The VISES of Garage Journal

[MrRocket]

Here are some pictures of a vise that I took from work as they were going to scrap it out. I literally took it out of the scrap steel dumpster! Its a 6 inch jaw and on the inside of the slide it says "Sambre Meuse 62" and "B Tout Acier". There are some other stamped numbers underneath up by the handle "59". there is a cast letter on two places "A". other than that no markings on the outside. Some of my pics arent uploading but here is what I have. Its a good solid vise as I used it alot a work and its been put to the test by everyone! It has a little slop but still works as good as it always did.





I'll try to add more pics if it will let me at a later time. Found out it is a French vise.

 

[coolreed]

That Wilton looks incredible. Love that Orange.

 

[flashman]

I picked up my first vise today. Its a Reed 3 1/2 in jaw. Not big, maybe 20# or so but it is in pretty good shape. The jaw gets a little stiff in some areas and it starts in the pic with the jaw open. I assume it is just from dirt and grime over the years. I had some fall out as I opened the jaw. I also tried to remove the adjustable jaw but couldnt get it off when full open. Any suggestions for this? $40 I feel was a good deal for a smaller reed vise, I know you folks will tell me the truth or not.

If you want better pics let me know, plus suggestions on clean up would be helpful. I will certainly look back at the vise restro thread a member made.

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[phy6]

I'll try to add more pics if it will let me at a later time. Found out it is a French vise.

NICE Score!!!

See this post on page 8 for more on that brand:
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showpost.php?p=1423804&postcount=143

 

[coolreed]

I finished my Craftsman Vise restoration. Hope you Vise Weenies approve.

 

[SHOOTIST357]

How about a Trimont Pipe vise... kind of cool

Found it at the flea market for $4 Not sure what the silver stuff is, but it wipes right off (like anti-seize). Cool thing is it is in excellent condition and clamps on the bench.

SHOOT

 

[Outlawmws]

I picked up my first vise today. Its a Reed 3 1/2 in jaw. Not big, maybe 20# or so but it is in pretty good shape. The jaw gets a little stiff in some areas and it starts in the pic with the jaw open. I assume it is just from dirt and grime over the years. I had some fall out as I opened the jaw. I also tried to remove the adjustable jaw but couldnt get it off when full open. Any suggestions for this? $40 I feel was a good deal for a smaller reed vise, I know you folks will tell me the truth or not.


If you want better pics let me know, plus suggestions on clean up would be helpful. I will certainly look back at the vise restro thread a member made.

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Are there any dings/dents on the end of the slide (from someone using it as an anvil...)? if so flat file or stone them out and try again.

 

[SHOOTIST357]

Hope mine comes out that nice !!! Well done !

SHOOT

 

[Outlawmws]

Re: How about a Trimont Pipe vise... kind of cool

Found it at the flea market for $4 Not sure what the silver stuff is, but it wipes right off (like anti-seize). Cool thing is it is in excellent condition and clamps on the bench.

SHOOT

Interesting pipe vise! I've never seen one of that type as a clamp on...

 

[flashman]

Are there any dings/dents on the end of the slide (from someone using it as an anvil...)? if so flat file or stone them out and try again.

The end looked pretty good I thought. Ill take a better pic to help determine this.

Here are more pics.

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[Outlawmws]

The other thing to check are the threads on the end of the screw for damage. There shouldn't be, as it is well protected, but people can ****** anything I've found... or it could be just some heavier corrosion. but you should feel that in the turning of it I would think...

 

[gatewaysysop]

The other thing to check are the threads on the end of the screw for damage. There shouldn't be, as it is well protected, but people can ****** anything I've found... or it could be just some heavier corrosion. but you should feel that in the turning of it I would think...

Another thing I've noticed on my Reeds is that some of the tolerances are crazy tight compared to other vises I've owned. I had a similar one, my 204 1/2R and I had a hell of a time getting the vise apart once I got it home. I feared the worst, but after a LOT of cleaning and getting the gunk out of all the tight spots, it was smooth as butter again.

Never had that problem with any of my others, some of which were much dirtier and gunked up, but the tolerances on Reeds are sometimes really close and that probably exacerbates the problem.

 

[ZRX61]

Do you have any info on the Mercury 4? I have its mate....

I think we worked out they are rebadged Morgans.

 

[north]

I picked up my first vise today. Its a Reed 3 1/2 in jaw. Not big, maybe 20# or so but it is in pretty good shape. The jaw gets a little stiff in some areas and it starts in the pic with the jaw open. I assume it is just from dirt and grime over the years. I had some fall out as I opened the jaw. I also tried to remove the adjustable jaw but couldnt get it off when full open. Any suggestions for this? $40 I feel was a good deal for a smaller reed vise, I know you folks will tell me the truth or not.
*snip*

Wouldn't mind finding a vise like that for $40. Keep us posted.

I finished my Craftsman Vise restoration. Hope you Vise Weenies approve.
*snip*

Terrible. Lemme give you $20 for it to ease your pain.

Size and weight?

 

[flashman]

The other thing to check are the threads on the end of the screw for damage. There shouldn't be, as it is well protected, but people can ****** anything I've found... or it could be just some heavier corrosion. but you should feel that in the turning of it I would think...

Will take a look today. Thanks for the suggestions.

Another thing I've noticed on my Reeds is that some of the tolerances are crazy tight compared to other vises I've owned. I had a similar one, my 204 1/2R and I had a hell of a time getting the vise apart once I got it home. I feared the worst, but after a LOT of cleaning and getting the gunk out of all the tight spots, it was smooth as butter again.

Never had that problem with any of my others, some of which were much dirtier and gunked up, but the tolerances on Reeds are sometimes really close and that probably exacerbates the problem.

I will look to spray come cleaner on the screw and see if that will help with getting it apart. Thanks for the help.


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[bggrnchvy]

I picked this Reed 1c up a couple weeks ago mounted on a bench I scrapped. Missing the pivot screw, but the threads are standard 3/4-16 so I'll just turn spacer to make a shoulder screw to replace it. Handle could use a little straightening to and of course the whole thing needs some cleaning and a healthy dose of lubrication.

Glad to have some pipe jaws.

 

[phy6]

I picked this Reed 1c up a couple weeks ago mounted on a bench I scrapped. Missing the pivot screw, but the threads are standard 3/4-16 so I'll just turn spacer to make a shoulder screw to replace it. Handle could use a little straightening to and of course the whole thing needs some cleaning and a healthy dose of lubrication.

Glad to have some pipe jaws.

Nice Reed!!!

 

[Outlawmws]

I started a new thread comparing a range of 3" vices as to weight/ and comparative use:


http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=158113

Hopefully people looking to buy a vise can use that to get a better feel for what a particular vise they may be looking at is capable of...

 

[flashman]

I got the screw removed but the dynamic jaw still wont come off. I have done some filing of the jaw to try and smooth out some of the edges and it just gets stuck. Any idea for some type of spreader that might be able to push it apart? All I have is a 3# deadblow that doesn't do anything for banging on this. Otherwise, once I get the jaw off, I can start my research for cleanup and refinishing.

 

[ShadowRuleZ]

As found from an estate sale this weekend. First vise, unless you include the HF vise that's still in it's box that I'm trying to sell.

5.5" jaws. I figured out the difference between this one and the others that people have been posting with the the craftsman plate riveted - those are machinists vises. I think it'll still be good enough for the basic work I do, and it will give me an excuse to keep an eye out for a larger vise like a wilton.

Not really sure what my plans are, I think I'll just clean it up. Do you guys typically disassemble all the vises you pick up? What type of pil/grease do you apply where when putting them back together?

 

[bigcaddy]

I got the screw removed but the dynamic jaw still wont come off. I have done some filing of the jaw to try and smooth out some of the edges and it just gets stuck. Any idea for some type of spreader that might be able to push it apart? All I have is a 3# deadblow that doesn't do anything for banging on this. Otherwise, once I get the jaw off, I can start my research for cleanup and refinishing.

If its not visibly flared out do to damage, i would suggest some heat on the stationary sides to allow the dynamic jaw to come through. Maybe use a block of wood on the back side with your deadblow hammer to help push it out. Reeds are built with tight tolerances so it could just be a tiny bit of grease and grime thats ruining your party.

I'm actually going to start tearing apart a Reed 204 right now so if i encounter the same problem and get it apart, ill let you know how it works out.

 

[flashman]

If its not visibly flared out do to damage, i would suggest some heat on the stationary sides to allow the dynamic jaw to come through. Maybe use a block of wood on the back side with your deadblow hammer to help push it out. Reeds are built with tight tolerances so it could just be a tiny bit of grease and grime thats ruining your party.

I'm actually going to start tearing apart a Reed 204 right now so if i encounter the same problem and get it apart, ill let you know how it works out.

Thanks, I am going to keep banging on it It will come apart, with time.

 

[Outlawmws]

As found from an estate sale this weekend. First vise, unless you include the HF vise that's still in it's box that I'm trying to sell.

5.5" jaws. I figured out the difference between this one and the others that people have been posting with the the craftsman plate riveted - those are machinists vises. I think it'll still be good enough for the basic work I do, and it will give me an excuse to keep an eye out for a larger vise like a wilton.

Not really sure what my plans are, I think I'll just clean it up. Do you guys typically disassemble all the vises you pick up? What type of pil/grease do you apply where when putting them back together?

Are you measuring the jaw width, or it's opening? a 5181 should be 5" wide and a claimed opening of 6"

If you are going to have a "light duty" vise, that is certainly a great one to have! nothing wrong with that vise for most use!

I'd certainly disassemble and clean at a minimum (These vises repaint/restore beautifully), and re-grease with a thin coating of a high pressure grease on the top and bottom of the slide, as well as on the screw threads and where the screw head contacts the dynamic jaw. then you know it's all good to go.

Depending on how much backlash is in the screw, I will also shim the backlash out with washers. You can sand them to fit (and get them smooth) by rubbing the washer flat on wet or dry sand paper on a smooth flat surface.

 

[Outlawmws]

I got the screw removed but the dynamic jaw still wont come off. I have done some filing of the jaw to try and smooth out some of the edges and it just gets stuck. Any idea for some type of spreader that might be able to push it apart? All I have is a 3# deadblow that doesn't do anything for banging on this. Otherwise, once I get the jaw off, I can start my research for cleanup and refinishing.

Thanks, I am going to keep banging on it It will come apart, with time.

get all the grease/gunge cleaned off the slide, and scrub it with some chalk. then slide until you feel resistance, then see where its scrubbing; there should be "tracks" in the chalk. Don't forget the bottom edges and sides as well...

 

[ShadowRuleZ]

Are you measuring the jaw width, or it's opening? a 5181 should be 5" wide and a claimed opening of 6"

Sorry, the jaws are 5" wide. Haven't tried to see how wide it'll open. When I find some time, I'll look at it a bit more and see how it comes apart.

 

[MrRocket]

NICE Score!!!

See this post on page 8 for more on that brand:
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showpost.php?p=1423804&postcount=143

Thank you for the link! There had to be a lot of them made. Maybe no one knows what they have since there is no markings that are visible.

 

[Catalyze]

Shadow - very nice Craftsman vise! It must be that season...I seem to have gotten one also last week. I think that yours is a sort of "tweener" vise. It has a covered screw so it is more garage/home shop oriented than an open screw vise. It isn't one of the heavy cast machinist vises so it won't hurt as much if you drop it on your foot. Yours is perfect for the stuff that home owners need to do...plumbing....fabricating....etc. Great size and condition.

Outlaws - did Santa drop his bag of vises under your tree? Are we going to have to get a restraining order to keep you from yard sales? That is a passle of smaller vises you have there. Good effort!

Flash - the slide will come out....trust us. One thing that might help is that when you try to pull the slide out normally, it sticks out so far off the support it puts a lot of pressure on the tail end. Try to clamp the dynamic jaw in a vise and pull straight up on the body or have someone hold the slide (jaw end on a bench) and you pull up on the body or vise versa. Reeds have some really tight clearances (do we have clearance Clarance? rodger Rodger....love Airplane). I have used a brass 1" rod to knock on the end of slides to get them out. Also...once I had the round opening on the very back of a slide not have enough of an opening to go over the main nut. I took a Dremel tool and ground a touch off so it would go over the nut. It's all just research and patience. If you think this is fun.....wait until you get a big old nasty rusted swivel jaw vise and try to get the jaw to pivot. You will be religious when you get finished. LOL
Craig

 

[nine4gmc]

BAAMMM! Im in the house with a new vise!!! Union Jewelers vise, anyone know anything about this one?

 

[ShadowRuleZ]

The old home owners left a vise on a work bench in the basement. I never bothered to look twice at it since it's fairly hard to work down there. Just went to go see what model it was (I knew it was a Craftsman), and it's the matching smaller brother to the 5" I just got over the weekend. Pardon the mess, the basement work bench is a disaster.

 

[Catalyze]

Nine - isn't Union the company that bought out Parker at the very end? I remember seeing Union on the side of the last batch of Parker 900 series vises...they had the sheet metal front retainer collar.

Shadow - grats on a lucky find....sometimes it rains vises in your basement. That one looks to be in great shape too.
Craig

 

[bigcaddy]

Thanks, I am going to keep banging on it It will come apart, with time.

I guess its not going to help when i say i unscrewed my Reeds dynamic jaw and it just fell right out onto my workbench without a single bit of hassling

Its currently in the electrified bathtub so i'm expecting it to be clean by tomorrow when prep and paint will start.

 

[clayco]

Outlawmws - Great technical write up on the weld repair. That is the stuff that makes GJ a great place to spend time.
Thanks for taking the time to do that!!
Greg

I agree totally!

 

[Outlawmws]

Outlawmws - Great technical write up on the weld repair. That is the stuff that makes GJ a great place to spend time.
Thanks for taking the time to do that!!
Greg

I agree totally!

Thanks again!

 

[flashman]

I guess its not going to help when i say i unscrewed my Reeds dynamic jaw and it just fell right out onto my workbench without a single bit of hassling

Its currently in the electrified bathtub so i'm expecting it to be clean by tomorrow when prep and paint will start.

It doesnt help lol! Mine will come apart, just with some muscle.

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[Catalyze]

Now I need help with a Craftsman vise. I bought this one a while ago and looking at the nice ones in this thread made it move to the front of the refresh line. I see by Outlawmws catalog thread that it was most likely a 1960's vise. I have no clue what color these originally were back then. Were they a gray or did they come in this black color? Thanks!!
Craig

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[autopts]

Now I need help with a Craftsman vise. I bought this one a while ago and looking at the nice ones in this thread made it move to the front of the refresh line. I see by Outlawmws catalog thread that it was most likely a 1960's vise. I have no clue what color these originally were back then. Were they a gray or did they come in this black color? Thanks!!
Craig

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Esse,
That Craftsman is a beauty! That might be the original paint maybe? One big slice of pie for you!!

 

[Outlawmws]

It doesnt help lol! Mine will come apart, just with some muscle.

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I suppose you could turn the screw around now that it is out and use a big plate/washer on it and use that to push the slide from the back side at least to flush. After that you need something the same width of the slide to keep pushing.

But something has to be handing it up, so before doing that and maybe getting it stuck, close the vise completely and run a straightedge on the slide sides, top and bottom, to look for maybe if it it is slightly skewed? If so then you need to work on the high spots on both sides with a flat file...

 

[Outlawmws]

Sorry Craig, I've only ever seem those in grey (which means nothing; I've only seen a couple...), but that certainly looks to be original paint there...

 

[seasnarf]

Prentiss No. 940. Adding this one to the knowledge base.

Jaw width 4 1/2"
Height 9"
Screw dia. 1"
Top slide 2"x3/4"
Bottom slide 2"x7/8"



The real knowledge provided by members can be found here:http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=158137

 

[flashman]

I have success! It is apart. Now I have to read through cleaning tips (electrolysis, wire brush etc).