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The VISES of Garage Journal

r07d24

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Joined
Dec 16, 2010
Messages
144
What kind of paint is that?
Looks really nice!

Thanks, I was looking for a dark gray in the Rust-Oleum Hammered, but the closest thing I found was the Hammered Bronze...it was an experiment but I think it came out alright.
If anybody is interested I posted it in the classifieds :)
 
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r07d24

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Dec 16, 2010
Messages
144
I'm just outside the former industrial mecca known as Providence. :)




Yup, Mine is a 41 s too. I think thats the only model I've ever seen. I wonder if they made other sizes.

You need a Vise from Massachusetts. That would be by Starrett or Athol Machine Co.


I think I saw a 43S on this thread and others.
I have been looking for a Starrett...and a better condition Parker...and the list goes on&on :)
 

bluebolt

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Joined
Dec 28, 2008
Messages
5,441
Location
Benton LA
This thread has given me a vise addiction!
Picked up three more, a Reed NO 1C, a 4" Morgan marked "Star" on one side and "Aurora" on the other and a 3" Morgan marked "30" and "Chicago"

The Reed is in good physical condition, the jaws are in nice shape, important since they are not removeable.

The Morgans had a repaint by the seller and are in good shape. Note they are NOT swivel vises, have 3 mounting holes each.

Paid a Franklin for all three, not bad.
 

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emeraldcoupe

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Jan 4, 2010
Messages
3,425
Location
spring hill, florida
picked this one up at an estate sale this morning for $5 littlestown #112 3 1/2"
littlestown.jpg
 

r07d24

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Dec 16, 2010
Messages
144
picked this one up at an estate sale this morning for $5 littlestown #112 3 1/2"
littlestown.jpg

I like those Littlestown vises. I passed one up the other day that was pretty beat up and rusty and the guy was firm on $25...so I think you got a great deal! :thumbup:
 

Call me the Breeze

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Joined
Jul 28, 2009
Messages
1,385
Location
Sebring Fl
Hey Guys, A friend of mine has this old vise and was wondering if anyone knew the MFG. He cant seem to read the casting anymore. I scanned through all 80 pages trying to find another like it with no luck. The handle has an unusually long nose. He figures it is at least 50 - 60 years old. Thanks.
View media item 7254

Anyone Have any idea what this is?
 

gilbo

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Feb 1, 2010
Messages
716
i just picked this little guy up today, for my restore project, Columbian C43, 3" jaws, overall good shape, single finger twirl, more dirt and grime than anything else. only big issue i can see so far til i take everything apart, is one of the jaws has a crack that runs along the top, and part way down the side.

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1177546733_awKqo-M.jpg


here are two pics of the jaw that has the crack, the top crack is more obvious, the side crack is harder to see, but it there

1177588276_knQz3-M.jpg


1177588315_mSA6Z-M.jpg
 
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crankshaftdan II

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Feb 25, 2009
Messages
1,293
Location
Milwaukee, burbs.
have no idea what kind it is?DSC01675.JPG

I have an identical vise to this one marked as 240 SHOP and mine was made in Japan-probably goes back to the 1980's or so when Sears and others were importing Japanese tools. It's a nice solid vise for a homeowner or light garage usage. I believe that this vice was a try to duplicate the Wilton type of this era:headscrat
 

Steevo

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Aug 18, 2009
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8,738
Location
43.49600, -112.04300
This little guy has been in my tool cabinet for years, and I have never yet had a use for it.
It has 2" wide smooth jaws, and the only markings on it are what you see in these pics. I have never heard of "Gambles" other than on this vise.
Doesn't say what the COO is anywhere on it, but I assume it is foreign made.

1179687062_unWxY-L.jpg

1179687094_YBFM3-M.jpg

1179687032_LtVKe-L.jpg

1179687046_T2AK8-L.jpg
 

mofo62

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Oct 4, 2009
Messages
917
Location
Perù
This little guy has been in my tool cabinet for years, and I have never yet had a use for it.
It has 2" wide smooth jaws, and the only markings on it are what you see in these pics. I have never heard of "Gambles" other than on this vise.
Doesn't say what the COO is anywhere on it, but I assume it is foreign made.

1179687062_unWxY-L.jpg


Nice Nice Nice Vise :bowdown:


Congratulations :beer:
 

00pewter

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Joined
Sep 28, 2009
Messages
576
Here's one I did over the weekend. It's a cheapy Taiwan that wouldn't work at all and the previous owner was gonna scrap it. Took it apart, beadblasted it, primed it, and painted it John Deere green/yellow. Greased her up and she works good as new!

7454c400.jpg
 

bgott

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Joined
Oct 31, 2005
Messages
3,512
Location
Houston, TX.
Those bench clamp vises are really handy. I figured they were ****, then I ended up with one that I use on the bench in my shed. It works for a lot of stuff!
 

SweetD

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Joined
Feb 8, 2010
Messages
3,265
Location
Rhode Island
Here's one I did over the weekend. It's a cheapy Taiwan that wouldn't work at all and the previous owner was gonna scrap it. Took it apart, beadblasted it, primed it, and painted it John Deere green/yellow. Greased her up and she works good as new!


Very nice - love the Deere green!
 

r07d24

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Joined
Dec 16, 2010
Messages
144
Here's one I did over the weekend. It's a cheapy Taiwan that wouldn't work at all and the previous owner was gonna scrap it. Took it apart, beadblasted it, primed it, and painted it John Deere green/yellow. Greased her up and she works good as new!

7454c400.jpg

Great job! So, is bead blasting the way to go or will electrolysis produce the same results?
I've been considering getting a small portable media blaster...but then I would also have to get a cabinet too, right? I think I already have everything to try the electrolysis.
 
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00pewter

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Sep 28, 2009
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576
Great job! So, is bead blasting the way to go or will electrolysis produce the same results?
I've been considering getting a small portable media blaster...but then I would also have to get a cabinet too, right? I think I already have everything to try the electrolysis.

I think so. It doesn't take long and it yields great results. I should have taken before/after pics. It's about 20-30 years old and never been resto'd and after about 30 minutes of blasting, it was down to bare metal. a coat of primer and some paint and voila! i've got a like new vise!
 

Gary Indiana

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Oct 21, 2010
Messages
111
Location
near Chicago, IL
Great job! So, is bead blasting the way to go or will electrolysis produce the same results?
I've been considering getting a small portable media blaster...but then I would also have to get a cabinet too, right? I think I already have everything to try the electrolysis.
I did consider blasting and electrolysis, but ended with a simple wire cup on angle grinder with great results (pictured in here).

Just be careful not to let spinning wire cup hit your bare hand or it will instantly strip your flesh to the bone. Keep hands away or use leather gloves. All wire cups and wire wheels shed occasional wire bits so you need face mask or at least glasses.
 

r07d24

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Dec 16, 2010
Messages
144
I did consider blasting and electrolysis, but ended with a simple wire cup on angle grinder with great results (pictured in here).

Just be careful not to let spinning wire cup hit your bare hand or it will instantly strip your flesh to the bone. Keep hands away or use leather gloves. All wire cups and wire wheels shed occasional wire bits so you need face mask or at least glasses.

Thanks for the heads up on the stripped flesh! :lol_hitti
I do have all the wire wheels (4 1/2 grinder, bench grinder, etc...), but it seems the blasting or electroysis would do a better job with all the little hard to reach areas. I'm trying to justify the setup cost.
 

demographic

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Oct 24, 2010
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The Duchy of Grand Fenwick, otherwise known as Gre
Thanks for the heads up on the stripped flesh! :lol_hitti
I do have all the wire wheels (4 1/2 grinder, bench grinder, etc...), but it seems the blasting or electroysis would do a better job with all the little hard to reach areas. I'm trying to justify the setup cost.

You could make a blasting cabinet out of an old oil drum, there's enough designs about on the net.
 

metal1313

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Apr 28, 2009
Messages
3,416
Location
clinton NJ
heck you can make a decent one out of plywood and some plexi glass, a few hinges, a tube of glue and some screws and your set. thats my plan
 
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mjozefow

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Apr 9, 2009
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Lafayette, IN
IMO, unless the vise is seized, electrolysis is a waste of time. Sandblasting is the way to go. If you don't own a compressor of decent size, get a wire wheel for an angle grinder or drill.

Electrolysis is a great process, but I think it is a bit lost on big lumps of cast iron.

For the record, I have used electrolysis on at least a dozen vises before I started blasting them. YMMV
 

mikevango

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Nov 28, 2009
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erie, PA
I just came inside from wire wheeling a Colombian 3 1/2 incher. It got it nice and clean. I would love a blast cabinet but I need a nice compressor first.
 

r07d24

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Dec 16, 2010
Messages
144
IMO, unless the vise is seized, electrolysis is a waste of time. Sandblasting is the way to go. If you don't own a compressor of decent size, get a wire wheel for an angle grinder or drill.

Electrolysis is a great process, but I think it is a bit lost on big lumps of cast iron.

For the record, I have used electrolysis on at least a dozen vises before I started blasting them. YMMV

That's kind of what I've been thinking. I mean, I may try the electrolysis just to see for myself...but I can think of so many more things I could do with blasting (like when I start restoring my vintage motorcycle). I have sandblasted in the past, but have never used a cabinet with different types of media. I don't have a huge compressor, but it's a 25 gallon Craftsman that puts out around 6.5cfm @ 90psi.
Anyways, to keep on thread topic...here are my next in line projects...Craftsman & Prentiss



 

gilbo

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Feb 1, 2010
Messages
716
question i have is where r u folks finding replacement screws for the jaws, so far the ones i have found are all too long

my columbian c43, went through a vinegar bath for a day, as well as degreasing bath, hopfully tomorrow ill get around to putting a wire wheel to the pieces, then after that paint
 
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JustBob

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Feb 10, 2010
Messages
183
Location
Mobile, Alabama
Here's one I did over the weekend. It's a cheapy Taiwan that wouldn't work at all and the previous owner was gonna scrap it. Took it apart, beadblasted it, primed it, and painted it John Deere green/yellow. Greased her up and she works good as new!

7454c400.jpg

I never would have thought of those colors for an Omega vise, but they work! :thumbup: Now I need to figure out what color to paint mine...
 

NCCheesehead

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Dec 23, 2010
Messages
420
Location
NC
Here's one I did over the weekend. It's a cheapy Taiwan that wouldn't work at all and the previous owner was gonna scrap it. Took it apart, beadblasted it, primed it, and painted it John Deere green/yellow. Greased her up and she works good as new!

7454c400.jpg

After seeing how yours turned out I dug this one out from under my bench.
vise1.jpg


Turning the handle did nothing, and so I took it apart and found this
vise2.jpg


Any chance that the "nut" is available or is it trash?
 

sed6

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Feb 8, 2011
Messages
48
I could use some help with my vise. It was handed down to me some years ago and has been in the family for probably 35+ years.



First off anyone know about FSB brand vises? Besides the 1504 and Japan marking I know nothing about it. I would like to know some history, it's true age and if it's known to be a quality piece (seems to me to be).



I also have a small problem with the jaws not closing evenly. You can see how far I can wedge in a playing cards when the jaws are tightened pretty snugly. Any idea how to fix this?



A sharp eye will notice one end of the moving jaw is loose. The thread in the jaw is stripped. Should I move up a size and drill and tap or should I heli-coil it?

Thanks for any help you can provide!

-Scott
OKC, OK
 

00pewter

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Sep 28, 2009
Messages
576
After seeing how yours turned out I dug this one out from under my bench.

Turning the handle did nothing, and so I took it apart and found this


Any chance that the "nut" is available or is it trash?


Send me your jaws if you throw her away!
 

r07d24

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Joined
Dec 16, 2010
Messages
144
I could use some help with my vise. It was handed down to me some years ago and has been in the family for probably 35+ years.


First off anyone know about FSB brand vises? Besides the 1504 and Japan marking I know nothing about it. I would like to know some history, it's true age and if it's known to be a quality piece (seems to me to be).

I also have a small problem with the jaws not closing evenly. You can see how far I can wedge in a playing cards when the jaws are tightened pretty snugly. Any idea how to fix this?

A sharp eye will notice one end of the moving jaw is loose. The thread in the jaw is stripped. Should I move up a size and drill and tap or should I heli-coil it?

Thanks for any help you can provide!

-Scott
OKC, OK

First of all, welcome to the forum from one newbie to another!
I personally don't know anything about your vise :dunno: ... but there is a good chance somebody on here might.
I have found, tracking any info on imported stuff is very challenging.
As far as the quality, just because it's from Japan doesn't necessarily make it a less quality piece...just not as desirable or valuable...at least on this forum. ;)
 

NJ Diver

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Apr 25, 2010
Messages
92
Here is my recently inherited Wilton from my wife's Grandfather. Not even mounted yet. Still trying to decide to leave it as is or spruce her up a bit..

Leaning towards leaving it as is...
 

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mjozefow

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Lafayette, IN
Here is my recently inherited Wilton from my wife's Grandfather. Not even mounted yet. Still trying to decide to leave it as is or spruce her up a bit..

Leaning towards leaving it as is...

I would leave it. It takes years to develop that patina. If you take it apart and clean it really well, then paste wax it, you will have quite a few envious folks on here. :beer:
 
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mjozefow

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Location
Lafayette, IN


I also have a small problem with the jaws not closing evenly. You can see how far I can wedge in a playing cards when the jaws are tightened pretty snugly. Any idea how to fix this?



A sharp eye will notice one end of the moving jaw is loose. The thread in the jaw is stripped. Should I move up a size and drill and tap or should I heli-coil it?

Thanks for any help you can provide!

-Scott
OKC, OK

For the jaw insert, even JB weld could be fine. It does not take much strength. If you decide to drill and tap, moving up as little as possible will preserve strength. You might even go metric if you need to.

As for the alignment, take the inserts out and see how the jaws line up. You will need a spacer to check parallelism, a ruler should suffice. I'm wondering if the loose insert isn't throwing the alignment off on everything. :dunno:

Nice vise BTW, looks like it is a stout little thing.
 
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