The VISES of Garage Journal

[Recoil Rob]

Nothing terribly big but the Yost was free, the strange red no name was found at a dump, the Columbian Woodworkers vise was my Grandfather's and then my Dad's, the little Columbian red vise was a $2 tag sale find and the last three were purchased cheap, but they are interesting.

The Yost 44 on the garage bench. Anyone know what the pin on top is for?

Strange red (drill press?) vise, no name, will need TLC as soon as I find out what it is.

My family Columbian, need to find a spot for it.

Tag sale Columbian 3-1/2 light duty, $2.00

This is a good copy of a Versa Vise, $60 since Versa Vise is no longer in business. There are a few differnet clones, this one had the best tolerances. It's on the gunsmithing table bench and is quite handy. I missed getting an original Versa Vise a few years ago, tried to talk someone out of it, it was just lying in a corner but couldn't swing it.

This is a pattern makers vice at the other end of the gunsmithing table. It doesn't get used as much and is in the way but I have to remove it and replace it with Dad's Columbian woodworkers vise. Then I can mount the patternmakers vise to a piece of 4x4 and clamp it in the woodworkers vise when needed.

Finally, this little guy is an original Parker Hale Bisley portable gunsmithing vise I picked up, NOS, on eBay. They are quite cool and handy at the range. I actually got one of the newer ones made by LOTHAR WALTHER PRECISION TOOL to take to the range, this one is too nice to mess up. The new ones have gotten quite expensive too though.

 

[outlander800]

The rear jaw on the yost is a swivel jaw. Its probably siezed up, start hitting that with some penetrating oil and break it loose.

 

[Recoil Rob]

Gotta love Kroil! More info in my Yost thread.

 

[ZRX61]

Athol 323 1/2 at the swapmeet for $22 this morning

 

[ZRX61]

I was actually quite restrained today, I left a $25 (non-bullet) Wilton there & a Columbian that was missing the swivel base for the same price.

 

[JMann2380]

Very cool thread. I just picked up a Ridgid make in Elyria Ohio, model # 60FSN. Paid $150 which is more than most, but this thing is in pretty good shape and I needed a vise for the shop. Can't wait to take it apart and clean her up.

Does anyone know the original color these came?

-Josh

I took it apart and hit it with a wire cup wheel, lubed it and put it back together... I just couldn't bring myself to paint it when it is going to get used and I kinda like the weathered look. I just wiped it down with some air tool oil.

-Josh

 

[ZRX61]

How freaking much??

http://losangeles.craigslist.org/sfv/atq/2501473483.html

 

[ZRX61]

Was there a shortage of vises to be had this week?

 

[Moose-LandTran]

I took it apart and hit it with a wire cup wheel, lubed it and put it back together... I just couldn't bring myself to paint it when it is going to get used and I kinda like the weathered look. I just wiped it down with some air tool oil.

-Josh

That looks really good in the bare metal!

 

[Brad54]

How freaking much??

http://losangeles.craigslist.org/sfv/atq/2501473483.html

I'm guessing he's got a pretty good prescription for medical marijuana.

-Brad

 

[JMann2380]

That looks really good in the bare metal!

Yeah me too!!!

 

[exmaxima1]

I just wiped it down with some air tool oil.

-Josh

I think I'm gonna try that with my Wilton 400S. I'm tired of repainting it and having it chip within days. The air tool oil is likely to be mineral oil-based, which I prefer over the silicone-based rust inhibiter oils (especially if you ever want to repaint it ever again).

 

[zip95864]

Sorry to rain on the parade, but this "Wilton" is Chiwanese. Same as this one.

Yeah I figured it was, however, it's done everything I've asked it to do (so far).

 

[Swingit]

I got this vise at a local farm auction today for $42.50. It weights about 135 pounds and has 5" jaws. I have seen this style before, and have been looking for one for quit a while now. I think its for horse shoeing. I don't remember ever seeing one on GJ. I would like to know more about it. I will be cleaning it up, and it will be naked

 

[autopts]

Thats a great find and an excellent addition to this thread. I'm anxious to see it finished. Great score!

 

[Swingit]

Thats a great find and an excellent addition to this thread. I'm anxious to see it finished. Great score!

Thanks autopts!! Do you have any info on it? I would really like to know more about it. Its gonna be a while before I clean it up, We are in the process of moving right now and have to put all projects aside till we are all settled in

 

[Mike_C]

I have been on a vise hunt ever since getting my garage. And its not easy finding them around here. The good ones go quick.

I first picked up a blacksmith vise, which I will be putting on one end of my work bench. Then the other weekend I picked up a 5" littlestown #145 vise. It was cheap, and its a good little vise. But I wanted something larger for the garage. So I continued looking. Finally found the one last night, and picked it up after work today. I didn't steal it, but I feel it was a fair price.

Its a Rock Island #574. Everything is very smooth on it, looks to be in pretty good shape for its age. I am torn on restoring it or leaving the patina on this one.

Here are both vises side by side.

The Rock Island with a Guiness next to it for size reference.

 

[metal1313]

my mini restoration of my wilton. it was in great shape and worked fine but i wanted to dress it up.

i still have to do the base but it has to wait.


the photos show up normally on my comp, not sure why they rotated during upload

 

[exmaxima1]

my mini restoration of my wilton. it was in great shape and worked fine but i wanted to dress it up.

i still have to do the base but it has to wait.


the photos show up normally on my comp, not sure why they rotated during upload

Rustoleum makes a green metallic that has more blue in it and it looks almost identical to original Wilton green

 

[48James]

It's finished

[/IMG]

 

[Nightshift]

It's finished

[/IMG]

Nice color James ... not really "finished finished" till you add the handle!

 

[Jayincali]

I would take a brass wire wheel on a 90 degree grinder and strip it. Spray some Deep Creep and use it. 20 different members will give you 20 different suggestions. All worthwhile but still a personal preference. Thats a beauty!!

[/QUOTE]

Auto - Is that what you did with this Wilton? Looks awesome. Mine is painted gray, but like the looks of this way better. Any down side to not painting? Do you just wipe it down with Deep Creep every couple weeks or so?

 

[metal1313]

Rustoleum makes a green metallic that has more blue in it and it looks almost identical to original Wilton green

its paitned with rustoleum hammered green, i like the color a lot and it will contrast nicely with the copper and gold paint i use on the letters. it also contrasts great with the polished retainer, and eveuntually i will polish the handle and side handles as well as the bullet end cap

 

[jeepgod]

my Athol freshly refurbished.. with an ice cold Guinness fresh off the tap...

 

[Jawn]

Someone local on Craigslist has a 4 1/2" US-made Columbian, asking $75... think I should pounce? It's tempting...

Kind of iffy on the price, but I'm not seeing much else US-made around.

 

[zip95864]

Got this Wilton off of eBay for like $30 and it has this bent handle:

Ordered 24" ($13.00 on eBay) of 17-4 Stainless Steel rod which had one of the highest Yield Strengths I could find at 145,000 psi And two of these collars ($5)

So got the parts in the mail yesterday and installed. Note: anyone that buys 17-4 stainless who doesnt have industrial metal cutting machinery, get the correct length you need. After about 5 minutes with a hacksaw and fresh blade I barely scratched the rod. I switched to a jigsaw which was slow but worked. Feels very solid. This vise has 5" opening, when it breaks I'll get something made in the USA ----- now lets see how long it takes to break this thing!

 

[v8garage]

A wafer blade on a grinder will cut that stainless.
V/8

 

[Nightshift]

So got the parts in the mail yesterday and installed. Note: anyone that buys 17-4 stainless who doesnt have industrial metal cutting machinery, get the correct length you need. After about 5 minutes with a hacksaw and fresh blade I barely scratched the rod. I switched to a jigsaw which was slow but worked. Feels very solid. This vise has 5" opening, when it breaks I'll get something made in the USA ----- now lets see how long it takes to break this thing!

Nice lookin handle there ... suggest you add a couple hose washers or heavy o-rings on each end so it's quiet when the handle slides thru to the stop (no metal-metal contact). Cheers, Bill

 

[Brad54]

So got the parts in the mail yesterday and installed. Note: anyone that buys 17-4 stainless who doesnt have industrial metal cutting machinery, get the correct length you need. After about 5 minutes with a hacksaw and fresh blade I barely scratched the rod. I switched to a jigsaw which was slow but worked. Feels very solid. This vise has 5" opening, when it breaks I'll get something made in the USA ----- now lets see how long it takes to break this thing!

Cutting stainless is... yeah...

One other option for the ends might be ordering a couple of steel balls from McMaster-Carr, and taking them to a machine shop to have a hole bored in them that's a press-fit to the O.D. of your shaft. Then press them onto the shaft.

-Brad

 

[autopts]

Thanks autopts!! Do you have any info on it? I would really like to know more about it. Its gonna be a while before I clean it up, We are in the process of moving right now and have to put all projects aside till we are all settled in

Not only do I not have any info on it..I've never seen one before. Does it have a Pat. # anywhere?

 

[balane]

So got the parts in the mail yesterday and installed. Note: anyone that buys 17-4 stainless who doesnt have industrial metal cutting machinery, get the correct length you need. After about 5 minutes with a hacksaw and fresh blade I barely scratched the rod. I switched to a jigsaw which was slow but worked. Feels very solid. This vise has 5" opening, when it breaks I'll get something made in the USA ----- now lets see how long it takes to break this thing!

I have the same blue Wilton Chinese vise as you. I bought it before I knew the difference and that Wilton's name could be on a non-USA vise. I got mine for $30 from Craig's List and it was new. I've been trying to break it so I could have an excuse to get an old, giant USA vise but haven't had any luck. I beat the **** out of it and it takes the abuse just fine. I must admit that when I finally do replace it I'm going to miss the rotating feature.

Edit: If I do end up breaking mine you can have my handle if you want it. Just pay for the stamps and it's yours. You probably don't need it now though.

 

[Gary Indiana]

Note: anyone that buys 17-4 stainless who doesnt have industrial metal cutting machinery, get the correct length you need. After about 5 minutes with a hacksaw and fresh blade I barely scratched the rod. I switched to a jigsaw which was slow but worked.

Angle grinder with cut-off wheel on it, goes thru stainless like thru butter.

 

[Stuart in MN]

I got this vise at a local farm auction today for $42.50. It weights about 135 pounds and has 5" jaws. I have seen this style before, and have been looking for one for quit a while now. I think its for horse shoeing. I don't remember ever seeing one on GJ. I would like to know more about it. I will be cleaning it up, and it will be naked

From http://vintagemachinery.org/mfgindex/detail.aspx?id=1269

In 1876 the brothers Frederick E. Wells and Frank O. Wells left Wiley & Russell Manufacturing Co. to start their own business. They located in a small building on the North bank of the Green River, a short distance upstream from Wiley & Russell. Under the company name of Wells Brothers and the brand name of "Little Giant" they made thread cutting tools, i.e., taps and dies.

In 1879 Franklin E. Snow entered the Wells Brothers organization and the firm became known as Wells Brothers & Co. Through his efforts the company grew rapidly, competing with Wiley & Russell. Tools and machinery for farriers, blacksmiths and wheelwrights were added to the product line. This included manual and powered drilling machines under the "Little Giant" trademark.

In 1888 the company moved to a new and larger factory and incorporated under the name of Wells Brothers Co. In 1900 Frederick E. Wells left, and, with his son, formed the F. E. Wells & Son Co. to manufacture pipe threading tools and lathes.

In 1912 Wells Brothers Co. was acquired by the Greenfield Tap & Die Corp. Tools and machinery not related to thread cutting and the Wells Brothers Co. name were discontinued after 1916.

I found an ebay auction for a similar vise, they say it's a farrier vise: http://cgi.ebay.com/Farrier-Step-Vise-3-/360247189974#ht_767wt_1141

 

[autopts]

I would take a brass wire wheel on a 90 degree grinder and strip it. Spray some Deep Creep and use it. 20 different members will give you 20 different suggestions. All worthwhile but still a personal preference. Thats a beauty!!

Auto - Is that what you did with this Wilton? Looks awesome. Mine is painted gray, but like the looks of this way better. Any down side to not painting? Do you just wipe it down with Deep Creep every couple weeks or so?[/QUOTE]

Whats great about it is that it will never chip, flake, or need a touch up. I like the fact that you can take your copper jaw liners on and off without scraping the paint. Once every two to three months. Its very little maintaince and the color never changes..

 

[JMann2380]

Finally got my Ridgid mounted! Now it's time to put it to work!

 

[darkk]

Got this one this morning for $20. How'd I do?

 

[bigbob302]

Hey guys. I've lurked a long time and finally started posting. thought I'd share my vice.
I skimmed this thread, there are cool vices!

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[BJ42LX]

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Vice. Pedistal. Base.

Game over. You win.

 

[bigbob302]

Thanks. It works out pretty well you just grab the ****** with a fork lift and move it were ever you want it. I work on heavy equipment and this thing is a life saver when it comes to straightening bent steel and tearing down hyd. cylinders

 

[les_garten]

That is a Manly Vice setup!