The VISES of Garage Journal

[jawstight]

A 506 is Columbian, so I would doubt it being whitworth. Check the bolt for an unseen burr or upset thread.

Good young eyes, a bright light, and a precise ruler will work. Plus magnification for me, as I'm missing that first item.

I'm missing the first item also. Outlaw was right. I took a points file, and a triangle file and cleaned up the threads. They got pretty bunged up when I had to chisel the swivel handle off. I was able to salvage it from that, and after putting some bright light on it, donning my strong reading glasses, and taking about 15 minutes to carefully clean the threads to the point that a new 1/2" x 13tpi nut goes right on. I'll buy an acorn nut if I can't find a replacement handle for that swivel.

Here's a before and after so far. I've got it cleaned, and stripped the coats of paint and primer off with my wire wheels. The black was mostly grime I guess because the paint underneath it was definitely blue, on top of primer and mostly stripped original red. Still got some work to do, and this one will get painted when the weather warms up.

I could not get the jaw pads off, and in fact broke the standard bit for my impact driver trying.

 

[Beerhippie]

Here's another vise I'll likely never lay eyes on or be able to afford--and I think this guy's "restorations" are over the top, but:

Emerson Universal. Not quite the holy grail the fractal vise is (for me), but awful close.

 

[hobie18]

Good young eyes, a bright light, and a precise ruler will work. Plus magnification for me, as I'm missing that first item.

Use phone to blow up or take pic and blow up

 

[RTM]

Use phone to blow up or take pic and blow up

Shhh, Don't give away old guy coping tricks.

 

[Beerhippie]

Shhh, Don't give away old guy coping tricks.

99% of what I use my cell phone camera for.

 

[RTM]

99% of what I use my cell phone camera for.

Seeing around corners, under appliances, zooooming in, poor lighting, so many options these days.

 

[Beerhippie]

Seeing around corners, under appliances, zooooming in, poor lighting, so many options these days.

Data plates that are inevitably hidden on the most inaccessible parts of the equipment--and are printed too damned small to begin with.

When did all data plate fonts become so tiny and blurry?

 

[PeterPeter]

I’ve taken apart a few vise, but today was a new day, and I found a ‘new’ way to remove those pesky bolts that hold on the jaw pads. That a Phillips head from an impact driver set. The vise applies the downward force, and so you need to open the jaws as the bolt comes out. So far three are out, without stripping the head. The fourth will succumb to the heat, and pressure, eventually.

 

[PeterPeter]

Not sure if this has already been answered, but the vise on the left, the more beat up one is older. It has the older style handle that is smooth and the base casting is also slightly different. I am not exactly sure when the switch was made but from looking at old records, it was sometime in the 60's. If you look on the bottom, there should be a city, either Glendale or Canoga Park. The ones labeled Glendale are older. Granted I do work at Cardinal Tool and should probably know more, but these were made well before my time.

No, you’re the first to answer, and thank you for the info. I love these vises. So easy to use, never lose the handle, great for so many applications. And of course, bulletproof, though It appears that older one might have been in a gun fight. I have bought and sold a couple 4” that came with drill presses, both times for more than the cost of the press!

 

[jawstight]

I’ve taken apart a few vise, but today was a new day, and I found a ‘new’ way to remove those pesky bolts that hold on the jaw pads. That a Phillips head from an impact driver set. The vise applies the downward force, and so you need to open the jaws as the bolt comes out. So far three are out, without stripping the head. The fourth will succumb to the heat, and pressure, eventually.

Using this method I was able to get one of the four screws out. The other three were too badly mangled to get a good bite on them. But getting the one out inspired me to work on the others, so I drilled them out just enough to get down to the base of the chamfer, or almost so and from there I was able to pry the jaws off. Letting them sit overnight with PB Blaster soaking in. Hopefully they'll turn out with vise grips. If not I'll cut them off flush and then try to use an easy out on them. Thanks for the tip, I never thought of doing what you did!

 

[Beerhippie]

Using this method I was able to get one of the four screws out. The other three were too badly mangled to get a good bite on them. But getting the one out inspired me to work on the others, so I drilled them out just enough to get down to the base of the chamfer, or almost so and from there I was able to pry the jaws off. Letting them sit overnight with PB Blaster soaking in. Hopefully they'll turn out with vise grips. If not I'll cut them off flush and then try to use an easy out on them. Thanks for the tip, I never thought of doing what you did!

Cut to the chase and drill and tap. Once you bust off an extractor, well, then you're in for it.

 

[FullRaceMerc]

Cut to the chase and drill and tap. Once you bust off an extractor, well, then you're in for it.

x2. Too stuck to turn on its own frequently breaks an extractor. And hardened extractors are tough to drill out.

 

[jawstight]

Just might do that. Either way, if they won't spin out with vise grips I'll have to cut them off flush with my angle grinder, and mark the centers with a punch. They're 1/4 x 20's so there won't be a lot of room for error. Tomorrow will tell.

 

[Beerhippie]

After cutting them flush, put the jaws back on, clamp them, and use transfer punches to establish your centers.

 

[RTM]

I’ve taken apart a few vise, but today was a new day, and I found a ‘new’ way to remove those pesky bolts that hold on the jaw pads. That a Phillips head from an impact driver set. The vise applies the downward force, and so you need to open the jaws as the bolt comes out. .

I put a piece of wood behind the dumb end of the bit, allows a small amount of movement without moving the jaws. Think I learned it here.

 

[Outlawmws]

After cutting them flush, put the jaws back on, clamp them, and use transfer punches to establish your centers.

Another alternative if enough is still sticking out, and you have a welder, is get a nut on it and weld the center to the stuck screw. very likely it will just turn out at that point.

I put a piece of wood behind the dumb end of the bit, allows a small amount of movement without moving the jaws. Think I learned it here.

I do it this way also.

 

[Beerhippie]

Another alternative if enough is still sticking out, and you have a welder, is get a nut on it and weld the center to the stuck screw. very likely it will just turn out at that point.




I do it this way also.

Yep. The heat of welding the nut on is often enough to break the corrosion bond loose.

When that doesn't work, go back to my previous suggestion.

 

[colmal]

I always soak my vices in Molasses for a week or so to get the rust out of every nook and cranny, at least half of the screws come out with a screwdriver, the rest I just tap the jaw ends a few times to loosen them up and drill. I use 4 drill bits that leaves me with a small hole once the heads come off and helps loosen the shaft also. Most of the time it's either fingers or some Parrots Head vice grips to unscrew, and being a tight **** I just use a small screwdriver to whack in the hole and remove if needed. Used the same cheap 40 year screwdriver (soft metal not a hardened one) . Done this with over 40 vices.

It works for me so can't see any point buying extractors as I don't want to break one off and really be up the proverbial creek.
Normally I find that the problem is binding to the jaws not the vice.

 

[jawstight]

I always soak my vices in Molasses for a week or so to get the rust out of every nook and cranny, at least half of the screws come out with a screwdriver, the rest I just tap the jaw ends a few times to loosen them up and drill. I use 4 drill bits that leaves me with a small hole once the heads come off and helps loosen the shaft also. Most of the time it's either fingers or some Parrots Head vice grips to unscrew, and being a tight **** I just use a small screwdriver to whack in the hole and remove if needed. Used the same cheap 40 year screwdriver (soft metal not a hardened one) . Done this with over 40 vices.

It works for me so can't see any point buying extractors as I don't want to break one off and really be up the proverbial creek.
Normally I find that the problem is binding to the jaws not the vice.

I really hope this is the issue, since I've already gotten the jaws off, and the majority of the screws are still intact. I drilled off the heads of the screws with a drill bit until I was able to pry the jaws off. They've been sitting overnight marinating in PB Blaster and I'll try to back them out a little later this morning. I'll probably heat them up with a torch before trying to turn them out.

 

[ricleh]

These work very well for removing broken or stuck screws.

 

[M.Brane]

I really hope this is the issue, since I've already gotten the jaws off, and the majority of the screws are still intact. I drilled off the heads of the screws with a drill bit until I was able to pry the jaws off. They've been sitting overnight marinating in PB Blaster and I'll try to back them out a little later this morning. I'll probably heat them up with a torch before trying to turn them out.

If that fails reverse drill bit. If that doesn't back it out hit it with some ATF/acetone while it's still warm. Try a square extractor, but not too much torque. Spiral extractors are evil junk designed to screw you.

If still no love grab a washer, nut, and the MIG.

 

[KMScott]

These work very well for removing broken or stuck screws.

Careful guys. This link opened Amazon in Japan. Now I have to figure out how to get back to USA. Just shows a vise grip.

 

[Shiftless]

Careful guys. This link opened Amazon in Japan. Now I have to figure out how to get back to USA. Just shows a vise grip.

Same thing happened to me.

 

[jawstight]

Success! I didn't even have to heat them. Put a set of small vise grips on them, and without even locking the pliers I turned them all out easily. Chased the threads with a tap, cleaned up the holes and the jaws' seats, as well as the backs and bottoms of the jaws themselves, and I'm ready for new screws. I'll be using Philips this time around. Not correct to the vise but better for the next person who has to try and turn them out.
Thanks for all the tips and advice guys!

 

[Beerhippie]

Success! I didn't even have to heat them. Put a set of small vise grips on them, and without even locking the pliers I turned them all out easily. Chased the threads with a tap, cleaned up the holes and the jaws' seats, as well as the backs and bottoms of the jaws themselves, and I'm ready for new screws. I'll be using Philips this time around. Not correct to the vise but better for the next person who has to try and turn them out.
Thanks for all the tips and advice guys!

Don't forget a tiny dab of anti-seize on each screw before assembly--to be really nice to "the next guy" (you know it will be you).

 

[jawstight]

Absolutely!

 

[Soleinmyhead]

Prentiss (By Parker) Chase 356 Vise I restored. Didn't come with the swivel base so i fabricated a static base for it using a 10" sch 40 pipe from work. I'm pretty happy with how it came out. But now its stuck on my bench since its 200+ pounds and I cant move it myself.

 

[PeterPeter]

Success! I didn't even have to heat them. Put a set of small vise grips on them, and without even locking the pliers I turned them all out easily. Chased the threads with a tap, cleaned up the holes and the jaws' seats, as well as the backs and bottoms of the jaws themselves, and I'm ready for new screws. I'll be using Philips this time around. Not correct to the vise but better for the next person who has to try and turn them out.
Thanks for all the tips and advice guys!

Glad it worked out, even if my tip only resulted in 25% success. I heated and treat the last bolt today, and it took a few more tries, but it’s out. I replaced mine with Allen bolts, though don’t have any anti-lock. Have to look that up.

 

[jawstight]

You can find it in the automotive dept. It's commonly used on spark plugs to keep them from bonding to the block.

I had to take a chamfer bit to the jaws, as the screws I picked up had bigger heads than the originals. But I got them done and mounted. I might have a handle for the swivel, won't know until it gets here if it's the right one. I wouldn't mind finding a set of jaws for this since I'm likely going to keep it.

 

[Beerhippie]

Glad it worked out, even if my tip only resulted in 25% success. I heated and treat the last bolt today, and it took a few more tries, but it’s out. I replaced mine with Allen bolts, though don’t have any anti-lock. Have to look that up.

Anti-seize. It comes in many different flavors, but this is probably the most common:



Most of the other flavors are for special uses and/or metals.

A little bit goes not just a long ways, but often too far. Use sparingly!



I've had that can for at least thirty years and it's still about 1/4 full.

 

[PghJKB]

Careful guys. This link opened Amazon in Japan. Now I have to figure out how to get back to USA. Just shows a vise grip.

Here is the USA location:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07BYVF414/?tag=atomicindus08-20

JKB

 

[Patrickm82]

Anti-seize. It comes in many different flavors, but this is probably the most common:



Most of the other flavors are for special uses and/or metals.

A little bit goes not just a long ways, but often too far. Use sparingly!



I've had that can for at least thirty years and it's still about 1/4 full.

So true beerhippie!

 

[four.cycle]

^ MY can of 133K is in a STEEL can - how old is that? I keep it in the box that the new voltage regulator for the Opel came in. Last time I used it, I think the can was still half full.

I crashed that Opel in 1981.

 

[682bear]

I acquired two vises this weekend...

One is a Starrett No. 86 hand vise...





The other is a Hollands #16...





According to a quick internet search, it weighs around 170 lbs... but after loading it and unloading it from my truck, I doubt it is that lightweight...

-Bear

 

[Shiftless]

That Holland 16 is certainly a big boy. I’m betting the weight is less than 170. Some reliable sources say 132. One way to check without straining yourself as much is to crank the front jaw and slide all the weigh out and weigh that. Then weigh the vise body and simply add up the 2 numbers.

Even if it only weighed 100 that would still be a nice beefy vise qualified for just about anything you can throw at it. Clamping railroad car wheel/axle assemblies would require something more but how often do any of us have to do that?

 

[d42jeep]

I found this Craftsman vise at a Marin County estate sale this morning. I wanted to get Shiftless’ opinion but there was no internet in the area. The price didn’t seem too bad so I brought it home.
The handle was rusted in place but with the help of some WD40 I managed to free it up. The jaws seem to be in good condition. It’s 5” wide
-Don

 

[Patrickm82]

That puppy will clean up nice Don. Good score!

 

[jawstight]

It hasn't been abused, and as Patrick said, it will clean up nicely. Nice find!

 

[Outlawmws]

Jaws have not been abused so that's good, handle has a slight bend but should be easy to resolve.

But please tell me the line I see in pic one on the side is a paint flaw or something other than a body crack? It goes vertically between the A and the F. Looks less like a crack on the second to last pic.

 

[d42jeep]

It looks like a string of Permatex or something. Definitely not a crack.
-Don