The VISES of Garage Journal

[bigcaddy]

If everything was there and no damage or issues, I'd be haunted for a while if I let that Paramo, with the swivel base especially, slip away for $175. Get it while you can.

I'm surprised you didn't notice the repair on the mounting tab of the swivel base. That would be a deal breaker for me. I have a few vises with small cracks but they were in areas that would not effect use and were discovered after the vise was soaked and stripped of paint.

 

[flashburn]

Naa, that one has been sitting a while. It was on regular auction once (or twice?) with no takers (obviously)....

If you want to see a really nice original one that sold not too long ago:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/330763920146

I would of loved to have the one but the price just kept going up and up.

Thanks for the heads up, I'll pass on that one then.

If everything was there and no damage or issues, I'd be haunted for a while if I let that Paramo, with the swivel base especially, slip away for $175. Get it while you can.

I think I will get it in my possession then. Will make a great addition to the welding table I have planned, especially after I give it some TLC. Bad part is the guy lives 300 miles from me

I know most people will never test the limits that these vises were meant to endure, but how would the record/paromo(r)? pieces compare to their big american cousins? Athol, reed, parker etc.

 

[bigcaddy]

Thanks for the heads up, I'll pass on that one then.



I think I will get it in my possession then. Will make a great addition to the welding table I have planned, especially after I give it some TLC. Bad part is the guy lives 300 miles from me

I know most people will never test the limits that these vises were meant to endure, but how would the record/paromo(r)? pieces compare to their big american cousins? Athol, reed, parker etc.

If you didn't see my last post, it looks like the mounting tab of the Paramo's swivel base was broken off and braised back on. Its not a cracked jaw tower but its a stress point at the base of the vise. Just my .02 cents

 

[gatewaysysop]

I'm surprised you didn't notice the repair on the mounting tab of the swivel base. That would be a deal breaker for me. I have a few vises with small cracks but they were in areas that would not effect use and were discovered after the vise was soaked and stripped of paint.

Good eye, I didn't look to closely on the first pass. Re-read my statement though. I said IF it was all there with no damage or issues. Devil is in the details.

Swivel base not withstanding, if one doesn't intend to swivel it, I'd use the bad tab as leverage to get the vise cheaper and just flush mount it to the bench. Hell of a vise even without the swivel base, especially if you can get it under the original price. Too bad on the base though. I guess no matter how stout something is, some idiot can always ruin it.

 

[flashburn]

Good eye, I didn't look to closely on the first pass. Re-read my statement though. I said IF it was all there with no damage or issues. Devil is in the details.

Swivel base not withstanding, if one doesn't intend to swivel it, I'd use the bad tab as leverage to get the vise cheaper and just flush mount it to the bench. Hell of a vise even without the swivel base, especially if you can get it under the original price. Too bad on the base though. I guess no matter how stout something is, some idiot can always ruin it.

I missed that as well, viewing from my phone so the picture quality can suffer. Broken tab considered good buy or not? Its a bartering point for sure, but damn the swivel on these is a key point, looks wise as well!

 

[bigcaddy]

I missed that as well, viewing from my phone so the picture quality can suffer. Broken tab considered good buy or not? Its a bartering point for sure, but damn the swivel on these is a key point, looks wise as well!

It all depends what you are willing to spend based on the fact that you are buying a damaged/repaired vise. It will never be as strong as a complete original and, if beaten hard enough, will be the first spot it will break again. Usually when you least need it too.

I just bought a vise with a damaged rear casting, above the slide. Its a small crack but ill repair it like new and it will go in my collection. If i ever sold it, it would have to be disclosed since i would expect the same from another seller.

With that said, i didn't pay much but it was all i was willing to pay for a damaged vise.

 

[flashburn]

It all depends what you are willing to spend based on the fact that you are buying a damaged/repaired vise. It will never be as strong as a complete original and, if beaten hard enough, will be the first spot it will break again. Usually when you least need it too.

I just bought a vise with a damaged rear casting, above the slide. Its a small crack but ill repair it like new and it will go in my collection. If i ever sold it, it would have to be disclosed since i would expect the same from another seller.

With that said, i didn't pay much but it was all i was willing to pay for a damaged vise.

I would rather not have it at the back of my mind, it may never break but the possibilty is always there. Crying shame really. Although mounting the vise sans the swivel on a 4" hammer union would work fine...hmmm.

 

[bigcaddy]

I would rather not have it at the back of my mind, it may never break but the possibilty is always there. Crying shame really. Although mounting the vise sans the swivel on a 4" hammer union would work fine...hmmm.

You could always pass and look for another vise. Paramo's aren't exactly rare, just not common due to country of mfg, and i've seen members post pics of ones they have found frequently.

If you keep an eye on CL or ebay, you will find another Paramo, and quite possibly for a better price.

You mentioned you like Athols? I've had 5 of the 614/614 1/2 in my shop in the past 2 years and the 6th is sitting on the floor right now.

Trust me when i say you will find the vise you are looking for

 

[CanUK]

Posted this in the "Old World" thread, but I figured I'd throw my hat in the ring over here as well. Obviously not as posh as most of the vices in this thread, but I like them, and they were cheap (2 Euro in the case of the smaller vice).

The green one (80mm) will just get a clean and grease, but I can't stand the looks of the larger one's (100mm) silver paint so I'll strip that off:

View media item 22847

 

[EOC_Jason]

oooo... an old York! Nice find!

 

[CanUK]

oooo... an old York! Nice find!

Cheers - got the green one on ebay Germany, and the silver one on Ebay UK at about the same time. I've removed some of the paint from the silver one and it looks like it was originally red, so may go back to that colour.

 

[demographic]

Posted this in the "Old World" thread, but I figured I'd throw my hat in the ring over here as well. Obviously not as posh as most of the vices in this thread, but I like them, and they were cheap (2 Euro in the case of the smaller vice).

The green one (80mm) will just get a clean and grease, but I can't stand the looks of the larger one's (100mm) silver paint so I'll strip that off:

View media item 22847

Was that silver York on Ebay a week or two back? I saw one much like it anyway.

 

[CanUK]

Was that silver York on Ebay a week or two back? I saw one much like it anyway.

Probably the very same. I just won the auction the other day. I've disassembled it now -it actually looks to be in very good shape (apart from the dodgy paint).

 

[rusty65]

Is the York a Wilton copy?

 

[zoomieport]

York predates Wilton...

 

[CanUK]

Is the York a Wilton copy?

I think the (unofficial?) story goes that the style was started in Cz with York, and one of the employees left for America around the time of the war and brought the design with him.

 

[demographic]

Is the York a Wilton copy?

Wilton is a York copy

Link to the thread that discusses it HERE

 

[roblouvasz]

I though I post a picture of my Prentiss No. 57. 7" jaws and weighs 210lbs. Had to drive 300 plus miles one way to get it. Only paid 250.00 for it. Someday, I'll have to post the photos of the restoration.

 

[roblouvasz]

The handle and screw aren't in it in this shot. Can't seem to find that photo.

 

[zip95864]

thanks for posting, I saw the carbon mist paint in the store the other day and was curious what the color really looked like.

 

[roblouvasz]

If you're referring to the rustoleum paint in the photo, that's not what's on the vise. I just put the can in the photo for size reference.

 

[bl00]

Had to drive 300 plus miles one way to get it.

This makes you so normal for this group. Nice vise! Post more pics.

 

[Lump]

My Garage Journal buddy B100 gave me a lead on a big ol' vise, which I plan to go pick up on Friday. When I thanked him today for the lead, he said that he, "...must have released some good vise karma," because he found another great big one in his home state of Virginia. (congrats, B100!)

Well...I'm here to tell ya that he must REALLY have released some good vise karma my way, because today my brother-in-law made a trip to a scrap yard, and brought me back a REALLY DIFFERENT big old vise he found there. I didn't even have to go anywhere to get it...he delivered it to my office!

Ok, ok, I know. If there is no photo, then it didn't happen. I took a bunch of shots, and will post them here. But I am also trying to figure out if it is really necessary for me to resize every pic I post on Garage Journal, so this first pic is was posted to Photobucket in its original full size. If that causes it to be huge, then please forgive me, and I'll make the rest of them normal size.

But, please, tell me if YOU have EVER seen a vise like this one. I have not!

 

[Lump]

YEP! This vise has twin screws, and uses a "timing chain assembly" to keep the upper and lower screws in "time" with each other!

 

[nine4gmc]

that vise has two lead screws and a timing chain, HOT ROD!!!

 

[Outlawmws]

Lump, That is the second vise in a few weeks that hit the "too cool to be true" factor! Great Score!

 

[Outlawmws]

Still trying to get my arms around how that would mount, and what the heck the long hole in the base is for.

Needs a notched benchtop, and a cross bar under going between two legs...

Any makers marks?

 

[Lump]

You've GOTTA admit that this style vise is fairly uncommon. I'm sure some of the Garage Journal vise gurus know all about it, have seen them before, and may even own one or two. But for THIS vise-lover, it's a first-ever! I have NEVER seen anything like it before.

Ok, here is another similar view to that first photo, with a Diet Coke can in there for size comparison:

More of a straight-on view. Note that the handle is not bent, and is approx 19" long:

Following is a close-up view of the lower sprocket. Obviously, this vise is locked up solid. It may take some work to get it freed up, without damaging that unusual old chain:

While the view below shows the upper sprocket, inside of the dynamic jaw assy:

The jaws are 6" wide:

Here is another angle:

In this next shot, I've placed my finger to show a crack; which is one of two flaws I've found in this old oddball vise:

Here is part of the other "flaw." Notice the slot through the stationary jaw:

The following view clearly shows where a piece of steel flat bar stock was welded on, which would have fit through the slot, and helped to keep the jaw assemblies aligned as the screws were turned in or out:

The next shot shows that the slot definitely passes all the way through the stationary jaw base:

Last view shows the only markings I could find anywhere. The number "15" shows up faintly:

Ok, there it is, gang. So tell me...how many vises like this have you seen? This one is a first for me. And you know what? I kinda like it!


Oh, before you ask. The "scrap metal price" was $10. But I gave my brother-in-law $20, to cover his gas for the trip to the yard that day.

 

[Outlawmws]

Lump, I'll give you $25, cause I just KNOW you don't want such a rusty, damaged, thing sitting in your already crowded shop!

 

[Outlawmws]

Lump, does the Dynamic jaw have the slot all the way through?

 

[Lump]

You're a helluva guy, Outlaw. Thanks!

Er...for NOW, I might hang on to it for a bit.

Gotta turn in now. Big report due tomorrow at the office.

 

[Lump]

No, slot only exists in stationary jaw. Flat bar stock was welded to dynamic jaw, and passed through the stationary jaw base.

 

[Lump]

Third photo down, in my post with the most photos, shows the lower sprocket, PLUS the outside of the dynamic jaw, opposite the slot in the stationary jaw.

 

[Lump]

And this photo shows the inside of the dynamic jaw, where the flat bar stock was welded on, in direct line with the slot on the stationary jaw.

Gnite!

 

[CanUK]

But, please, tell me if YOU have EVER seen a vise like this one.

I'm not sure it's the same thing, but I've seen some quite similar (probably not with the twin screw arrangment though) on ebay UK being sold as a blacksmith's or farrier's leg vice:

 

[Bret888]

There are a few chain vises on here. They are pretty desirable I think.

http://www.iforgeiron.com/topic/21016-fisher-dbl-screw-vise/page__hl__+chain +vise#entry215728

 

[bl00]

That's a great vise Lump. I've seen pictures of Fishers, but never like yours where the chain goes inside to outside. Post 15 on Bret888's link shows the same model ^^^^^ with an extra part or two.

 

[Canoe50]

There are a few chain vises on here. They are pretty desirable I think.

http://www.iforgeiron.com/topic/21016-fisher-dbl-screw-vise/page__hl__+chain +vise#entry215728

The guys on this site can tell you everything you want to know about your leg/post vise. They have a sub forum dedicated to vises & most of the threads are about post/leg vises.

 

[Tindjin]

Would love to be find something like that here. Humm, I wonder how bad the shipping would be.

 

[EOC_Jason]

Man, I think I need to start going to meetings or something... Hi, my name is Jason and I have an addiction....

Ridge Tool Co (aka Ridgid) Simplex "33 CPN" 3-1/2" with pipe jaws.

It looks to be the original paint on there so I didn't bother going all out. I just wire-wheeled the rust off the handles and jaws, soaked the rest down in oil, then greased the screw and put it back together. Not many dings or dents, the pipe jaws look unused. Came out of a lady's father's garage... Probably sat there for who knows how long... The slide and screw was pretty well covered in old grease, and since very little paint had come off the rust was really limited to the bare metal parts and around the jaws some. Can't tell from the pics but the jaws themselves are in perfect shape, no wear at all either!

You can see the Ridgid 43 in the background, there's more pics of it a few pages back...