EdT
Well-known member
There's some stuff made for table saw tables that does not get into the wood and keeps the top from rusting. As stated above, ordinary furniture wax should work well too.
The VISES of Garage Journal
- Thread starter mjozefow
- Start date
julesthegreat
Well-known member
Jaw screws, if you need em it is nice to know where to get them.
These ones are 5/16-18
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=154488&d=1322894111
They also have 1/4-20 ones
I needed/wanted some for the Amercan Scale Co vise I am repainting and regreasing. Will post pictures later!
Jules
These ones are 5/16-18
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=154488&d=1322894111
They also have 1/4-20 ones
I needed/wanted some for the Amercan Scale Co vise I am repainting and regreasing. Will post pictures later!
Jules
I picked up an old Reed 204R from an older genleman a mile away. I saw it on CL before I left for Turkey Day and was suprised he still had it when I came back. I grabbed it for $1.20/lb and other than some cosmetic blems from solid use over the years it's in great shape. Still could use a going through.
I know sometime in the 30's-40's Reed changed the lead screw head the flattened marshmellow style and I seem to recall hearing they went to a higher strength rod at the same time. I don't however have any clear idea when this was made and can only surmise some time from 1950-1970? Does anyone have a better indicator?
Nice vise, I have two Reeds myself, both like yours with the mushroom head and permanent jaw inserts.
Jagmandave
Well-known member
I love the work you all do to clean these up and refurbish them, but do any of you ever use them for what they're intended after you fix them up, or are they just some kind of trophy or collection?
Lump
Well-known member
I can't speak for anyone else, but I definitely do use my vises...thoroughly! Some of us have way more vises than we need...it's a tool-collecting thing. We all do it for the same reasons anyone collects anything. After all, why would anyone really want an antique car, when modern cars are so much more safe and efficient? The same is true with firearms, vintage coins, paintings, etc.
But I'll bet that you will find that MOST folks on this thread are vise users. Some of them like to restore them and paint 'em up beautifully...but nearly all of us do USE them.
Cheers!
But I'll bet that you will find that MOST folks on this thread are vise users. Some of them like to restore them and paint 'em up beautifully...but nearly all of us do USE them.
Cheers!
Nightshift
Well-known member
I agree with Lump. Even though my vices collectively number in the low 20's ... I have my two 5' Wiltons in daily use in my machine shop, a 6" Columbian and a 5" Record in use in my garage. Not to mention all the other vices in use daily like cam-loc drill press vices, milling machine vice, etc. I do have a shelf unit full of refurbed 6", 5" and 4" vices that is eye-candy for visitors to my shop to drool over ... and I recently gave away a 5" Record to a friend who needed one (he was shocked to say the least). Cheers, Bill
Rickenbackerman
Well-known member
Bill - "gave away"? I need friends like you!
ZRX61
Well-known member
Nightshift
Well-known member
Well, I DO have several Records ... and I DON'T need the money ... and he is a friend (electrician) that helps me out "electrically" when I can't do it myself ... and won't take money for his time ... so you can see how this kind of thing happens. It made his day ... and mine, as I now have 1 open spot on my vice eye-candy shelf in case I stumble on another one for sale! Cheers, Bill
Rickenbackerman
Well-known member
Outlawmws
Well-known member
Jagmandave
Well-known member
I have 5 or 6 of various types, 3 of them get used a lot - including the big Wilton - the rest are more specialty types - one for the drill press and a small clamp-on for the odd small holding job.
The reason I asked is that I see very few of the vises in the pics bolted down - they're not very useful sitting loose - at least to me.
That's why I wondered if you all just collect them vs actually use them. (and no, there's nothing wrong with collecting them vs any thing else)
The reason I asked is that I see very few of the vises in the pics bolted down - they're not very useful sitting loose - at least to me.
That's why I wondered if you all just collect them vs actually use them. (and no, there's nothing wrong with collecting them vs any thing else)
ZRX61
Well-known member
Some get used, some don't...
http://www.pokerisbad.com/vise.html
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Outlawmws
Well-known member
Hi all, great thread. Can anyone id this vise? Jaws are 4.5" and opens to 10
". I can pick this one up for $50. Waddaya thinks?
http://www.pokerisbad.com/vise.html
Asian Import
Mark in Indiana
Well-known member
Collecting is fine but I use all of mine:
Charles Parker 205 machinist vise
Craftsman 4 1/2" mechanics vise
Stanley Clamp on vise
Enco drill press vise
Morgan 10A wood working vise
Bison 80 (Polish vise at my Dad's house)
gatewaysysop
Well-known member
demoman
Well-known member
I just got a nice 1930's? reed vise catalog. Does anyone want to see a posting of the pages. It has great detail. This has to be old as there are no phone numbers only cable and telegraph codes for contacting Reed mfg.
Brad
Brad
ZRX61
Well-known member
Yup, I have its Rock Island twinA recent addition, got this one from my father as a surprise on his last visit!
Craftsman vise, Rock Island made (my guess) with 3.5" jaws. Sucker weighs about 40 pounds!
bl00
Well-known member
yes!
bl00
Well-known member
Here's a Geo. W. Diener Mfg. Co from Chicago sitting on a big Reed. Also my wife got a new lens for her camera, so I tried a couple artistic shots of some new copper liners on the American Scale No.69. I'm not sure if I succeeded, but at least it make's me look like a better photographer than my cell phone camera does.
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demoman
Well-known member
Fred - Nice brass
demoman
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demoman
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demoman
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demoman
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demoman
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Geurt
Well-known member
Just received a new vise that I bought because of you guys..
It's a York 150 with a swivel base. She's rather heavy and has seen some abuse. I'm going to restore here and bring out her inner beauty!
Don't know the brand of the other vise, it only says 100 on the side. She has served me well though since I owned her.
It's a York 150 with a swivel base. She's rather heavy and has seen some abuse. I'm going to restore here and bring out her inner beauty!
Don't know the brand of the other vise, it only says 100 on the side. She has served me well though since I owned her.
Thanks for sharing all those photos..Happy Holidays!
gatewaysysop
Well-known member
Lump
Well-known member
Nice stuff. Thanks for sharing. Happy Holidays to you.
Catalyze
Well-known member
Gorgeous stuff posted in the last month! Finally we get the story of Banjo's Big Vise....what a game of tag. Speaking of big vises, I watched an 8" Parker swivel base go for over $700 at an auction this month and stood aside and waved goodbye to it. The vise was worth it but I am not spending that big money for a vise I will never use. On the other hand....how about a nice old Athol 4 1/2" vise from WWII era? The brass plate on the side was attached by the Government on tools provided for the war effort. This one came from a Ford aircraft engine factory. Athol is probably the finest tooled vise that I have come across. The swivel base lockdown....the hold screw for the main nut...the butress type of threads on the lead screw all speak of extra machining. The crate that it arrived in deserves a mention. The vise had stainless safety wiring all over the place and it was totally solid packed.
Craig
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The Tag removed from the side of the vise.
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Tag polished up for reattachment.
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Vise apart....lots of orange paint.
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What Butress threads look like. They tend to be stronger than normal threads used.
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Finished product with the jaw covers. Not too bad for an old WWII tool. LOL
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Craig
View media item 14262
The Tag removed from the side of the vise.
View media item 13449
Tag polished up for reattachment.
View media item 13450
Vise apart....lots of orange paint.
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What Butress threads look like. They tend to be stronger than normal threads used.
View media item 14263
Finished product with the jaw covers. Not too bad for an old WWII tool. LOL
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Catalyze
Well-known member
In the Spirit of Christmas giving.....here are 3 vises that I refreshed for friends who really need a good USA vise (as in they are using vises from distant shores).
A really cute 4" Columbian that was a rust bucket when I got it.
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A funny old Prentiss Bulldog. Notice that the "I" is missing on the Prentiss logo on the sliding jaw. It just wasn't cast when they made the part. Honest!
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Another Prentiss but a later one. The logo is changed and the shape of the vise body is different if you have the two side by side and look down. All 3 going to needy homes or shops as the case may be. I hope that everyone has a Great Christmas and may you find a nice Vise under your tree!
Craig
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A really cute 4" Columbian that was a rust bucket when I got it.
View media item 14267
A funny old Prentiss Bulldog. Notice that the "I" is missing on the Prentiss logo on the sliding jaw. It just wasn't cast when they made the part. Honest!
View media item 14268
Another Prentiss but a later one. The logo is changed and the shape of the vise body is different if you have the two side by side and look down. All 3 going to needy homes or shops as the case may be. I hope that everyone has a Great Christmas and may you find a nice Vise under your tree!
Craig
View media item 14269
gatewaysysop
Well-known member
I actually have the exact same Athol vise from the same era (no gov't tag, however) and have to agree with you, they are insanely stout. The only vise I have which puts even my recent Reed acquisition to shame with how stout it is. What beast of a 4.5" it is.
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Mark in Indiana
Well-known member
Just received a new vise that I bought because of you guys..
It's a York 150 with a swivel base. She's rather heavy and has seen some abuse. I'm going to restore here and bring out her inner beauty!
Don't know the brand of the other vise, it only says 100 on the side. She has served me well though since I owned her.
I believe that the unknown vise is a Bison. It's a high quality vise manufactured by a Polish company that makes machinists equipment. It looks like my Dad's #80 which has a 3.5" jaw. I assume that your vise has a 4" jaw. If you google bison vise, you will be able to find a lot of information about the company.
demoman
Well-known member
I forgot to add this handy Reed comparison chart. bl00 has a nice columbian chart that reminded me. I also had a revelation today. If you first click on any thumbnail photo that is posted on here and then double click on that photo it will blow it up full screen and you can zoom in it. Maybe just me but I have missed that one for over a year now? Try it. Just in case there are other people missing the boat like me.
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Pupuhd
Well-known member
This is a Columbian 504 1/2 M2 vise I picked up at a yard sale for about $5 about a month ago. It didn't come with the swivel base since the 50x series were stationary and the 60x series had a swivel base. Last week at a surplus store I saw the swivel base for $7 wrapped in duct tape. After taking it home, it fit perfectly, all that was missing was the center bolt.
After some new bolts, cleanup and penatrating oil both the vise and swivel base work perfect. The Craftsman 4-1/2 next to it was bolted in the spot where the new Columbian is now. I will sell it now that I have a larger swivel base vise.
After some new bolts, cleanup and penatrating oil both the vise and swivel base work perfect. The Craftsman 4-1/2 next to it was bolted in the spot where the new Columbian is now. I will sell it now that I have a larger swivel base vise.
Outlawmws
Well-known member
Sounds like that was meant to be! I love it when everything just comes together.
Are you going to strip/paint/restore it?
Are you going to strip/paint/restore it?
Pupuhd
Well-known member
Yeap at some point. Currently have over six other old iron woodworking and metalworking machines that I have to do first. Not to mention the Prentiss Vise Co. 6" Monarch vise I got over three months ago. My next project this coming week is to build a blasting cabinet so I can get started.
Outlawmws
Well-known member
Personally I like electrolysis over any abrasive blasting for the old iron tools. Its a lot easier, less messy, and can strip both paint and rust without affecting the base iron/steel, so no masking of machined surfaces is required. I'm about to rig up a longer larger tub for the 6" jointer I picked up this past summer. I did the parts that fit in my 5 gallon plastic bucket operation already but the larger/longer parts won't fit in there.
All you really need to get started is a transformer type battery charger, a bucket, one spa chemical or washing soda, and some rebar sections