The VISES of Garage Journal

[jawstight]

Hello fellow vise collectors

I’ve decided to undertake a substantial school engineering project on making a large 12 inch 400-450kg cast steel vise, however the foundry cost could be as high as 15k for one set of castings which is going to be a bit out of my price range so I am asking if some of you would be interested in a monster vise made by a 15 year old and his dad. I am still in the very early planning and if I’m going to hopefully follow through with this I would probably start shipping them by next year.

P.S I’m sorry if that isn’t formatted very well as writing isn’t one of my strong points

Jeremy

It's formatted fine Jeremy. Question though, why would a 12" vise weigh 880 - 1000lbs? And what do you envision its uses to be?

 

[jopy]

Im basing it off an 6 inch vise that weighs 100lbs and scaling it to 12 inches. Due to when an objects dimensions are doubled , its volume is increased by a factor of 8 giving me 800lbs but i'm planning on beefing it up in some areas giving me the 880lbs estimate (so 1000lbs was very generous of me). I'm thinking it will be used as a "wailing vise" or "hitting vise" that i will be able to rely on not breaking no matter how much i swing on the handle or hammer on parts clamped in it.

 

[Outlawmws]

Im basing it off an 6 inch vise that weighs 100lbs and scaling it to 12 inches. Due to when an objects dimensions are doubled , its volume is increased by a factor of 8 giving me 800lbs but i'm planning on beefing it up in some areas giving me the 880lbs estimate (so 1000lbs was very generous of me). I'm thinking it will be used as a "wailing vise" or "hitting vise" that i will be able to rely on not breaking no matter how much i swing on the handle or hammer on parts clamped in it.

You need to do more homework on this project and have a design plan - preferably in a CAD system so you can more easily calculate volume and weight.

You also need to understand strength of materials far better. Are you using grey cast iron or a nodular iron for instance.

They ran locomotive shops and many shipyards with 8 and 9" vises, I've seen pics of a German floorstander that had 12" jaws. I don't know the particular use, probably shipping

Two guys here teamed up and built a massive 13" floor stander up in Alaska, out of plate steel mostly. IIR it was 1600 lbs.



Another guy made these (he's in the pic)

 

[Mgdoug3]

I found this vise for a friend. It was a good deal for this size vise. I know it's a Reed 106R but there's no Reed logo. Does anyone know if this vise originally had a tag and possibly a rebranded Craftsman?

My friend wants me to restore it for him and he wants it painted red. The first thing I'll do is make a new handle for it. Does anyone know what the length should be for a 106?

 

[RTM]

Does anyone know what the length should be for a 106?

It is posted somewhere in one of the vise threads. I found it, I think by searching Reed 106 handle. Might have been posted by KMScott.
It's under 24" long, and either 0.875 or 0.75, which might help your search. I bought 24" in both sizes, one for my 106, the other for an arbor press, will cut to length eventually.

Anybody got a reed 6"

Just throwing out a last ditch effort in finding some handle info before I make my new one. If you have a 6" Reed, I would love to know 1. Handle dia. 2. Handle Length 3. Handle Balls on end dia. Thanks!

www.garagejournal.com

 

[Mgdoug3]

I've got a piece of cold rolled 7/8 rod to use and ordered two threaded 1-3/8 steel balls from McMaster. The handle on it now looks to be 1/2" npt pipe with nuts so that has to go. I made a handle for my Morgan a could years ago but peened them on. This time I want to try something else.

Thanks for helping me with the length!

 

[PeterPeter]

Not your typical vise. Not marked at all. 5” jaws. Rear jaw is dynamic.



That’s a t-slot running the length of the body. Any ideas about it maker?

Peter, who suspects the Germans had som to do with it.

 

[Shiftless]

The handle on it now looks to be 1/2" npt pipe

Half inch galvy pipe fits perfectly. That’s what I used for a temporary handle on the Reed 4C that I used to own. Same nose as far as I know.

 

[RTM]

The handle on it now looks to be 1/2" npt pipe with nuts so that has to go.

Sounds very similar to mine. I found some big balls at in a salvage place, think they are slightly smaller than the ones I linked, but who will know besides GJ members who read this?

Reed 106 Vise Rehab - KirkHMB

Welcome to My SmugMug site. I'll always be adding to it, as people around me continue to participate in things of interest. I live in the SF Bay area, and spend lots of time photographing the sports my kids are participating in. These images are my attempts to document what they're doing...

kirkhmb.smugmug.com

 

[Mgdoug3]

I started cleaning up the vise and flat stoning the slide to remove all the high spots. Vise was made in 5/60. I see two rivet holes so at one time it had a tag. My friend will be much happier with this vise than his 8" light duty Chinese one.

 

[CRSINMICH]

PeterPeter: That not 'typical vise' looks like it could be a Backus. Here's Quimby Silas Backus' 1868 patent. You have to look closely but you can see the end of the T-slot on the bottom. Look even closer and you can see a script 'g' under the spindle hub in Fig.2. That's a clip or collar that holds the spindle into the static jaw right where there is a bolt head visible in your second photo.

Here is a portion of another vise ad from the same time period. It shows a large bolt going up through a benchtop. The head of the bolt is in the T-slot running along the bottom of the vise. That was to allow the vise to be rotated or moved back-and-forth.



Quimby Silas Backus is one of my all time favorite names. It sounds like an incantation.​

 

[PeterPeter]

Quimby Silas Backus is one of my all time favorite names. It sounds like an incantation.​

Well, that was a surprise. Quimby Silas Backus doesn’t sound German at all. Silas is my MIL maiden name, and her uncle was Oscar Buzzell, one of my favorite names.

Thank you for the information Quite apiece of history I have here.

peter, peter.

 

[Mgdoug3]

The vise is ready to be put back together. I probably won't assemble until I drop it off to my friend's since I don't feel like picking up that much weight. I think he'll be happy with it.

Funny story, I took it apart at his place and I knew about the split nut but I knew he didn't. I showed him the two pieces and his eyes got big and thought it was broke. Then I told him the truth.

 

[Beerhippie]

That's a hell of a thrust bearing for a vise!

 

[jopy]

You need to do more homework on this project and have a design plan - preferably in a CAD system so you can more easily calculate volume and weight.

You also need to understand strength of materials far better. Are you using grey cast iron or a nodular iron for instance.

They ran locomotive shops and many shipyards with 8 and 9" vises, I've seen pics of a German floorstander that had 12" jaws. I don't know the particular use, probably shipping

Two guys here teamed up and built a massive 13" floor stander up in Alaska, out of plate steel mostly. IIR it was 1600 lbs.



Another guy made these (he's in the pic)

im going to get the original vise 3d scanned next week so I have a cad file to work with and I've been planning on getting it made with cast steel.

 

[Outlawmws]

vise 3d scanned next week

Does the original vise have hollow cavities? most do. Colombian vises were noted for being near indestructible and had hollow parts for weight savings. - and were not grey cast iron for strength.

For a really "indestructible" vise the old Blacksmith post vises were made for pounding on, and had the post for trasfering the impacts to the ground. Those were forged.

 

[1Bad55Chevy]

Eyes on this Wilton at an upcoming estate sale! What Wilton is this? C0, C1, C2? They all look similar so I can't figure it out.

 

[jawstight]

C0 - 3-1/2"
C1 - 4-1/2"
C2 - 5"

 

[tool_scrounge]

Eyes on this Wilton at an upcoming estate sale! What Wilton is this? C0, C1, C2? They all look similar so I can't figure it out.

Looks like a c1. Squint and you can read it on the side of the jaw tower

 

[Shiftless]

Looks like a c1. Squint and you can read it on the side of the jaw tower

I agree. I manipulated that low resolution photo as much as I can with the crude software I have available.

 

[Mgdoug3]

The vise is finished. Friend loves it. You can see the old vise it replaced at the bottom of the picture. I add a 7/16-20 set screw to the meatball so you can lock the handle in place to act like a speed handle. I added a thrust bearing and it's smooth as silk.

 

[Beerhippie]

The vise is finished. Friend loves it. You can see the old vise it replaced at the bottom of the picture. I add a 7/16-20 set screw to the meatball so you can lock the handle in place to act like a speed handle. I added a thrust bearing and it's smooth as silk.

Consider a piece of brass rod that fits into the hole, maybe 1/4" long, and a spring of same dia and length between the set-screw and the handle shaft. That's what the Chas. Parker vises have and it works perfectly--the handle just stays where you put it; no tools required.

 

[Mgdoug3]

Consider a piece of brass rod that fits into the hole, maybe 1/4" long, and a spring of same dia and length between the set-screw and the handle shaft. That's what the Chas. Parker vises have and it works perfectly--the handle just stays where you put it; no tools required.

I originally was going to put a groove in the middle of the handle with a ball, spring and set screw, but I didnt think there was enough thread to install everything.

 

[1Bad55Chevy]

Consider a piece of brass rod that fits into the hole, maybe 1/4" long, and a spring of same dia and length between the set-screw and the handle shaft. That's what the Chas. Parker vises have and it works perfectly--the handle just stays where you put it; no tools required.

That's a lot of vise for a wooden work bench!

 

[Outlawmws]

I originally was going to put a groove in the middle of the handle with a ball, spring and set screw, but I didnt think there was enough thread to install everything.

you have 7/16 to work with - get a short bolt, drill the tip hollow, and you have plenty of space. grind the head as flat as you dare.

 

[Beerhippie]

The head of my Chas Parker is 5/8" from front to handle shaft. All that fits just fine.

Here are the original parts that I replaced with new:





As you can see, it does a fine job of holding the handle wherever I put it:

 

[Outlawmws]

I did basically the same as Timm, but I didn't have any original parts...

 

[Eric Brown]

The Tucker Vise by Veritas (Lee Valley) Made in Canada, patent #5127639 (July 7, 1992). This vise is primarily used by woodworkers. The inspiration cam from Emmert patternmakers vises. However, unlike the Emmert and the numerous clones, this one is made with a lighter weight alloy instead of iron. Like the Emmert, it rotates 360 degrees and tilts 90 degrees. It opens up to about 12".

 

[Eric Brown]

The Veritas Twin Screw Vise (Lee Valley). Two patents. The first, # 5284331 (Feb 8, 1994) is for a whole bench with accessories. The second # 5301934 (Apr 12, 1994) deals with the twin screw design. The end user determines the width between screws. Mine has 16 1/2" between screws and opens to about 14". This measurement was determined by the width of the Adjust-A-Bench legs.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Anyone recognize this? The last three letters of the name ("...STA") and what looks like a crown in a beaded circle on the remnant of the decal might mean something to someone, but I am drawing a blank except for thinking maybe European.

 

[ararat]

The Veritas Twin Screw Vise (Lee Valley). Two patents. The first, # 5284331 (Feb 8, 1994) is for a whole bench with accessories. The second # 5301934 (Apr 12, 1994) deals with the twin screw design. The end user determines the width between screws. Mine has 16 1/2" between screws and opens to about 14". This measurement was determined by the width of the Adjust-A-Bench legs.

Great looking bench

 

[Eric Brown]

Great looking bench

Thank you. It has served me well.

 

[ATL86]

Machined this vise for a bigger set of jaws and fixed her up a bit. I know its no collectors addition but they are fun to pull out of the trash and fix up.

Also picked up a couple new ones this last weekend. A nice little 103R Reed and a Rock Island.

 

[Beerhippie]

^Nice job on the Crafty!

Showing some love for the unloved gets you extra points.

 

[ChefRex]

Machined this vise for a bigger set of jaws and fixed her up a bit. I know its no collectors addition but they are fun to pull out of the trash and fix up.

Also picked up a couple new ones this last weekend. A nice little 103R Reed and a Rock Island.

That Craftsman is cute as a button, I like it.

 

[1Bad55Chevy]

Machined this vise for a bigger set of jaws and fixed her up a bit. I know its no collectors addition but they are fun to pull out of the trash and fix up.

Also picked up a couple new ones this last weekend. A nice little 103R Reed and a Rock Island.

What paint is on the Craftsman? It looks really good!

 

[ATL86]

What paint is on the Craftsman? It looks really good!

Apple red i believe. And I blued everything else!

 

[1Bad55Chevy]

Apple red i believe. And I blued everything else!

Spray paint?

 

[ATL86]

Rustoleum

 

[Beerhippie]

Spray paint?

Probably not the blueing.