Swan
Well-known member
I just finished restoring my new Wilton C1 #1845 vise (c. 1955) 4.5" jaws. My friend gave it to me for photographing, listing, selling and shipping 20 of his vintage vises. Here it is before:
After:
All said and done it took 8 hours of my precious free time, but the price was right. It was functional, but I completely broke it down, cleaned, degreased in parts washer, wire brush on disc grinder, soap and water, lacquer thinner, automotive self-etching primer, Rustoleum Hammered Verde Green spray paint and two coats of Krylon clear. The jaws and pipe holders were bead blasted and I installed and peened over two new handles for the swivel nuts, greased the main screw and swivel points and oiled the large body pipe. It looks good and works beautifully. I left the main handle as is even though it is slightly bent because it has character and history. It is overkill for my little work room and I am going to buy or make two aluminum jaws for I mostly work on vintage motorcycle parts.
There are many helpful Wilton restoration threads on this forum and my restoration was fairly straight forward with the exception of the two pins holding large threaded tube inside and the jaw screws. The two pins took much soaking in penetrant then heat but could not be drifted or pressed out, so I ended up drilling them out. They were replaced them with two 1/4" diameter 1" length pins. The jaw screws an pins were a nightmare and after a week of PB Blast, ATF/acetone and Marvel Mystery oil treatments, heat, impact driver, etc . I ended up having to drill the screws out; a very slow process with lots of cutting oil, but I managed to keep the original threads, chased them with a 5/16th tap and fitted new allen head bolts and pins.
I did register it on DavidB's Wilton Bullet Vise information page here on GJ forum.
Another vintage American made tool ready for a lifetime of service. I love it.
After:
All said and done it took 8 hours of my precious free time, but the price was right. It was functional, but I completely broke it down, cleaned, degreased in parts washer, wire brush on disc grinder, soap and water, lacquer thinner, automotive self-etching primer, Rustoleum Hammered Verde Green spray paint and two coats of Krylon clear. The jaws and pipe holders were bead blasted and I installed and peened over two new handles for the swivel nuts, greased the main screw and swivel points and oiled the large body pipe. It looks good and works beautifully. I left the main handle as is even though it is slightly bent because it has character and history. It is overkill for my little work room and I am going to buy or make two aluminum jaws for I mostly work on vintage motorcycle parts.
There are many helpful Wilton restoration threads on this forum and my restoration was fairly straight forward with the exception of the two pins holding large threaded tube inside and the jaw screws. The two pins took much soaking in penetrant then heat but could not be drifted or pressed out, so I ended up drilling them out. They were replaced them with two 1/4" diameter 1" length pins. The jaw screws an pins were a nightmare and after a week of PB Blast, ATF/acetone and Marvel Mystery oil treatments, heat, impact driver, etc . I ended up having to drill the screws out; a very slow process with lots of cutting oil, but I managed to keep the original threads, chased them with a 5/16th tap and fitted new allen head bolts and pins.
I did register it on DavidB's Wilton Bullet Vise information page here on GJ forum.
Another vintage American made tool ready for a lifetime of service. I love it.
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