The VISES of Garage Journal

[Jeff232]

Welcome to the group. Nice looking vice. How wide are the jaws and do you need the replacements to be the same style?

3 1/2 inches. I really just want the screw patterns to match and have it close evenly all the way across. I use it all the time and it has had a busted jaw since i grabbed it years ago. I repainted it when i bought it.

 

[Jeff232]

Welcome to the forum.
If you don't need them to be checkered or steel, they're pretty easy to fabricate yourself out of brass or aluminum if you are handy with your hands, have a drill press, and can buy a counterbore bit ($15-$30).
I've made a couple of sets out of brass that are smooth faced. Going over to a friends house later this week to either put horizontal grooves on their face or checker them. Not sure yet which. He has a shaper, I have no machining tools.

a counterbore bit looks like something i need to have, I had not considered making my own since all of my tools are geared to woodworking. not a lot of metal working tools.

 

[Shiftless]

I have that same vise.
It looks like you could remove those jaw inserts and clean them up and make them useable and looking much better. If you have to pay the going rate for a machinist to fabricate a pair of those out of steel and then get them hardened, you will be shocked to hear the price.

 

[Jeff232]

I have that same vise.
It looks like you could remove those jaw inserts and clean them up and make them useable and looking much better. If you have to pay the going rate for a machinist to fabricate a pair of those out of steel and then get them hardened, you will be shocked to hear the price.

I was hoping some modern replacement jaws would just fit since these seem to be essentially rectangular with a couple holes. I think at some point the vise was probably dropped, and about a 1/4 of an inch busted off the end of one of the jaws, if it wasn't for that i wouldn't even think about it.

 

[Outlawmws]

Those won't need a counterbore, but a countersink. they are too thin for a counterbore.

 

[jawstight]

Good point Outlaw.

 

[Jeff232]

Those won't need a counterbore, but a countersink. they are too thin for a counterbore.

now that i think of it i may have a few rusty countersinks that belonged to my grandfather in a toolbox someplace that would probably work for softer metals

 

[Shiftless]

now that i think of it i may have a few rusty countersinks that belonged to my grandfather in a toolbox someplace that would probably work for softer metals

If you have a choice of countersinks, try to match up the angle of cut with those original screws. You probably have screws with a more shallow angle than you are accustomed to seeing in modern flat head machine screws.
You might end up installing new screws to match the countersink angle of your tool.

If necessary, you can turn down a new angle on a store bought machine screw to approximately match the angle needed. I have done that. Without a lathe.

 

[jawstight]

You can buy countersink screws for a lot of vises on ebay if you search around. There's one seller that makes a number of different sets for them. Not sure if I can post a link to his auctions here, but his ebay seller name is flieslikeabrick

 

[Shiftless]

Not sure if I can post a link to his auctions here,

You are wise to NOT post a link. That is against the rules here.

 

[jawstight]

Thanks for letting me know!

 

[akasrick]

Hello,
I just joined and was wondering if someone could point me to a place where i can easily find new vise jaws for my parker 63 1/2. They seem pretty basic and im sure someone makes a set that would fit, hopefully someone here knows exactly which ones to get. Thanks!

And for something different, this picture shows a Record vice looking like wooden jaws were fit over the metal jaws and screwsd on. Picture from the "Last of Us" post-apocalyptic series on MAX, episode #6, 2nd season. The guy is working on a guitar. Otherwise an online metal shop can get you close.



akasrick

edited "2nd season"

 

[jawstight]

Went over to a friends today and he helped me machine grooves into the brass jaws for my 9300 and 8400 Wiltons

 

[jawstight]

It was my first time using a milling machine. Thoroughly enjoyed the experience. Sure wish I had the room, and dollars, to have a mini mill in my garage.

 

[Eric Brown]

It was my first time using a milling machine. Thoroughly enjoyed the experience. Sure wish I had the room, and dollars, to have a mini mill in my garage.

Milling machines are nice. I had a small bench unit years ago. Wish I still had it. Word of caution. You need a lot of other tooling to really make them useful. Adds up quick. Variable speed is nice, so are digital readouts.

 

[jawstight]

Picked up a Schiller Park 4-1/2" today. Collar is gone and the dynamic jaw is frozen inside the vise body. I put some penetrant on it and will let it sit overnight before trying to separate them. All three screws for the collar were twisted off but I managed to get them all out with just a small pair of vise grips. Not sure how someone would have twisted them off given that as I've found others to be they were not even tight in the holes. It appears to have a pair of pretty beat up solid brass jaws on it. I ordered a collar and a set of jaws from autopts. Hopefully the jaws will have the right spacing between the mounting screws. Other than those problems, and some pitting the vise is actually in pretty nice shape. Looking forward to getting it torn down and cleaned up!

 

[Eric Brown]

Looks like a worthwhile project. What color will you paint it?

 

[fishwatcher]

I picked up a Wilton C0 today. The grease is hard and stubborn and all of the parts were initially stuck, but I got nearly everything apart and think it’s going to be a great restore project.

I haven’t actually removed the body from the swivel base yet, but I did break the nuts free from the swivel lock bolts. I also confirmed the acorn nuts I have fit.

 

[micahd1997]

I was lucky enough to receive this 1.5lb, 1¾” Prentiss № 30 on it’s original “charcuterie board” from the g-g-granddaughter of its original owner. Just enough traces of the original paint and pin-striping to proudly show its age but also the care it was given over the last century.

This vise was owned and used by Leonard H Hoffman to make jewelry that he sold out of his family’s jewelry store in Fort Collins, Colorado - Hoffman Jewelry. The business was started in August, 1903 by Leonard’s father, James. Leonard joined the company in 1905 at the age of 18 where he worked for 52 years until retirement in 1957, shortly thereafter passing in 1961. Though most of the jewelry store’s assets were sold to the public at auction in 1958, the family held onto several items, among which was this beautiful little Prentiss.

See the last couple pictures for a photo (taken by the family) of Leonard at the age of 22.

 

[jawstight]

Looks like a worthwhile project. What color will you paint it?

Depending on the year, either the PPG Charmed Life Blue or Mucho Mint Green. Probably the latter since the original paint seems to be more green than blue. Having a heck of a time getting the dynamic jaw out of the body. I've got the entire vise apart except for those two pieces. Did the best I could tonight. Ive stood it upright and sprayed a couple of ounces of PB Blaster down between the two as much as I can. I'll let it marinate overnight. Plan B will to use some heat.

I picked up a Wilton C0 today. The grease is hard and stubborn and all of the parts were initially stuck, but I got nearly everything apart and think it’s going to be a great restore project.

I haven’t actually removed the body from the swivel base yet, but I did break the nuts free from the swivel lock bolts. I also confirmed the acorn nuts I have fit.

What did you do to get the dynamic jaw to slide out of the vise body?

I believe mine is rusted pretty badly. Hopefully twelve hours more of penetrating oil will help me to break them free. I really don't want to restort to heat, or brute force. Thought about using a comealong but not sure that would work.

 

[fishwatcher]

Depending on the year, either the PPG Charmed Life Blue or Mucho Mint Green. Probably the latter since the original paint seems to be more green than blue. Having a heck of a time getting the dynamic jaw out of the body. I've got the entire vise apart except for those two pieces. Did the best I could tonight. Ive stood it upright and sprayed a couple of ounces of PB Blaster down between the two as much as I can. I'll let it marinate overnight. Plan B will to use some heat.

What did you do to get the dynamic jaw to slide out of the vise body?

I believe mine is rusted pretty badly. Hopefully twelve hours more of penetrating oil will help me to break them free. I really don't want to restort to heat, or brute force. Thought about using a comealong but not sure that would work.

I used fluid film. Tapped the handle with a soft mallet and noticed it moved about an inch. Sprayed more penetrant.. and pushed the handle back and forth by hand. After a while, it opened all the way.

 

[Shiftless]

I used fluid film. Tapped the handle with a soft mallet and noticed it moved about an inch. Sprayed more penetrant.. and pushed the handle back and forth by hand. After a while, it opened all the way.

That‘s a great way to get those parts separated. Good work,

 

[jawstight]

I used fluid film. Tapped the handle with a soft mallet and noticed it moved about an inch. Sprayed more penetrant.. and pushed the handle back and forth by hand. After a while, it opened all the way.

Thanks.

This one is stuck tight in the fully closed position. I'll see if the pentrant helped overnight, in an hour or so. I'm pretty sure it's going to take some brute force. I'm thinking maybe a come along between two trees. Or possibly between a tree and the hitch on my truck. Hopefully neither will be required. And I may run up and pick up some serious rust remover and submerge it for awhile before reverting to more drastic measures.

I did remove the rear cap and nut. There was still some wet grease back there and it there's no rust present, so there is that.

 

[tool_scrounge]

Thanks.

This one is stuck tight in the fully closed position. I'll see if the pentrant helped overnight, in an hour or so. I'm pretty sure it's going to take some brute force. I'm thinking maybe a come along between two trees. Or possibly between a tree and the hitch on my truck. Hopefully neither will be required. And I may run up and pick up some serious rust remover and submerge it for awhile before reverting to more drastic measures.

I did remove the rear cap and nut. There was still some wet grease back there and it there's no rust present, so there is that.

I have used Kroil with good success for stuck stuff. Add a little every few days and otherwise ignore it for a few weeks or months. Things came apart easier than expected.

 

[jawstight]

Thanks.

Hmmm. I wonder if patience is in the same aisle as the Kroil. I would need both if I go that route.

 

[tool_scrounge]

Thanks.

Hmmm. I wonder if patience is in the same aisle as the Kroil. I would need both if I go that route.

Patience is easy if you already have too many project vises (vices?) to work on.

 

[RTM]

Use a lot of the patience before the brute force. It's a lot easier in the long run that way.

 

[Eric Brown]

Depending on the year, either the PPG Charmed Life Blue or Mucho Mint Green. Probably the latter since the original paint seems to be more green than blue. Having a heck of a time getting the dynamic jaw out of the body. I've got the entire vise apart except for those two pieces. Did the best I could tonight. Ive stood it upright and sprayed a couple of ounces of PB Blaster down between the two as much as I can. I'll let it marinate overnight. Plan B will to use some heat.

What did you do to get the dynamic jaw to slide out of the vise body?

I believe mine is rusted pretty badly. Hopefully twelve hours more of penetrating oil will help me to break them free. I really don't want to restort to heat, or brute force. Thought about using a comealong but not sure that would work.

You might try using a rubber mallet and try both the tighten and untightened directions working back and forth. Sometime a good hammer blow can crack the rust crystals, allowing penetrant to get in further.

 

[Beerhippie]

Penetrant and heat are your friends when patience fails. I use Kroil and heat to the point where it smokes--then more Kroil and more heat. Lather, rinse, repeat.

The rubber mallet is a great help, too.

 

[jawstight]

They were out of patience at Home Depot.

Well I got it out. Wasn't rust. Or the very dry grease that wasn't helping. I'll explain.

This didn't work. I had a LOT of pressure on things, using my old gear puller. Necessity being the mother of invention and all.
Wouldn't budge.
I ended up using brute force. Drove some chisels between the brass jaws until I saw that the dynamic jaw moved a bit. Then a combination of driving them further in, and beating on the back end of it with a large pipe with a 2lb sledge, and a small piece of mild steel flat bar between the pipe and dynamic jaw tube as a buffer. After getting it out I wire wheeled the big pieces and that's where it got interesting. Everything looks fine, but the jaw slides in until it binds about an inch shy of sliding home. If I push it hard I have to tap it with the pipe and hammer to get it loose.
I have a feeling now that the screws on the collar were broken off when someone was trying to take them out with a lot of tension on the collar because everything was bound up.
Next I'll color it with black marker and slide it in to see where it's binding.

Made in June of '64.

 

[ATL86]

Here are some of my vises Ive picked up here and there!


Wilton waiting on restoration!

 

[four.cycle]

@ATL86 -
You found the right thread!

Forgot to mention:

International Tool Catalog Library is your friend

 

[CRSINMICH]

ATL: Wow! Most of the vises you posted have been on my BOLO list for a long time. I especially like the Hollands Duplex. I noticed that the swivel lock handle on yours is different than the catalog picture. It looks like an older type.

I do have a red version of one of yours though.

 

[ATL86]

They sure are hard to find information on them! I had no idea on the age when I found it, just thought it was cool looking. Its had very little use in its lifetime. Jaws are in very good condition. Can't wait to get her back to emerald blue and shiny metal!!

 

[grannyknot]

I was skimming through this thread the other day and got inspired to give some love to my old 6" Record vise.
I think I paid $40 thirty years ago at a garage sale, I mounted it on the bench and put it to work.
I've pushed it pretty hard over the years but haven't had a problem with it yet.
Now, it is a working vise and gets used almost everyday so I haven't gone to the detail that some of you guys do.
Dissembled, cleaned, painted and greased.

 

[CRSINMICH]

grannyknot: $40 CAD? Oh man!!

 

[Outlawmws]

grannyknot: $40 CAD? Oh man!!

But:

I think I paid $40 thirty years ago

 

[jawstight]

These are the jaws that were on the 450S that I picked up. They've certainly been well used. I had to chamfer the holes with a dremel in order to get the screws out. There isn't a completely flat side on them anywhere.

 

[TheRealZeus]

Reinstalled.. Will they qualify as “tight?”

 

[fishwatcher]

Well, you have an early model and the smallest Combination vise Wilton made. The earlier models had the double pin setup and later went to the single pin for the pipe jaws, and if your jaws are 3-1/2 x 3/4 then it is the first generation model. The date stamp on the Dynamic keyway will let you know when it was made. The end cap is 1-11/16 diameter and the swivel locks use a 1/2:13 thread connected to a carriage bolt. Early models did not have the inner ring on the swivel base, or cleats. The earlier models had a two slots cut in the base and just used a carriage bolt and did not rotate 360 degrees. It's a nice vise and should clean up nicely.

I just picked up a Wilton C0 that I’ve begun to clean up. I’m not sure where mine stands in the generations of C0s with original vs improved features. Any light anybody can shed for me is much appreciated. I have scoured GJ.com, but explanations are not always clear to me when I can’t picture what’s being described.

I have begun to clean it up starting with the hardware. i used a degreaser, scrubbed, rinsed, and then wirewheeled the stuff that’s supposed to be shiny.

I have replacement carriage bolts coming for the lock downs, I will use stainless steel acorn nuts, 1/2-13x2.5” bolts, and will likely buy a replacement end cap and screw handle.. eventually.

I plan to wire wheel the paint off, prime and paint with Rusroleum Universal soft black iron spray paint. That’s the plan anyways.