As good as it will get: Vise Restoration

[AveragePhil]

Hello everyone, first off I want to say how great this site is. There is so much information and cool ideas, it's kinda like pinterest for guys.

For my first thread I'm doing a vise restoration. I bought my house two years ago and the previous owner left a metal table with this vise. I have no idea what brand it is. I titled it "As good as it will get" because this vise wont be restored to its former glory.

It doesn't work real well at the moment, just too much rust. Even though its free, I'm not too happy about the welding practice they did on it. They did this, and ran beads all down the sides

The only markings it has is the number 6, and I'm guessing thats for 6". It's a decent size, heres a coffee mug for size up.

I'm sure many of you are wondering why I have an Obama coffee mug...Well, I'm a firefighter full time and I work with a Marine who absolutely hates Obama. So, I bought this on my vacation in D.C., and being the good coworker I am, I drink coffee around him in this and it drives him nuts. It's a constant messing with someone situation at the fire station.

 

[AveragePhil]

If anyone has any guess on what kind of vise this is I'd be glad to hear. I want to get new jaws for it, and I'm sure only certain ones will fit.

I got it cut off of the table. It didn't take me nearly as long as I thought it was, only about 10 minutes.

Now taken apart, no wonder this thing wouldn't screw in and out.

Now it's cleaned of rust. I bead blasted it but it definately needs a more abrasive media. I do powder coating and glass is all I have at the moment. A wire wheel helped out as well. I noticed the original color was green, although, I'm not sure what color I want to do yet.

You can really see the practice beads on it now, such a shame...

 

[Jeeprz!]

Welcome to GJ!
Since those weld beads on the sides are "built up", couldn't you just carefully grind them down flat to un-ugly it? If there were any cast marks or numbers there before they welded on it they are gone now anyway. In your after pics it actually looks like its in pretty good shape, even the jaws - but I'm no vice expert.

-after looking at the after pics again I wonder if it was cracked in that spot and the weld was a repair? can you see a crack on the inside of that spot now that it's apart? anyway you can't beat the price you got it for.

 

[AveragePhil]

Thanks. I could grind them down and I might but it's gonna take some time to get that smooth. It's very possible it could have been cracked as there is a crack on the arm or whatever its called. I just don't understand why they would have welded it that way instead of one line on the crack.

 

[Outlawmws]

I'm certain the weld was a repair, You may be able to see the crack from the inside, depending on how they did the repair.

I believe I see a lengthwise crack on the long arm of the dynamic jaw?

Usually when a big number on the dynamic jaw is seen, this indicates an Imported vise, however ours does not exhibit the classic lines of the import castings, for instance the big 6 is not "framed", and I think it only on one side?. Also the jaws are U type, something else often lacking on an import.


No clue as to actual manufacturer, however that might have been under the massive repair weld.

Welcome to GJ, and good luck with the cleanup. Good practice for later if nothing else, but I suspect you can get some decent use out of it if the welding holds up.

 

[Outlawmws]

Thanks. I could grind them down and I might but it's gonna take some time to get that smooth. It's very possible it could have been cracked as there is a crack on the arm or whatever its called. I just don't understand why they would have welded it that way instead of one line on the crack.

Possibly a way to build up heat in an attempt to avoid the cracking that cast often does when welded cold.

 

[Packard V8]

That's an ugly baby! I'm wondering if it is an older Tiawanese import. I had a similar situation where the PO left a similar vise with "4" cast in the side.

Main thing is the price is right and all you have invested is some time. The learning experience is a plus.

jack vines

 

[BlindViper]

I know some of the craftsman vises have the "big" number on the side like that one does.

 

[AveragePhil]

Ok, so after further inspection on the inside it was indeed cracked. The bottom of the opposite side was cracked also and has the same weld repair.

Won't be the prettiest or the strongest but it will hold up well enough for what I will need it for.