darken the metal. In that case I use Johnson’s paste wax.

Post in thread 'VISE REPAIR 101 all vise repairs, lubricants, sources for parts and the tricks to fix' https://www.garagejournal.com/forum...rts-and-the-tricks-to-fix.252830/post-4062320

 

[colmal]

Twice in a row I remembered before shots - will wonders never cease.

Dawn 6" Quick release - 47.4 kg/ 102ilbs

 

[colmal]

I had to wire brush it 4 times as I was painting it a satin clear, the last 2 times after paint stripper, washed it down and wax and grease remover twice, but didn't wipe it well enough with a microfibre cloth, left a few runs from dirty wax and grease remover, but all good kinda suits it, wasn't too bad.

The last 5 pics are after painting - 4 coats on a hot day, about 2 cans.

 

[colmal]

The handle was straight ,no whacking needed just a bit on the flat QR bar, bolt holes tapped, and left it how it was and didn't clean up any marks or dents, new jaws.

Came up lighter, hard to tell it's painted unlike the Woden which was more of a gunmetal finish, not sure why, all I came up with is the Woden is Grey cast iron ?

The jaws don't line up perfectly which is disappointing, wasn't that noticeable with the old ones, it's more of a casting issue I think and not sure I can do much about it. I will try a few little tweaks and will also drill a hole in the QR bar to fit a split pin, already pulled it out too far once and that'll be a pain in the **** when it's mounted to me new bench in my new garage

The brown marks are mainly from the flash, the outside pics in my previous post are better-did those as I was not carrying the completed vice outside.

It's the only one I've seen or come across and basically is in really good nick for a 80/90 year old vice, works smoothly.

Cost all up $500 AUD - $350 - vice including delivery, $92 jaws, $36 - 2 cans of Rustoleum Satin clear, - Paint stripper $15 plus incidentals.

 

[SkyPuncher]

Something a little different, finally got around to getting this Fenn Model 104B freed up and working.

Wilson L. Fenn and his son Wilson A. Fenn left Taylor & Fenn Co. in 1915 and organized Fenn Manufacturing Co. The firm manufactured Fenn's friction taping machine in circa 1916 and a high speed drilling machine in 1918. The company had a long and interesting history, including the Fenn Aircraft Division during WWII, which led to manufacturing aircraft parts into the 1950s.

Fenn Mfg. Co. | Making Places

This site provides info on historic CT properties to encourage reuse of these buildings only. We do not represent any past or current business or its products.

connecticutmills.org

 

[SkyPuncher]

Also of the same design and from Hartford Ct. as well.



and it makes me wonder the make of my larger version. Only markings on it are W.D. USA 470. Quite a bit larger too!

 

[IRQVET]

I am so pissed. Got this painted yesterday, hit it with a 2K clear coat this morning. About a hour later, I'm sitting in my living room and hear a loud bang come from the garage. I'm like WTF was that!? Go out into garage and my freshly painted vise is lying on the garage floor.

Have no clue how that is even possible. Garage was closed, no critters inside.

Touched up the finish the best I could, but it isn't a great as it was prior to the fall.

 

[3baygarage]

This followed me home from Flywheelers last month. Finally got to wiping it down.

Jacobson Machine Manufacturing Co.
Warren, PA
PAT. OCT, 15 1901
3 inch jaws

Haven’t seen this size on the forum, nor in the two pages in the ITCL. I appreciate the couple other posts on the site regarding this design.

I haven’t quite figured out what’s up with the base. Thought I was buying a cracked base fixed base vise, but it may be a swivel base with an old weld around it. Sort of looks like a bead of JB weld or something all around.

Other than no swivel it works perfect. Despite it being far from pretty, the screw was well protected with grease. Opens to about 4-3/4”. It stops at there as the slide contacts the back of the nut I imagine.

 

[Outlawmws]

Cool Vise 3Bay!

It looks like you are overextending the slide? -to measure "safe full open" close it fully and measure the stick-out of the slide.

 

[3baygarage]

Cool Vise 3Bay!

It looks like you are overextending the slide? -to measure "safe full open" close it fully and measure the stick-out of the slide.

Thank you. I was curious to see how far it slides since the nut is basically like a pillar inside.

 

[colmal]

I am so pissed. Got this painted yesterday, hit it with a 2K clear coat this morning. About a hour later, I'm sitting in my living room and hear a loud bang come from the garage. I'm like WTF was that!? Go out into garage and my freshly painted vise is lying on the garage floor.

Have no clue how that is even possible. Garage was closed, no critters inside.

Touched up the finish the best I could, but it isn't a great as it was prior to the fall.

Still looks really good, I like it and at least there was no structural damage. Glad it survived

 

[PghJKB]

3bay

This followed me home from Flywheelers last month. Finally got to wiping it down.

Jacobson Machine Manufacturing Co.
Warren, PA
PAT. OCT, 15 1901
3 inch jaws

Haven’t seen this size on the forum, nor in the two pages in the ITCL. I appreciate the couple other posts on the site regarding this design.

I haven’t quite figured out what’s up with the base. Thought I was buying a cracked base fixed base vise, but it may be a swivel base with an old weld around it. Sort of looks like a bead of JB weld or something all around.

Other than no swivel it works perfect. Despite it being far from pretty, the screw was well protected with grease. Opens to about 4-3/4”. It stops at there as the slide contacts the back of the nut I imagine.

You do not see Jacobson vises very often.

They were folded into Rock Island.


First page of Long's patent:

JKB

 

[IRQVET]

Still looks really good, I like it and at least there was no structural damage. Glad it survived

Been racking my brain how it even occurred, like a have a pissed off ghost in my garage knocking my stuff off my work bench.

 

[colmal]

Been racking my brain how it even occurred, like a have a pissed off ghost in my garage knocking my stuff off my work bench.

I'm curious as well. all I came up with was kids ?

 

[jetlag]

One of my recent vise purchases. Reed 32, minus the swivel base. It was cheap (40 bucks, including a very robust stand) for the obvious reason. Whoever brazed the dynamic jaw didn't do a great job of lining up the jaws, and they don't perfectly align. The knurling is still in very good condition (as is often the case with these old Reeds), so I'd rather re-do the repair than just mill the jaws back into parallel. When I bought it, the repair had been painted over, so it was just the misalignment of the jaws that I first noticed, then saw the obvious repair underneath the paint. The seller said that the vise was abandoned by a previous renter, he didn't really know any of its history, and I tend to believe him.

I don't hide vise repairs, and this one will be no exception. That way, if it ever goes to a new home, the owner won't get a nasty surprise.

 

[Outlawmws]

Based on this pic, how "teetery" is it with the dynamic in the body, and was it fully engaged?

 

[3baygarage]

3bay


You do not see Jacobson vises very often.

They were folded into Rock Island.


First page of Long's patent:

JKB

Thank you. My Google-Fu must be broken as that patent doesn't want to turn up. I do see it listed on the site here in a thread Twertsy did on the inventor.

 

[IRQVET]

Based on this pic, how "teetery" is it with the dynamic in the body, and was it fully engaged?

No, it was sitting there loose as the paint was drying. All I can come up with was maybe I had the jaw extended out too much and with the weight?

Finished product(s). I'll get these back out into the garage and off mama's kitchen counter. Had to touch up the finish since that other picture showed the flaws in the finish from me picking it off the garage floor while it was still wet. Had a resend a few spot and touch them up. But they're done now!

I have a small Dunlap I'm doing next. Onto the next project . . .

 

[Mr. Wonderful]

No sitting there loose as the paint was drying. All I can come up with was maybe I had the jaw extended out too much and with the weight?

Finished product(s). I'll get these back out into the garage and off mama's kitchen counter.

I have a small Dunlap I'm doing next. Onto the next project . . .

Those came out great!

 

[IRQVET]

Next project on rotation . . . back in the day I welded it onto my metal fab table, something I regret doing now.

3.5 inch Dunlap

Not sure what color I'm going with, leaning toward a hammered dark green finish with bronze lettering or the OEM Red with silver lettering?

 

[Patrickm82]

No sitting there loose as the paint was drying. All I can come up with was maybe I had the jaw extended out too much and with the weight?

Finished product(s). I'll get these back out into the garage and off mama's kitchen counter.

I have a small Dunlap I'm doing next. Onto the next project . . .

Very nice work IRQVET!

 

[dannyr]

Added my Paramo pict.
What does Paramo have in common with Record? The vises look very similar.

both were made in Sheffield

- in 1870/80s, Parkinsons (of Bradford, England) started making their Handy series and then their patented quick release vices of all sizes - the patent ran out about 1901 - from about then a whole raft of UK vise-makers (notably Woden, Record, Paramo, Fortis) made very similar vises, many in Sheffield (that's the v. brief version of a complex story)

 

[jawstight]

Recently picked up a Dunlap 3-1/2" 5244 from the early 60's I think. It has the press fit washer on the lead screw. Does anyone know if those can be re-used, or better yet a source for a replacement? The vise is in pretty good shape, as someone did a restoration of sorts on it but I think I'd like to take it completely apart, strip the paint, and either repaint it, or blue it. And I'd rather not have sloppy jaws.

Thanks!

 

[fishwatcher]

No sitting there loose as the paint was drying. All I can come up with was maybe I had the jaw extended out too much and with the weight?

Finished product(s). I'll get these back out into the garage and off mama's kitchen counter.

I have a small Dunlap I'm doing next. Onto the next project . . .

Really nice job! What paint did you use? Brand, color, any primer beforehand? I think that paint would look great on a Craftsman I’m tuning up and cleaning. I haven’t committed to painting it, but your vise is a good inspiration!

 

[jawstight]

Here's another one I'm working on. Torn between leaving it raw or painting it.

 

[fishwatcher]

Here's another one I'm working on. Torn between leaving it raw or painting it.

Wow! You got that super clean . Would you mind sharing what steps you took? Great job. It’ll look awesome with or without paint. Congrats!

 

[jawstight]

Thanks. Mainly a wire wheel on my bench grinder. Touched it up with a smaller wheel on my angle grinder as well as an even smaller, pencil-like brush I made out of a copper pipe and 1/4" braided wire, in my drill motor. I used my belt/disc sander on the anvil and jaws, followed by some hand filing on the top of the jaws, and then honing them with a diamond DMT stone. Took me most of the day today.

 

[fishwatcher]

Thanks. Mainly a wire wheel on my bench grinder. Touched it up with a smaller wheel on my angle grinder as well as an even smaller, pencil-like brush I made out of a copper pipe and 1/4" braided wire, in my drill motor. I used my belt/disc sander on the anvil and jaws, followed by some hand filing on the top of the jaws, and then honing them with a diamond DMT stone. Took me most of the day today.

Thanks for sharing. It’s always nice to see what steps you can take to bring an old vise back to or even beyond new. It’s even better knowing you can do this with common home owner power tools.

 

[jawstight]

Still have a bit of touch-up to do today but I think I've decided to leave it raw and use it in my inside shop.

I have the 3-1/2" Dunlap 5244 to do yet but don't want to start that until I figure out the pressed on ring on its lead screw. Don't want to remove that washer unless it's reusable, or I can find a source for a new one.

 

[jawstight]

Finished this one today. Left it raw and mounted it to a base so that I can bring it from workbench to workbench in my inside workroom. And clamp it as needed on each. Here it is sitting on my kitchen counter.
I like this little thing. My Dunlap is a bit smaller but to me this looks more like a classic vise. My garage vise is a Craftsman 5-1/2" but this one is less than half its size, and probably weight.

 

[Patrickm82]

Looks great @jawstight

 

[IRQVET]

Really nice job! What paint did you use? Brand, color, any primer beforehand?

For these I used Rustoleum Oil Based Hammered Finish, it's direct to metal, so no primer needed. I just chemically stripped it with a citrus stripper, and then ALOT of time between my wire wheel and my sand blaster so I got all the old finish off.

As a general rule, I stay away from water based paints or spray paints, as the finish isn't as thick and it can get damaged to easily. So I stick with oil based paint, and if I'm using a hammered finish, I use a brush to apply it and dab it on to increase the hammered look.

As an extra measure of protection, I use a clear coat. I really like the 2K clear with the added harder for larger items. I say that because 2K clear is little pricey, and once the harder is added, it has a very short shelf life. So if I'm doing small stuff, I use the Majic tractor and implement clear coat from tractor supply out of my HVLP spray gun. Just so that way I don't waste product.

I used to paint commercial aircraft in my younger years, so my methods are all about durability for the most part. Which seems fitting for a bench vise project(s).