My $10 vise find and restoration poll

[bigdaddyisu]

This past Saturday morning I went to an estate sale about 2 hours after it opened and checked out the tools. Under a table in the garage I find this Athol 614 vise with a $20 tag on it so I did what any good GJ'er would do. I left without it .

I sat and thought about it all Saturday and eventually thought turned to regret so Sunday about an hour before the sale closed I swung by again to see if the vise was still there. To my surprise it was still in the same place but without a price tag. I asked the lady how much and she said we had it for $15 but you can take it for $10. I didn't even try to get it cheaper, I just made sure it wasn't locked up (it's actually pretty damn smooth). I'm happy to have my first American made vise.

Now to my poll, I plan on using the vise out in the garage, fairly light duty as I'm barely a weekend warrior. What should I do to the vise before I put it into service?

 

[Eric Nordstrom]

Looks like a fun weekend project too me! But it would be cool to just use as is.

 

[twincam00]

I vote for a resto, vises are relatively easy to restore and it would be a fun project

 

[sometoyotaguy]

At the very least, I'd try to get that white paint off, and regrease the screw.

 

[Davefr]

I vote for a resto, vises are relatively easy to restore and it would be a fun project


Oh yeah, YOU ****!

What he said^^^.

It's befitting for this old USA iron to be restored in "full dress uniform" complete with raised lettering accent paint.

It's also pretty cheap and easy to do.

 

[EOC_Jason]

Depends on how much free time you have. If you are like me you will probably want to do a full resto, but never be able to find the time..

I voted for "Degrease the exterior and relube the screw"... That white paint would just bug the snot of out me, and a little lube would make sure it operates properly.

If you ever have a free weekend with nothing to do, then I would take it apart, clean it good, and re-paint!

 

[Outlawmws]

Do the whole Tamale!

And yes... You ****!

 

[autopts]

Bigcaddy!! Dawg, your not going to put that vise into service! Make it look purdy and throw it with your 50 others.

 

[mitusa]

I would go for the full resto......with luck like yours, you'll prolly find a sack of gold dust inside!

 

[Jarhead0408]

Do a full resto.

Make it look like one of these...

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=154079

 

[Outlawmws]

Bigcaddy!! Dawg, your not going to put that vise into service! Make it look purdy and throw it with your 50 others.

Um, that is Bigddddyisu, not Bigcaddy...

 

[kngkong]

Disassemble, hit it with a wire wheel to get the rust off, grease and use it. Looks like a great vice.

 

[bgott]

Wipe it down with an oily rag and use it.

 

[larryq]

$20 for that vise is theft, for $10 you'd better be watching through keyholes for the law coming to get you. Saying you **** only scratches the surface here.

 

[Catalyze]

Full resto.....and a you ****.
Craig

 

[lwlobo]

You lost a certain amount of credibility when you left without that beauty the first time. To redeem yourself, you must disassemble, de-grease, and reassemble in vintage/patina state. Take some pictures. Then you must take it apart and completely restore it, complete with painted raised letters, polished handle and jaws, etc. Take pictures again. Post both sets of pictures to see which way it looks better.

These sincere efforts will restore the credibility you lost when you first spurned that American iron.

 

[Outlawmws]

You lost a certain amount of credibility when you left without that beauty the first time. To redeem yourself, you much disassemble, de-grease, and reassemble in vintage/patina state. Take some pictures. Then you must take it apart and completely restore it, complete with painted raised letters, polished handle and jaws, etc. Take pictures again. Post both sets of pictures to see which way it looks better.

These sincere efforts will restore the credibility you lost when you first spurned that American iron.

I vote for THIS! ^^^^

 

[autopts]

Um, that is Bigddddyisu, not Bigcaddy...

These days I'm lucky to know my own name...lol.........
Mr, Big.. Thats a great find.

 

[bigdaddyisu]

You lost a certain amount of credibility when you left without that beauty the first time. To redeem yourself, you must disassemble, de-grease, and reassemble in vintage/patina state. Take some pictures. Then you must take it apart and completely restore it, complete with painted raised letters, polished handle and jaws, etc. Take pictures again. Post both sets of pictures to see which way it looks better.

These sincere efforts will restore the credibility you lost when you first spurned that American iron.

Sadly the thought of doing both went through my head as well. I may end up doing it both ways just for the hell of it. Any ideas on what the original color of this vise might be? Depending on what it is I might go with that color.

These days I'm lucky to know my own name...lol.........
Mr, Big.. Thats a great find.

No worries, oddly enough while I was researching this vise bigcaddy's name popped up a couple times. Seems he's got a small collection of Athol vises in his stable.