The VISES of Garage Journal

[autopts]

The three mounting holes should be at the 9-12-3 o'clock position. Thats usually the way I find them mounted.

 

[autopts]

One for this thread.......I found this Reed 403 1/2 maybe 1 or 2 years ago. The condition was very good except the jaws were worn smooth and did not meet up well. I had a set of 3 1/2" Wilton jaws and had my machinist mill them in and he used 3, 3.8" cap screws plus it resting on a 1/8" step. I put on a new handle and there you go!

 

[ssffnomad]

Thanks, that what is was thinking, just wanted to hear it before Drilling/Mounting. So, straight ahead, something long will clear Bench, but not at 90 degree swivel ?

 

[Outlawmws]

Thanks, that what is was thinking, just wanted to hear it before Drilling/Mounting. So, straight ahead, something long will clear Bench, but not at 90 degree swivel ?

If you want to be able to use either edge of the bench, you need to flip the base 180 from where you are in your pic.

 

[wxm]

I'd flip it 180 degree. When the vise is fully open with load, the extra bolt in the back will provide more leverage.

[edit] outlaw beat me to it.

Great Forum. I did read about Mounting Vise , so the Static Jaw overhangs edge of Bench.
My Question is, when mounting a 3 Hole Swivel Base, on Corner of Bench, do you want all 3 holes turned towards outside edge ?

Painting Morgan Vise(Chicago), read they are all Blue. Scraped through Black and foung a little Red, no Blue ?
Federal Safety Blue was suggested, i found Krylon # 2416 Safety Blue.
Thanks

 

[K and K]

From post #3563:

This is my Colubmbian model 606 I posted in one post earlier. I have been debating leaving the vise as is, or repainting it to look original.
Does anyone know how this Columbian would appear when new?
Im not positive, but what I was told is the newest it could be is the 1940's or 50's. Im sure there are people on here who no more than I do. Thank you.

What do you guys think? Leave it as is or restore the big guy? Does anyone know how they were originally? Colors?

 

[Recoil Rob]

pictures have been removed.

From post #3563:



What do you guys think? Leave it as is or restore the big guy? Does anyone know how they were originally? Colors?

 

[K and K]

pictures have been removed.

If you scroll up this page to post 3563 they are there.
Thanks

 

[Recoil Rob]

Not on my screen KandK, just an empty box that says attached thumbnails. Maybe it's on my end.

 

[HoosierBuddy]

Added another vise!

I scratch built a woodworking "tail" vise and powdercoated it to match my Morgan. This was my first attempt at cutting an acme screw on my old South Bend lathe. Works great for fixing broken rocking chairs and such.

Phil

 

[bigcaddy]

I love that blue color on your Morgan. What brand of paint is that, or is it a custom color?

Here is todays newest score. A 3 1/4" jaw Littleton Hardware & Foundry Vise. I've got a few more of these laying around and i have a plan for this one and hopefully do some good with it.

The funny thing i noticed is that the handle has aluminum balls on the ends, not forged steel. It could be an addition by the previous owner but it looks to factory-like for a garage build. Anybody ever seen anything like this before?

 

[HoosierBuddy]

I love that blue color on your Morgan. What brand of paint is that, or is it a custom color?

?

It's "safety blue" powder coating. It's a standard color I bought from Rosie's powder coating. I 2 staged it, and used clear powder over the top.

Phil

 

[autopts]

I love that blue color on your Morgan. What brand of paint is that, or is it a custom color?

The funny thing i noticed is that the handle has aluminum balls on the ends, not forged steel. It could be an addition by the previous owner but it looks to factory-like for a garage build. Anybody ever seen anything like this before?

Bigcaddy, I've seen a good number of Littlestowns and never saw Aluminum ends on the handle.

 

[kams1973]

My new to me Wilton 4" with a tuneup and a fresh coat of hammered metallic blue. And my wilton hanging out with Mercury in anodized bronze.
Anyone ever get some information on the Mercury vise, i have never been able to find out anything about them.

I really want to find a Printiss Bulldog that needs some love.

You wouldn't happen to have any information on the 4" Wilton by chance? I'm trying to find parts for one identical to yours.

 

[blue dog]

You wouldn't happen to have any information on the 4" Wilton by chance? I'm trying to find parts for one identical to yours.

Sorry, i can not help you. Autopts is the go to guy for anything vise around here.

 

[bigcaddy]

Bigcaddy, I've seen a good number of Littlestowns and never saw Aluminum ends on the handle.

It's a first for me too! I've got at least 3 Littletons laying around my shop right now and none of them have the aluminum ends like that. I wonder why it was made that way.

I might just have to keep this one for myself. Whats one more vise on my bench....

 

[kams1973]

Sorry, i can not help you. Autopts is the go to guy for anything vise around here.

Thanks anyway. I placed a call with Wilton yesterday. Hopefully I'll receive some good news before this weekend.

 

[brianpgriset]

Just a heads up, a guy in newark Ohio is selling what appears to be a reed 106 asking $150. The add is on CL Columbus. Not a bad deal. Might be able to get him down a bit and make it sweeter. 135 lb vise. I almost had some family in the area pik it up but I couldn't figure a great way to get it here.

 

[bigcaddy]

Just a heads up, a guy in newark Ohio is selling what appears to be a reed 106 asking $150. The add is on CL Columbus. Not a bad deal. Might be able to get him down a bit and make it sweeter. 135 lb vise. I almost had some family in the area pik it up but I couldn't figure a great way to get it here.

That reminds me! There is a guy in Michigan, near Sterling Heights, with a Reed 104 for sale, 40.00 He's got an ad on craigslist under the Detroit Metro section. The title of the ad is Garage Tools. I was going to have an uncle buy the vise for me and ship it home but decided against it.

If anybody is nearby, it would be a killer vise for a few bucks.

 

[ZRX61]

Bigcaddy, I've seen a good number of Littlestowns and never saw Aluminum ends on the handle.

I have one of those

 

[blue dog]

With all these great vise's we have here, all pics are either the vise just sitting on a bench or on the ground, i would like to see some good ideas for stands, so whatcha got garagejournal.
I started by cutting some parts today, should have it done by the end of the weekend.

 

[Harvey Melvin Richards]

Here is an interesting old vise that just sold on eBay. Somebody wanted it real bad.

Vise

 

[bigcaddy]

That stevens is a rather unique looking vise but 300.00 is bit much.

Ill post some pics, later this afternoon, of some new vises i picked up this morning.

One appears to be extremely old but has a weld repair across the dynamic jaws slide.

Its toast but ill keep it for myself

 

[blue dog]

Worked on my stand this morning while waiting for someone. Tomorrow when i go to the shop, i am going to cut a piece of maple butcher block scrap that i have to mount on top and bolt the vise to that. It will as well get a shelf in the center and a piece of butcher block on the bottom so i can bolt the stand to the shop floor. All made with scrap that was laying around.

 

[ajchien]

Worked on my stand this morning while waiting for someone. Tomorrow when i go to the shop, i am going to cut a piece of maple butcher block scrap that i have to mount on top and bolt the vise to that. It will as well get a shelf in the center and a piece of butcher block on the bottom so i can bolt the stand to the shop floor. All made with scrap that was laying around.

Dumb question for you blue dog.... What's that stand made from?

 

[blue dog]

Dumb question for you blue dog.... What's that stand made from?

1"x2" steel

 

[metalhead212121]

I dont think I posted in this thread....

Its a Reed.. 6" jaws... very heavy. Bought it from Kirbot.

The date code on the vise is from the early 1900's. Im not really into vintage stuff but for some reason I had to have it. I have to get a steel plate under the vise because everytime I crank down on the vise the table flexs. Im afraid one day Im gonna crank down on the vise and Im gonna rip the bolts outta the table that hold the vise down.

Dan

 

[bigcaddy]

Ive noticed that some of the earlier Reed vises have the rounded operating nut and later ones have the flattened marshmallow shape but what about the actual vise castings?

I've had 2 that have the split front nut retainer bushing with set screw on the side and the typical oil holes. Both had a very tell-tale from a mile away "Reed" look to them.

Metalheads Reed has none of those features and a very pronounced "eyebrow" over the front nut. Are those features and indicator of a very early Reed vise?

 

[bigcaddy]

And as promised from my earlier post, here are the pictures of the little vise i found this morning in a tiny little workshop attached to a guys garage.

I wish it wasn't broken but the repair, although very ugly, is pretty true and looks like it has held for a number of years.

 

[Outlawmws]

And as promised from my earlier post, here are the pictures of the little vise i found this morning in a tiny little workshop attached to a guys garage.

I wish it wasn't broken but the repair, although very ugly, is pretty true and looks like it has held for a number of years.

Another cute little vise! I love these miniature working tools!

This one is mine, not sure if i posted in this thread or not:

 

[K and K]

Sorry if pics were not available as thumbnails. From my earlier posts:

This is my Colubmbian model 606 I posted in one post earlier. I have been debating leaving the vise as is, or repainting it to look original.
Does anyone know how this Columbian would appear when new?
Im not positive, but what I was told is the newest it could be is the 1940's or 50's. Im sure there are people on here who no more than I do. Thank you.

From post #3563:



What do you guys think? Leave it as is or restore the big guy? Does anyone know how they were originally? Colors?

Recoil Rob thank you for letting me know, I reloaded them not as thumbnail attachments.

pictures have been removed.

What do you guys think? Do you have any idea what they looked like when new? Were they bare metal or painted? Would you restore? Or leave as is. Thank you

 

[Mark in Indiana]

With all these great vise's we have here, all pics are either the vise just sitting on a bench or on the ground, i would like to see some good ideas for stands, so whatcha got garagejournal.
I started by cutting some parts today, should have it done by the end of the weekend.

I lucked into a machine stand from a 1964 Chicago Rivet riveter. All it needed was some mounting holes drilled, tapped and a paint job. Not visible in the picture, I installed holders for a pipe vise attachment and soft jaws. I love the stand because it's HEAVY.

Be sure to show your stand pictures when you're finished.

 

[Recoil Rob]

If you have the time restore it. The restored vises here look great although sometimes I wonder how long they stay that way when put back into active use.

Rob

 

[blue dog]

K and K, i say restore it, the satisfaction and pleasure from a quality restore is well worth it, and the band of Knuckleheads here love to see a freshly restored vise.

Outlaw, that little vise is awesome. Would that be some kind of jewelers vise ?

Mark in Indiana, if i have time today i am going to try to finish the stand. I picked up the butcher block at my shop last night and am ready to go. I am almost obsessed with at this point.

 

[K and K]

Do you guys know how these were originally? Were they bare metal or painted? If so do you know a color?

 

[Outlawmws]

K and K, i say restore it, the satisfaction and pleasure from a quality restore is well worth it, and the band of Knuckleheads here love to see a freshly restored vise.

Outlaw, that little vise is awesome. Would that be some kind of jewelers vise ?

Mark in Indiana, if i have time today i am going to try to finish the stand. I picked up the butcher block at my shop last night and am ready to go. I am almost obsessed with at this point.

I don't think so, its almost a toy, or maybe for making models. It has seen use however, the threads are about 1/2 worn out...

 

[fullthrottle24]

K and K I have a similar Columbian but mine is not a swivel. The color is a red, kinda like I see on your dynamic jaw. I don't know if this was the original color as this was my grandfather's and everything in his shop seemed to be that red color. I plan on restoring mine in red, as this was his nickname.

 

[Nelson58]

The Wilton and Columbian resto's are beautiful. Some difference before and after.


Nelson

 

[Outlawmws]

Not much of a vise, but I hope to get something better onto the Wilton, positioner I picked up this AM:

The vise is (as I suspected) from Japan probably 60's or so.

Its funny, I was all set to make a positioner similar to this as soon as I could round up a long necked Trailer ball...

 

[demographic]

I don't think so, its almost a toy, or maybe for making models. It has seen use however, the threads are about 1/2 worn out...

Clock makers vice?
I've just recently bought a few clock makers tools for my wife (who makes jewellery) and in amongst the stuff I didn't buy was several very small vice's.