The VISES of Garage Journal

[Kevin54]

Kevin - show me a sine bar in action if you get a chance....I have no clue what they do.
Nice machining on all the items that you made!
Craig

Here is a site showing how they are used http://www.machinistsfriend.com/sine.htm I've made a few over the years. A 3", 4" 5", the wide 5" and then I made a Sine plate probably 20 years ago and still have it and use it quite regularly.

And if there are any machinist on here that may be interested in a Compound Sine Plate, I have one that I'll let go reasonable.

 

[ZRX61]

The dry spell is over. Picked up a Morgan 87 this morning for a mere pittance (identical pittance to what I paid for my Morgan 140 for those who have been paying attention). Actually a friend picked it up at an Estate sale about 80-90 miles away. I tipped him off yesterday & he was there when they opened the garage at 8am. 3 1/2in jaws & Chicago made.

Managed to ID it as "probably Morgan" by the color in this crappy pic

Anyone have a decent pic of a Morgan 87? Chicago puts it between '29 & '47

Here the sale link:
http://www.estatesales.net/estate-sales/187125.aspx

 

[ZRX61]

How %&^$#$ much??

http://losangeles.craigslist.org/sgv/atq/2447984047.html



Rock Island FS in Covina..
http://losangeles.craigslist.org/sgv/tls/2445152764.html


Big Morgan in SanFran area...
http://sfbay.craigslist.org/pen/tls/2444761567.html

British Woden in Clearlake:
http://sfbay.craigslist.org/nby/tls/2438650469.html

 

[Catalyze]

That Woden would be a very nice one to have. Love the lines and shape of the thing. As to identifying the Morgan from the photo.....it took me a minute or two just to find the vise in the photo....let alone classify it. I am not ready for NSA work yet on satelite images.
Craig

 

[1950bowtie]

my athol 614 1/2 and mini red arrow

 

[Catalyze]

1950bowtie - you have a great pair there! Athol is on my to do list. I think that they are such an overbuilt vise.....lots of metal in the right places. Every time I think that I have one lined up, something happens in life to flatten the vise fund.

The Red Arrow is a great vise too. I have one and am about to buy another one. Yours is probably a Model 63 or so. Columbian made an older Red Arrow that is a Model 31. It looks the same just no Columbian logo on the other side. Graz on the vises!
Craig (my list is free for now....Craigs List)

 

[ZRX61]

1950bowtie - you have a great pair there! Athol is on my to do list. I think that they are such an overbuilt vise.....lots of metal in the right places. Every time I think that I have one lined up, something happens in life to flatten the vise fund.

Neighbor has 3 for sale, altho one is later & marked Starret....

 

[Catalyze]

Tempt me not foul vise demon. Thou art wicked with offers of Athols. Mine Vise Fund is barren until next harvest. However, I will put you on speed dial anyway!
Craig

 

[Catalyze]

Here is a Columbian 505 1/2 vise. It was used hard in a factory environment and definitely shows the abuse on the slide. It is a testament to good vise makers that it held up and still works fine.

Before:
View media item 10135
After:
View media item 10158
Craig

 

[whelenfan]

very nice craig!

 

[blue dog]

Anyone ever figure out any info on this Mercury that i have. How about this Lion vise ?

 

[Catalyze]

Blue - that Mercury is a very great looking vise! I have no clue who made it other than maybe Morgan doing a run for a private label.

the Lion vise is great....how do you come upon all these strange vises??
Craig

 

[crankshaftdan II]

Another question for the vise experts!
Picked up a large BABCO 6" jaw width-model 160 and discovered that the female dove-tail=lead screw holder is stripped out! (Posted a wanted thread on this site). My questions are does anyone know if another assy from a like vise of different brand possibly fit? Are all the 6" vises using the same thread pitch for the lead screw? This assy seems to be short for a vise of this size and capacity-maybe the reason it stripped out? Can you have one made in a machine shop out of more hardned steel which will hold up? Does anyone know where/if babco parts are available? I know that non-american made units don't hold a lot of respect for most vise affectanadoes-however this one could lead a respectable lifestyle in my hobby/DIY garage! Any comments/suggestions-other than using for a good boat anchor would be appreciated. Thanks for viewing...........Cranky

 

[shanker]

there is one of those fancy precise machinist vise's on my local CL

http://corpuschristi.craigslist.org/tls/2409316286.html

 

[DieselDent]

Any info on this vise and the side part?
http://washingtondc.craigslist.org/nva/tls/2439527182.html

 

[SweetD]

Any info on this vise and the side part?
http://washingtondc.craigslist.org/nva/tls/2439527182.html

Looks like a sheet metal working vise due to the large surface area of the jaws. That would also make sense as to why it has that extra swivel on the side, to further manipulate the workpiece.

Just a guess though...

Dave

 

[crankshaftdan II]

Any info on this vise and the side part?
http://washingtondc.craigslist.org/nva/tls/2439527182.html

I just posted a picture of the one that I re-furbished. It is commonly called a gun-maker's or hobby vice. The one I have does not have any jaws (4"x2") yet, thought I could make wood-plastic & steel. Wilton does not really know what type of vise, except that it does exist and they don't really know the mfg. range! At least you have a model # from the post.
There was one posted on flea-bay for BIN $430.00!! They usually sell for $40.00 to $75.00 under normal conditions. Mine only had a pressure sensitive "WILTON" label on the right hand inset.............Cranky

 

[Steve V.]

I don't know if you could get parts or not but a machine shop could make one but it would probably be cost prohibitive. What about drilling it out and putting a sleeve in there? Once again, it might be cost prohibitive if you don't have any contacts that are machinists.

Steve

Another question for the vise experts!
Picked up a large BABCO 6" jaw width-model 160 and discovered that the female dove-tail=lead screw holder is stripped out! (Posted a wanted thread on this site). My questions are does anyone know if another assy from a like vise of different brand possibly fit? Are all the 6" vises using the same thread pitch for the lead screw? This assy seems to be short for a vise of this size and capacity-maybe the reason it stripped out? Can you have one made in a machine shop out of more hardned steel which will hold up? Does anyone know where/if babco parts are available? I know that non-american made units don't hold a lot of respect for most vise affectanadoes-however this one could lead a respectable lifestyle in my hobby/DIY garage! Any comments/suggestions-other than using for a good boat anchor would be appreciated. Thanks for viewing...........Cranky

 

[bc'z]

http://www.made-in-china.com/showro...etailmJxnaUtkpQLE/China-BABCO-Bench-Vise.html

hope I'm wrong about the above, but FWIW the post is now out there for feedback.

 

[blue dog]

Blue - that Mercury is a very great looking vise! I have no clue who made it other than maybe Morgan doing a run for a private label.

the Lion vise is great....how do you come upon all these strange vises??
Craig

The mercury was a craigslist find that was right around the corner from my house, a old tool and die guy that worked in aerospace, the Lion was in the corner of a welders shop that i use off and on to do some work for me, after seeing it on the floor for so long, i asked the guy if he would make me a deal on it, and he did, $50.00. The mercury was in sad shape when i got it, but after reading all the remodel jobs on vices here, i decided to give it a try. Can't remember what i paid for the mercury exactly, but it was more then fair. I use the mercury all the time.

 

[BigAl62]

OK, here's mine. It's a Athol model 614. It is marked Athol M&F Co., Athol, Mass., Made In USA. I got it from my wife's grandfather' garage after he passed away (along with a Craftsman 2 drawer tool box and a bunch of mismatched tools). I may refinish it one day, but for now it works, so why mess with it. (Sorry about the mess around it, my garage is also my storage as I have no basement)

 

[Quint]

Saw this on CL today. Unreal

Hello,

Up for sale is a large vintage Prentiss vise model # 183. From the information I can find it appears to be very rare and not another one like it on here for sale. Dates back to the early 1900's.

This vise is all original and in great condition for it's age and functions perfectly.

Parts included are the base plate and large winged bolt with spacer / washer that threads to the bottom.
The base has multiple slots and the vise has one, so when you swivel the vise you can slide a pin in to secure it.
Bottle of oil is in picture to show how large the vise is in comparison.
The dimensions are as followed:
Vise Height to top of jaws: 12 3/4"
Width front to back closed: 28"
Jaws: 6"
Handle: 17"
Base ring diameter 10 1/4"
Weight: 175 lbs Including base.

 

[Fantom]

Hey guys, any idea on how hard it would be to source a new (used) vise handle for an old vise? I have the chance to pick up a Monarch to restore, but it's missing the handle and I have NO idea where I'll find another one.

 

[ZRX61]

Fairly easy to make if you have a lathe, or a friend with one?

 

[RivennHewn]

These might work.

Seems like somebody here could use them.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=130498146130&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT

 

[Fantom]

Thanks guys, I don't know anyone with a lathe but I was thinking worst case scenario I could make something work. I was just hoping for something more period...to make it look correct, you know?

Maybe someone out there has a handle from a vise that was beyond repair? Figure this would be the best place to ask as I've never seen such vise fanatics anywhere else

 

[whelenfan]

What diameter and length handle are you looking for?

 

[Fantom]

I don't have the vise in hand so I'm not 100% sure. It's a 4" Monarch...I was just curious to the availability of such a thing in case I did end up picking it up.

 

[Catalyze]

Fantom - Are you talking about the Large handle that has the main big Acme screw attached that opens and closes the jaws? Or...are you talking about the small handles that tighten a swivel base?

Main Handle with Lead Screw......good luck on that one....a reasonably competent machine shop can make you a handle/lead screw. It is way pricey compared to what you have in a completed vise. You will have to give them the nut so they can determine what Acme thread it needs. The setup, material, machining time will probably kill your wallet. I think MSC had Acme screw lengths if you could find out what thread you need. Then you could have the shop just build a handle for it. The price would still kill you.

Swivel base handles - determine what thread you need for the hold down bolts, and ask here again. autopts and some others will know exactly what is still made that will work for you. Some of these folks will have old hold downs you can use.

Good Luck!
Craig

 

[Fantom]

Craig,

It's only missing the main handle; nothing else. It's not a swivel base and as far as I know the lead screw is intact. Here's a pic:

 

[Catalyze]

Run right now and don't stop until you have that vise hugged to your chest! Any machine shop can build you a very original looking handle. One of the folks on here with a 5" Prentiss vise can send you photos and dimensions so that it will be as correct looking as possible. It won't be expensive so get going man! Buy that Vise....and thank you for the photo....now you can have pie!
Craig

 

[Fantom]

Ahaha, thanks Craig. I hope to pick it up this weekend. I know Monarchs are rare and it looks perfect for what I want, that is, minus the missing handle.

 

[Catalyze]

Saw this on CL today. Unreal

Hello,

Up for sale is a large vintage Prentiss vise model # 183. From the information I can find it appears to be very rare and not another one like it on here for sale. Dates back to the early 1900's.

Hi Quint!
That vise has been on Fleabay for a few months. It didn't sell and it was Expensive (at least to me). It is an unusual type of vise and there are some other makers that did the same design. If it were of a more "reasonable" price category, then someone would probably have snagged it up. It is fun to look at and it would be a hoot to repaint just to have a vise with that design. However, in the Grand Scheme of Things.....I would rather take the cost of that vise and buy a Reed or Athol......or buy Kirbot's Shiny Hammer.
Craig

 

[ZRX61]

Might want to dress that lip around the hole the handle goes through before you do anything else. It will save bloodshed later..

 

[Quint]

Hi Quint!
That vise has been on Fleabay for a few months. It didn't sell and it was Expensive (at least to me). It is an unusual type of vise and there are some other makers that did the same design. If it were of a more "reasonable" price category, then someone would probably have snagged it up. It is fun to look at and it would be a hoot to repaint just to have a vise with that design. However, in the Grand Scheme of Things.....I would rather take the cost of that vise and buy a Reed or Athol......or buy Kirbot's Shiny Hammer.
Craig

Thanks for those words of advice. As you say, I'll never use it to it's full potential, as it is HUGE. It's actually local to me, and he had it listed for MORE than the Ebay listing.

Just making sure I wasn't letting something SUPER rare slip through.

 

[spongerich]

Craig,

It's only missing the main handle; nothing else. It's not a swivel base and as far as I know the lead screw is intact. Here's a pic:

I have a 5" Monarch that looks to be very similar. If you end up getting it, PM me and I'll get you the measurements and some photos.

 

[ZRX61]

Just got a call from the guy who transported my Morgan 87 the other night. He's gonna call again when he gets home in a couple of hours & I'll head off to pick it up.

Hmmm.. wonder if I can have it restored by this time tomorrow?

& seeing no one has come up with a pic of another #87, I guess I'll have the only one on GJ... neener neener neener..

 

[Steve V.]

I'll bet you the bright shiny penny I found in my garage yesterday that you can't have it done by 7:40pm tomorrow.



Steve

Just got a call from the guy who transported my Morgan 87 the other night. He's gonna call again when he gets home in a couple of hours & I'll head off to pick it up.

Hmmm.. wonder if I can have it restored by this time tomorrow?

& seeing no one has come up with a pic of another #87, I guess I'll have the only one on GJ... neener neener neener..

 

[ZRX61]

Won't start on it until tomorrow anyway....

 

[jsokoly]

OK Vise gurus...I can't seem to find the info I'm looking for. I picked up this little beauty today along with several boxes of old tools. It's a Rock Island with swivel base, 4 1/2" jaws and a rear swivel jaw. It's in beautiful shape. From the pics you can see that it says Rock Island No. 52. I can't seem to find that model number anywhere else. Also cast into the bottom of the base is 74C and 74 is stamped into the side of the dynamic jaw.

Any ideas about age on this one?

Jeff