My bench vise

[solar_eclipse2]

I have an old craftsman bench vise that's served me well and my father before me. It's in pretty rough shape because vises kinda get beat on over the years I guess.

I'm not sure when it was made, probably 70's/80's but I'd like to clean it up and make it nice looking again. I've seen some other vise restoration threads on here and they look great.

The general consensus seems to be to break it down, blast it, and paint it. I don't have the ability to blast it. Will a wire wheel ruin it? What are my other options?

What should I paint it with? Spray paint? Rhino liner? Caliper paint? I want it to look good but be durable.

Does the screw get greased/oiled or otherwise lubed?

Can I get new jaw plates for it since they just screw in?

Anything else you can tell me?

 

[bad_idea]

The cheap and easy is to soak it in vinegar for a day or so. It will look sandblasted and be just as clean/ ready for paint. Search the board for more info on vinegar, it works great.

 

[z28toz06]

take it apart and soak it in white distilled vinegar. then use a scotchbrite pad and polish it. lube it up and put it back together. you can't hurt it.

 

[Daniel Dudley]

A wire brush, soap and water, and a small can of rustoleum. Brush it on.

 

[mad57]

mine is powder coated looks great and durable, but i do powder coating

 

[J Persons]

I have an old craftsman bench vise that's served me well and my father before me. It's in pretty rough shape because vises kinda get beat on over the years I guess.

I'm not sure when it was made, probably 70's/80's but I'd like to clean it up and make it nice looking again. I've seen some other vise restoration threads on here and they look great.

The general consensus seems to be to break it down, blast it, and paint it. I don't have the ability to blast it. Will a wire wheel ruin it? What are my other options?

What should I paint it with? Spray paint? Rhino liner? Caliper paint? I want it to look good but be durable.

Does the screw get greased/oiled or otherwise lubed?

Can I get new jaw plates for it since they just screw in?

Anything else you can tell me?

I have a vise that looks almost identical to the one posted. When I got it, it was a rusty mess. I blasted it with "Black Beauty", and after washing it down with lacquer thinner, sprayed it with Rustoleum rusty metal primer. I'm going to finish it soon as I get around to it. If you don't have a blast cabinet, a wire wheel will work, as well as a paint on rust converter. I've heard that CocaCola will also remove rust.

 

[solar_eclipse2]

I have a vise that looks almost identical to the one posted. When I got it, it was a rusty mess. I blasted it with "Black Beauty", and after washing it down with lacquer thinner, sprayed it with Rustoleum rusty metal primer. I'm going to finish it soon as I get around to it. If you don't have a blast cabinet, a wire wheel will work, as well as a paint on rust converter. I've heard that CocaCola will also remove rust.

Do you have pics of your vise?

 

[eric_koski]

Heres one that I just finished . Glass beaded, primered and painted with Rustoleum Hammered paint. Appears to be the same as yours.

 

[Cyberbear]

Clean it as best you can with what you have available, getting rid of all loose and greasy
particles, repaint, re-assemble and apply grease to the operating shaft threads and oil everything else, good to go. Make sure the vise is mounted securely to the work surface.
With proper care it should last another generation.