The VISES of Garage Journal

[Outlawmws]

Here's the original 1917 patent for the Champion Hardware version of a corner vise

Thx CRS! (Had no internet for 17 hours, all new cable boxes in the street box now...)

 

[CRSINMICH]

Outlaw: I recently went 4 days without internet (by choice). The first 17 hours were the worst. The shaking ... the headaches.

 

[Outlawmws]

I can deal with it when i'm on a hunting/camping trip, but at home the habits die hard and I'm in the habit to "I can just look that up... Well, not for 17 hours I couldn't...

Impaired my writing some...

 

[Madjik Man]

Ok, I’m entering this thread for the first time as I picked up my first vise (off Facebook Marketplace)

I searched GJ for this model number and see two instances of its mention. Once about it being a Craftsman/Sears vise (with not so glowing review) and another post that went unanswered.

For me it’s perfect for my needs. I’m not a professional and I just need something small that will securely hold other things. I’ve read this thread, and others, that praise Wilton for their vises. So I ended up grabbing this today for $10.

It looks unused honestly and it’s pretty near flawless.

I guess I just want to know is:

Is it Made in the USA? If so, or if not, does that mean anything about its quality?

Overall is this a solid vise? Again, it seems like it will be perfectly suitable for my needs, but I’m always curious about the opinions of others who have extensive knowledge.

Thanks in advance

 

[FJ 432]

Ok, I’m entering this thread for the first time as I picked up my first vise (off Facebook Marketplace)

I searched GJ for this model number and see two instances of its mention. Once about it being a Craftsman/Sears vise (with not so glowing review) and another post that went unanswered.

For me it’s perfect for my needs. I’m not a professional and I just need something small that will securely hold other things. I’ve read this thread, and others, that praise Wilton for their vises. So I ended up grabbing this today for $10.

It looks unused honestly and it’s pretty near flawless.

I guess I just want to know is:

Is it Made in the USA? If so, or if not, does that mean anything about its quality?

Overall is this a solid vise? Again, it seems like it will be perfectly suitable for my needs, but I’m always curious about the opinions of others who have extensive knowledge.

Thanks in advance

Not USA made.

 

[jimkinney]

Picked this up at an estate sale for $40. Forgot to take a before pic, but wasn't in bad shape, light surface rust, and covered in house paint drips. I think very little use as shown by how sharp the jaws still are.
Quick sandblast and a couple of coats of Rustoleum Charcoal Gray.

 

[1Bad55Chevy]

Built the stand for my Columbian post vise! I took it apart and cleaned the old grease out then re greased. Vise works extremely smooth and the mount is SOLID! excited to put it through the paces!

 

[theastronaut]

Picked up this Ridgid 60FCPN a few months ago and am now restoring it (started a thread in the vintage tools section). Found the t-slot table last year at an auction and built a stand for it The t-slot spacing happened to match the mounting pattern of the vise, like they were made for each other.




The Ridgid as found beside my Columbian 606 M2.



4" Wilton bullet inherited from my granddad. I dissembled it, ran it through the parts washer, filed/stoned down any high spots, scrubbed it with CLR and 0000 steel wool to remove the surface rust, then coated it with Penetrol.





Athol 714 I found locally a couple weeks ago. The castings are pretty good overall but is missing the original swivel lock hardware and sadly the original ratcheting handle has fabricobbled replacement.

 

[CRSINMICH]

1Bad: Here's a page from a 1917 Columbian catalog. Based on the shape of the spring, the way the 'bench plate' is attached to the vise, and the cut off box, it's likely that your vise is from "Series X". I added the insert showing the more common way that Columbian attached bench plates to its vises.

​

 

[1Bad55Chevy]

1Bad: Here's a page from a 1917 Columbian catalog. Based on the shape of the spring, the way the 'bench plate' is attached to the vise, and the cut off box, it's likely that your vise is from "Series X". I added the insert showing the more common way that Columbian attached bench plates to its vises.

​

Ok, so this vise is an 80X made after 1917! When did they stop making these vises?

My next question is about the jaws. They do sit perfectly flat against one another.


Is this normal for a post vise?

If not how do I fix it? Nothing appears to be twisted or damaged on the vise and it works fantastic. To test my mount it put a piece of 7ga square tube and beat the hell out of it with a 2.5lb hammer in every direction possible!

 

[CRSINMICH]

1Bad55: Columbian was still producing leg vises as late as 1940. As far as the repairs you want to make, you'll have to talk to a machinist like GJ Member KMScott. I suspect it will involve a milling machine.

KMS: I didn't notice until now that these leg vises had "removable pipe jaws". Who knew?

​

 

[RTM]

Is this normal for a post vise?

If not how do I fix it? Nothing appears to be twisted or damaged on the vise and it works fantastic.

I'm my world (n=3) blacksmith vises are crudely finished compared to bench vises. Might be caused by 80 years of abuse, or poor mfg, but none of the three had perfect jaw alignment. I owned one for a week, rest were just viewed in passing.

 

[KMScott]

1Bad55: Columbian was still producing leg vises as late as 1940. As far as the repairs you want to make, you'll have to talk to a machinist like GJ Member KMScott. I suspect it will involve a milling machine.

KMS: I didn't notice until now that these leg vises had "removable pipe jaws". Who knew?

CRS, I had one of these Combination Post vise made by Columbian and gave it to the Island metal sculptor who I bought my house from. I’ll send him your catalog page and he will appreciate it.

As for resurfacing the jaw faces on the post vise, it is doable with a Bridgeport Mill like you mentioned. Did you notice the jaw widths are not the same but that is how Post vises were made.

 

[FourthQuarter]

I don't need another vise but couldn't pass on this beastly Howard Iron Works #5. I've been lurking for three or so years around here and don't recall it in my reading. Seemed wise to grab it.

Haven't done anything to it or looked at vlosely but appears to be in fine shape.

 

[Outlawmws]

Jaws and the "steps" on the back of the static jaw scream Parker, the main screw keeper is different.

 

[Tom Graham]

I don't need another vise but couldn't pass on this beastly Howard Iron Works #5. I've been lurking for three or so years around here and don't recall it in my reading. Seemed wise to grab it.

Haven't done anything to it or looked at vlosely but appears to be in fine shape.

Nice find. They may indeed be uncommon. I only see one model #5 (from Howard Iron Works) on the spreadsheet so far and posted here In this thread in December 2021. The similarities of this “Parallel“ vise to the Parker’s has also been observed here in the past.

Found this page also linked within the vises spreadsheet.

 

[CRSINMICH]

1Bad55: This 1908 snippet is about a Fisher leg vise not your Columbian but it shows that some of the issues you asked about
were known to the trade. This is how Fisher addressed them.

​

 

[682bear]

I took my wife yard-sailing today... and came home with three vises...

First is a Columbian 603½-M2...





This is a pretty nice vise... it just needs a good cleaning.

Next, I found an old post vise...



It's rusty, but is in very good mechanical condition. It hasn't been beat to death like most I've seen... there are no hammer marks on the jaws, no play in the hinge, and no backlash in the screw... does anyone have any idea who it was made by?

Last, I picked up a Starrett 014...





It has severe rust pitting on the handle and the fixed jaw insert, and the screw has ¾ turn of backlash... so it needs some attention.

-Bear

 

[Outlawmws]

Nice vise score!

But:

I took my wife yard-sailing today... and came home with three vises...

Are you sleeping on the couch tonight?

 

[682bear]

Nice vise score!

But:



Are you sleeping on the couch tonight?

Yeah... she's a little tired of vises, I think... but she hasn't said anything...


...yet...

-Bear

 

[CRSINMICH]

HOW TO REPAIR VISES (Old school)
From February, August, and November 1929 issues of BLACKSMITH & WHEELWRIGHT magazine


​

 

[NYBODYMAN]

Picked up this Ridgid 60FCPN a few months ago and am now restoring it (started a thread in the vintage tools section). Found the t-slot table last year at an auction and built a stand for it The t-slot spacing happened to match the mounting pattern of the vise, like they were made for each other.




The Ridgid as found beside my Columbian 606 M2.



4" Wilton bullet inherited from my granddad. I dissembled it, ran it through the parts washer, filed/stoned down any high spots, scrubbed it with CLR and 0000 steel wool to remove the surface rust, then coated it with Penetrol.





Athol 714 I found locally a couple weeks ago. The castings are pretty good overall but is missing the original swivel lock hardware and sadly the original ratcheting handle has fabricobbled replacement.

@theastronaut...Hey off topic but that box that says "Monroe Hardware Monroe, N.." Is that by chance Monroe, NY?

 

[neophyte]

Nice find. They may indeed be uncommon. I only see one model #5 (from Howard Iron Works) on the spreadsheet so far and posted here In this thread in December 2021. The similarities of this “Parallel“ vise to the Parker’s has also been observed here in the past.

Found this page also linked within the vises spreadsheet.

Interesting.
The one Howard vise looks very similar to some of the Brockhaus Heuer vises, which were originally patented in 1925.
The Howard combination vises remind me of the later Sawyer Nutyp vises patented in 1921, although the Nutyp vise is likely a way more solid design.

 

[theastronaut]

@theastronaut...Hey off topic but that box that says "Monroe Hardware Monroe, N.." Is that by chance Monroe, NY?

It's Monroe NC.

 

[elmer]

Here's a 4 1/2" wilton I bought last week for $180. Looked for the DOM in the usual place but it wasn't their.

 

[Beerhippie]

Here's a 4 1/2" wilton I bought last week for $180. Looked for the DOM in the usual place but it wasn't their.

****! That would be a minimum of $500 hereabouts.

 

[Dirtbag]

I already have one too many vises, well heck maybe that isn’t possible because I bought another one. Eastwood is blowing out the Yost 33C at $135 plus shipping fee. Eastwood also has it listed on eBay for $199 and free shipping, so one deal or the other might be better for folks.

This is one heavy duty vise with pipe jaws. It is right about 100 pounds and part of their higher end lineup. It is a 5” and they also make a 34c in 6” which is the only bigger one available from Yost. It is normally advertised at well over $500 plus shipping. Made in Taiwan which is a plus for overall quality. The box was obliterated by the time it showed up but everything looks good, seems like a bargain for made new. Figured I would add a note here in case anyone else was interested. Everything looks pretty good quality wise, must be discontinued or something.

 

[elmer]

****! That would be a minimum of $500 hereabouts.

This vise was at an auction where I was picking up some items I won (It was mounted on a crapy old wood bench). I met the guy who won the lot with the vise(for $140). The lot also included the contents of a small room with items that looked like filthy junk. I start talking to the guy while he was loading his items when I noticed he had these 4"x36" BRASS rods, at least 3 of them!! They had to be worth thousands $$ in scrap. I could hardly believe it and neither could he. Any way I wound up with the vise for $180 and he ended up making out like a bandit. (This is a true story)

 

[tool_scrounge]

I already have one too many vises, well heck maybe that isn’t possible because I bought another one. Eastwood is blowing out the Yost 33C at $135 plus shipping fee. Eastwood also has it listed on eBay for $199 and free shipping, so one deal or the other might be better for folks.

This is one heavy duty vise with pipe jaws. It is right about 100 pounds and part of their higher end lineup. It is a 5” and they also make a 34c in 6” which is the only bigger one available from Yost. It is normally advertised at well over $500 plus shipping. Made in Taiwan which is a plus for overall quality. The box was obliterated by the time it showed up but everything looks good, seems like a bargain for made new. Figured I would add a note here in case anyone else was interested. Everything looks pretty good quality wise, must be discontinued or something.

I think the Taiwanese made 33C is a great vise for the money.

One question - what does the Taiwanese made version really look like?

From the photo that comes up on their website for the 33C:



Which looks the same as their previous advertisements showing it as "made in USA"



It is my understanding that the new Taiwanese made version looks like this:



Which has a similar but not the same casting shape. Does anyone know when Yost changed the casting shape? It was around early 2016 from my previous research when it appeared they shifted production to Taiwan. But I believe the casting change was later.

 

[Dirtbag]

You’re correct about the casting change for the 33C, the new one I have matches your photos for the updated casting. This one is 91 lbs on the scale. Overall it is pretty tight and certainly much better than the HF stuff I’ve used. For the price this Yost 33C is hard to beat. It’s not at the same level as my Wilton 500 bullet vise which I found NOS. But the Wilton is also at another level up for price even when you’re looking for them on the cheap. The Yost at the price is a good candidate to align two of them left and right on bench to clamp larger objects.

 

[682bear]

I've finished the ball and screw repair on the Parker 208...



Now I need to machine a new retaining collar to retain the screw in the dynamuc jaw. I also need to fabricate a new handle.

I managed this repair without losing any of the opening width... so I'll call it a win...

-Bear

 

[682bear]

I also disassembled the Starrett 014 that I bought over the weekend...



I had mentioned in post #95,058 that it had about ¾ turn of freeplay in the screw... after disassembly, I discovered that the nut is dovetailed into the body, but is very loose... it fits the screw nicely, but has a very sloppy fit where it dovetails into the vise body.

What is the accepted method of repairing this? If I had better access, I would attempt to 'bed' it in with JB weld... but working up inside the body, I doubt I could do that without glueing it in permanently.

I currently have both halves with the jaw screws soaking in Kroil...





I feel like I can get the screws out of the dynamic jaw... and maybe one screw out of the fixed jaw. The other screw in the fixed jaw will likely require some 'drastic measures' to remove.

-Bear

 

[Beerhippie]

@682bear : How is the nut retained in that Starrett? if it's a pin,



My Parker had about 3/8" of play from the nut sliding back and forth. I cut off a chunk of 1/4" aluminum plate, wedged it between the pin and nut and peened the pin until tight. No mo' play.

 

[Andy FitzGibbon]

Next little resto is whatever this mini vise is. Can’t find a manufacturer yet. Need to soak in evapo rust then get it apart.

Colton's patent. Several different versions were made.

 

[682bear]

@682bear : How is the nut retained in that Starrett? if it's a pin,



My Parker had about 3/8" of play from the nut sliding back and forth. I cut off a chunk of 1/4" aluminum plate, wedged it between the pin and nut and peened the pin until tight. No mo' play.

There is a bolt that threads in underneath... the swivel base rotates on this bolt... the upper end of the bolt is a smooth pin that retains the nut.

However, the slop in the nut is not just front to back... it also moves up and down, side to side and 'rocks' back and forth. It may be that most if the backlash is caused by the front to back, but I don't really think so.

I guess I need to put it back together and watch through the back to see exactly what is happening...

-Bear

 

[Beerhippie]

There is a bolt that threads in underneath... the swivel base rotates on this bolt... the upper end of the bolt is a smooth pin that retains the nut.

However, the slop in the nut is not just front to back... it also moves up and down, side to side and 'rocks' back and forth. It may be that most if the backlash is caused by the front to back, but I don't really think so.

I guess I need to put it back together and watch through the back to see exactly what is happening...

-Bear

That sounds like it may not be the right nut for that vise.

 

[Shiftless]

That sounds like it may not be the right nut for that vise.

That’s my guess too.
Beerhippie beat me to it.

 

[682bear]

That sounds like it may not be the right nut for that vise.

That's what I thought at first... but it has '014' cast into the side of the nut...



I just reassembled the vise, flipped it over, and worked the screw while watching to see where the play is coming from. Part of it is coming from the nut moving front to back... but there is also play between the front of the dynamic jaw and the c-clip that retains the screw in the jaw...

I think I can fix both issues... if I can get the c-clip out.

I'll try to get both jaw inserts off first, then degrease and derust everything. It's pretty nasty...

-Bear

 

[Shiftless]

I'll try to get both jaw inserts off first

Good luck with that. The screw heads look bad.

 

[682bear]

I'm expecting to have to crank the TIG welder for assistance... at least for one of the screws.

I've successfully removed screws this bad from a Wilton bullet before...



We'll see how these go... it will help if I can get at least one out so I can see what the screw diameter is before attempting to drill the heads off the stuck ones.

-Bear