The VISES of Garage Journal

[bobadame]

Here's a nifty little Gyro-Vise. I made a base for it to fit the sockets on my work bench.

 

[MD11]

my German made Ridgid... quite happy with it for what little use I have for a vise. I recently mounted it to my workbench that I made... prior to that it was bolted into a large tree stump...

 

[demographic]

my German made Ridgid... quite happy with it for what little use I have for a vise. I recently mounted it to my workbench that I made... prior to that it was bolted into a large tree stump...

Nice workbench.

 

[autopts]

Just picked up a 3" Wilton C-0 with missing pipe jaws. Where is the best place to buy jaws for this gem?

How old is that C-0? Wilton made different jaws at different time periods. The date should be on the keyway underneath.

 

[Outlawmws]

Here's a nifty little Gyro-Vise. I made a base for it to fit the sockets on my work bench.

Can you show closer pics of the base you made and how the vise works on it? That looks interesting.

 

[OUTRIGGER]

No. 2 No.1 Paramo Hi-Duty

NOS with just a bit of surface rust , cheaper £ than the one I already had , so had to find it a home

 

[demographic]

No. 2 No.1 Paramo Hi-Duty

NOS with just a bit of surface rust , cheaper £ than the one I already had , so had to find it a home

Its a slippery slope isn't it?

I've just bought a Fortis vice to go with the Ajax (both made in Coventry and look to me to be the same castings but I'll know for sure when my mate drops it off) that I already own.

That makes the total...


Two woodworking vice's that are built into my beech Lervad bench
A Woden 189B Number 1 quick release 7" woodwork vice
A Record quick release 7" woodwork vice
Two small clamp on metalwork things
A Record 74 auto vice
A record number six mechanics vice
Ajax cast steel quick release 5" vice
Fortis cast steel vice
A hand vice.
Small version of a blacksmiths leg vice, without the leg part and it clamps on to the worktop, still its forged and most likely able to cope with more hammer than the rest of them put together.
and a cheapo Chinese spinny thing that's on my tool chest worktop.

Oh ****, its an ailment isn't it?
I blame ZRX61

 

[bluebolt]

I'm not gonna make any friends by saying this but i got that vise and the little Wilton Baby Bullet, from my earlier pictures, in the same day and not more then 5 miles apart. I had to pay 50.00 for the Prentiss, and at the time, i kinda hemmed and hawed over that price since there were so many other things i wanted to buy at that sale.

The Wilton Baby Bullet was a different story. I know what they are worth and, when i found it, was afraid that the guy selling it was going to say 100.00 or some ridiculous price. I grabbed a few other hand tools and walked up to the guy doing pricing and waited for my judgement. When he said "thats a really nice quality vise and i was kinda planning on buying it myself but......, how does 10.00 sound?" I whipped the money out of my wallet so fast i think the bills caught on fire.

Yep no friends here you just get a big "You ****" for a baby bullet for $10!

 

[ZRX61]

I'm not gonna make any friends by saying this but i got that vise and the little Wilton Baby Bullet, from my earlier pictures, in the same day and not more then 5 miles apart. I had to pay 50.00 for the Prentiss, and at the time, i kinda hemmed and hawed over that price since there were so many other things i wanted to buy at that sale.

There's a bunch of those sheet metal vises bolted to benches thrown out behind a hangar at the local airbase. Haven't been able to get one yet tho...

 

[ZRX61]

Oh ****, its an ailment isn't it?
I blame ZRX61

eyethangewe

 

[bigcaddy]

There's a bunch of those sheet metal vises bolted to benches thrown out behind a hangar at the local airbase. Haven't been able to get one yet tho...

Don't you just love the aerospace industry? I was at Boeing in Long Beach many years ago and watched a forklift take a pallet crate of basically new Wilton Bullet Vises, most likely in the 100+ pound range, and dump them in a scrap bin. I was able to rescue one before security came and told my guys to put the ones they grabbed back in the bin.

Here are 2 more pics of my recent Athol i found. Can anybody ID the initials on the oval tag?

 

[bluebolt]

Picked up these two Dremel vises, a small clamp on swivel vise and the baby anvil for $10 for all. The clamp on vise swivels by turning that small lever on one side vertical which slightly looseens the plate, turn the lever horizontal and its tight again.

 

[Outlawmws]

Picked up these two Dremel vises, a small clamp on swivel vise and the baby anvil for $10 for all. The clamp on vise swivels by turning that small lever on one side vertical which slightly looseens the plate, turn the lever horizontal and its tight again.

Is that baby anvil alloy? or plated?

 

[PCO6]

No. 2 No.1 Paramo Hi-Duty

NOS with just a bit of surface rust , cheaper £ than the one I already had , so had to find it a home

OUTRIGGER - One of those would fit nicely between my Nos. 1 and 3. If you were a bit closer I'd be paying you a visit.

 

[PCO6]

Its a slippery slope isn't it?

I've just bought a Fortis vice to go with the Ajax (both made in Coventry and look to me to be the same castings but I'll know for sure when my mate drops it off) that I already own.

That makes the total...


Two woodworking vice's that are built into my beech Lervad bench
A Woden 189B Number 1 quick release 7" woodwork vice
A Record quick release 7" woodwork vice
Two small clamp on metalwork things
A Record 74 auto vice
A record number six mechanics vice
Ajax cast steel quick release 5" vice
Fortis cast steel vice
A hand vice
and a cheapo Chinese spinny thing that's on my tool chest worktop.

Oh ****, its an ailment isn't it?
I blame ZRX61

demographic - I have a Record No. 6 on my main work bench. It's a great size for the things I do.

 

[mitusa]

I have a "mercury" vise. It has a 4 on the side. I've been searching the web and this thread for a little info......I see it mentioned every once in a while, but no real info. Maybe made by Morgan or Milwaukee????

Thanks!

I got some pictures........jaws are 4 inches wide and the jaws will open to 6 inches.

Any ideas?

 

[GRX]

Have to say that I am envious of the nice vices some of you are getting free or cheap. Haven't been able to find any around here that were worth a damn, or weren't ****** expensive.

 

[bluebolt]

Is that baby anvil alloy? or plated?

It's not aluminum if that's what you mean by alloy LOL. It apears to be plated, found an identical one on Ebay that had the plating peeling off. No markings, don't know if it's Japanese, China or whatever. Weighs just under two pounds,

 

[Freeborn John]

I've just bought a Fortis vice to go with the Ajax (both made in Coventry and look to me to be the same castings but I'll know for sure when my mate drops it off) that I already own.

I'm weighing up a Fortis myself, any idea what the original colour would have been? I suspect dark green but it's hard to be sure.

 

[Even 11]

I got some pictures........jaws are 4 inches wide and the jaws will open to 6 inches.

Any ideas?

Autopts has or at least had one. We decided it was a Morgan built for a contract.

-Dane

 

[demographic]

I'm weighing up a Fortis myself, any idea what the original colour would have been? I suspect dark green but it's hard to be sure.

I've seen one on the internet in a fairly dark green which is also the same as my Ajax is underneath the red that someone painted it.
When I get the Fortis I'll have a good look at it but its been painted over by someone so whatever colour it was originally has been covered.
Now bearing in mind I'm doing this from memory and I don't have the vice in front of me I would say that the closest match for the colour my Ajax was originally paintes looks like Middle Brunswick Green on THIS chart.

That might well turn out to be wrong when I get it out of the shed and the Fortis might well be a different shade but I don't think its far off.

Edit, I found a few pictures on the internet which show that they are as far as I can tell identical other than the names, click HERE to see someones rather good photostream which includes photos of a Fortis number 6 "unbreakable" and an Ajax number 6 "Unbreakable".

 

[VinDSL]

Interesting thread.

At work, we mostly use 6" Wiltons. Nothing else lasts. I won't bother posting pics of them.

At home, I'm currently using a Torin 5" multi-purpose...

I'll post a pic of it, since I didn't see any Torins in this thread (actually, I think Torin quit selling them).

This is great, for home shop usage - bigger than it looks - but, it wouldn't last a month at work. LoL!

Similar to the Wilton 69999 5" multi-purpose...

 

[Freeborn John]

...I would say that the closest match for the colour my Ajax was originally painted looks like Middle Brunswick Green on THIS chart.

Edit, I found a few pictures on the internet which show that they are as far as I can tell identical other than the names, click HERE to see someones rather good photostream which includes photos of a Fortis number 6 "unbreakable" and an Ajax number 6 "Unbreakable".

That's the exact colour I had in mind, and quite handsome it would look too.
The photos are interesting, Fortis and Ajax certainly seem to be identical, I guess one took over the other.
Is it my imagination or is there the faintest ghost of the letter F on the Ajax vice as if it's been ground off the pattern? That A-JA-X logo looks like there's a tale behind it as well...

 

[demographic]

Is it my imagination or is there the faintest ghost of the letter F on the Ajax vice as if it's been ground off the pattern?

It might just be, as I'm under the impression (not sure though) that Fortis is older than AJAX.
Well spotted that man.
With a bit of luck I'll know a bit more in a week or so when my mate drops the freshly bought of Ebay Fortis that looks like the Ajax I've had for a month or so.

 

[bigcaddy]

Just got back home from my typical day at garage/estate sales with some above average finds.

I found a house with a retired aerospace engineer had lived in for many years. He had an entire workshop with mill/lathe in the back of the property. I filled my box with loads of Starrett and Brown Sharpe tooling. It was 75.00 total and that included the 3 vises pictured below.

The Wilton has 11-48 stamped on the keyway

 

[GRX]

Just got back home from my typical day at garage/estate sales with some above average finds.

I found a house with a retired aerospace engineer had lived in for many years. He had an entire workshop with mill/lathe in the back of the property. I filled my box with loads of Starrett and Brown Sharpe tooling. It was 75.00 total and that included the 3 vises pictured below.

The Wilton has 11-48 stamped on the keyway

Great finds. I have have found it very difficult to get such good deals around here. Too many people looking driving prices sky high.

 

[bigcaddy]

Great finds. I have have found it very difficult to get such good deals around here. Too many people looking driving prices sky high.

I go out and hammer the sales 4-5 days a week. Vises aren't the only thing i'm looking for but i find them often due to the aerospace industry around here.

I promise to put the next one up for sale but this one was too cheap to let go. 75.00 for 30 items is 2.50 per item. Thats the cheapest i've ever paid for any vise.

If you keep looking, you will find one or even something better. I am a firm believer in the best stuff is found when you aren't looking for it.

 

[autopts]

I go out and hammer the sales 4-5 days a week. Vises aren't the only thing i'm looking for but i find them often due to the aerospace industry around here.

I promise to put the next one up for sale but this one was too cheap to let go. 75.00 for 30 items is 2.50 per item. Thats the cheapest i've ever paid for any vise.

If you keep looking, you will find one or even something better. I am a firm believer in the best stuff is found when you aren't looking for it.

Bigcaddy? You Make Me Sick!!!

 

[HDTRUCKGUY]

You can see my 8" Wilton on the left side of the picture its mounded to an old (very old it was my grandpa's) post setter with a 22.5 truck wheel for a base its very stable and easy to move. If you are pulling down it does not move I have had 15' of 3" iron pipe in it pulling down with a 36" pipe wrench and it stays put. This set up is great Im a tractor trailer mechanic and I can take it around the shop and do anything I want on it no problem.

 

[bigcaddy]

Bigcaddy? You Make Me Sick!!!

thanks, autopts. I get that alot. I could of had two more but one was a woodworking vise and the other was a small Columbian that had completely cracked in half.

I've got a lead on 2 more stuffed garages with workbenches tomorrow so if i find anything neat, ill post them on here

 

[Outlawmws]

I go out and hammer the sales 4-5 days a week. Vises aren't the only thing i'm looking for but i find them often due to the aerospace industry around here.

I promise to put the next one up for sale but this one was too cheap to let go. 75.00 for 30 items is 2.50 per item. Thats the cheapest i've ever paid for any vise.

If you keep looking, you will find one or even something better. I am a firm believer in the best stuff is found when you aren't looking for it.

Bigcaddy? You Make Me Sick!!!

Ahh a little GJ jealousy!

 

[plung]

Don't let the looks deceive you, it's a serious vise for hobbiest and electronics

PanaVise, made in USA to boot!

 

[Outlawmws]

I have a couple of Panavises. Good tools for electronic tech work and light modeling.

 

[capt knuckles]

Hello, newbie here. While doing research for a vise I found this thread and got sucked in. Went from 0 to 3 vises in five days. First vise is a Prentiss # 20 in good shape other than missing the pin for the back swivel jaw. Wont see it untill spring as my dad scored it while wintering in Fl. Two days later i found a Wilton 1760 in good shape so i grabbed it untill the Pentiss arives. Vise # 3 is another Wilton I had found on cl but didnt get a response for 2 weeks, better late than never. Vice #3 looks old but in the key on the bottom it is ingraved 278 with a hand engraver. On the back its got 9-c3 cast in it. Ill try to post a pic but Ive never seen another marked like that. It was missing its base but i ordered a new one, next ill have to get the pipe jaws. When it warms up in the spring i plan on rehabing them and what ever new jems i might find. Thanks for any info.

 

[bigcaddy]

Hello, newbie here. While doing research for a vise I found this thread and got sucked in. Went from 0 to 3 vises in five days. First vise is a Prentiss # 20 in good shape other than missing the pin for the back swivel jaw. Wont see it untill spring as my dad scored it while wintering in Fl. Two days later i found a Wilton 1760 in good shape so i grabbed it untill the Pentiss arives. Vise # 3 is another Wilton I had found on cl but didnt get a response for 2 weeks, better late than never. Vice #3 looks old but in the key on the bottom it is ingraved 278 with a hand engraver. On the back its got 9-c3 cast in it. Ill try to post a pic but Ive never seen another marked like that. It was missing its base but i ordered a new one, next ill have to get the pipe jaws. When it warms up in the spring i plan on rehabing them and what ever new jems i might find. Thanks for any info.

Nice C3 you got there. I'm still looking for one of those but haven't found anything yet. Those little baby bullets keep getting in the way of a monster Wilton

I did pick up these 4 today. The 2 little ones have 2 inch jaws but have no name. The Columbian is a 3 1/2" and the Littlestown is 4 or 4 1/2".

 

[1FordTech1]

I added this one recently, handed down from my elderly father. I believe it is a Prentiss but all I can read on it is ENTI Vise Co. NY Jewelers Vise? IT appears to have a nickel plating?

Edit, for those who need to know, the two jaw sections are stamped with "H 159"

 

[bigcaddy]

I added this one recently, handed down from my elderly father. I believe it is a Prentiss but all I can read on it is ENTI Vise Co. NY Jewelers Vise? IT appears to have a nickel plating?

Yup, thats a Prentiss. The oversized "brow" just above the handle gives it away. A similar one with a rear swiveling jaw sold on Ebay for 172.00 recently. Thats a cool vise, especially with the nickel plate.

 

[1FordTech1]

Wow! Thanks, well this one will stay with me. I have already found it very usefull in my electronics repair hobby on old vintage tube amp and tester restoration.

 

[Outlawmws]

I added this one recently, handed down from my elderly father. I believe it is a Prentiss but all I can read on it is ENTI Vise Co. NY Jewelers Vise? IT appears to have a nickel plating?

That is SO cool! Without the dime for scale, you would think it was the real deal!

(I want one...)

 

[1FordTech1]

That is SO cool! Without the dime for scale, you would think it was the real deal!

(I want one...)

LOL, well I should have stated that was a quarter in the jaw.. Its about a 2 inch jaw.