The VISES of Garage Journal

[Provincial]

I repaired a Wilton low-end vise this year that had a lot of wear on the dynamic jaw where the screw shoulder bears against it. I took a hardened washer that fit the screw and ground down the outside diameter to fit the recess in the jaw. I had to grind the washer for thickness just slightly in order to seat the snap ring/clip in the screw. It eliminated the backlash almost entirely.

Washers are available in a variety of thicknesses and hardness. It is easier to grind the outside diameter unless you have access to large drill bits, in which case it is easier to drill out the ID.

Be sure the washer fits closely in the recess in the jaw. Beware of radius on the outside edge of the hole - you have to grind away the washer so it fits flat against the back of the recess. I put the washer on the outside of the jaw so that the screw tightens against the washer when you clamp something in the vise. That way the worst wear is against the washer.

 

[EOC_Jason]

I think I have a pic of my Craftsman that is very similar to your columbian. It had a C-washer, then a regular washer, then a clip that went into the groove. Zero backlash. The main screw nut is held in place by the bolt in the bottom that holds the swivel in, pretty intuitive design.

As others have said, just find or make some washers to fit, make sure you grease them up so things can rotate freely between washers. Problem solved. There isn't too much force against the washers since they are only there when you open the vise.

Yeah, you usually see those swivel nut handles bent pretty bad on small vises like that because they don't hold worth a poop compared to larger vises that have teeth / grooves. To help hold my dad's vise in place (which he never swivels) I added a washer on the bottom of the main swivel nut, that way I could tighten it down without the nut bottoming out. That plus the side nut really hold it in place.

 

[bigcaddy]

We've already seen a Vise Bouquet, so why not a Wilton Tower?

Here ya go!

 

[Outlawmws]

Here ya go!

 

[EOC_Jason]

Here ya go!

I'm not worthy! I'm not worthy!

 

[EOC_Jason]

Before taking it apart and re-assembling it I noticed that the front jaw, when not fully closed can move back and forth about 1/4" and when tightening or loosening the vise jaws, the jaws themselves don't move until the handle is turned about 1 1/2 times.

Here's a pic I hope will be helpful.

 

[Lump]

Here ya go!

LOL. Nice....really nice.

 

[nine4gmc]

The Wilton Tower, lolololol

 

[Outlawmws]

A set of Vise Jaws I got yesterday. I'm guessing it was a shop project, a specialized holder, or intended as a mini wood workers vise, only for the top surface of a bench, rather than on the side flush with the top.

Edit: Jaws are 2-1/5" wide

It came mounted on a small block of wood using 2 screws (and some spacers, the screws were to long...) so was probably held in a larger vise, (it could not sit flat the way it was..)

 

[Outlawmws]

The Wilton Tower, lolololol

More like the Leaning tower of Wilton!

 

[Harvey Melvin Richards]

A set of Vise Jaws I got yesterday. I'm guessing it was a shop project, a specialized holder, or intended as a mini wood workers vise, only for the top surface of a bench, rather than on the side flush with the top.

It came mounted on a small block of wood using 2 screws (and some spacers, the screws were to long...) so was probably held in a larger vise, (it could not sit flat the way it was..)

How big?

 

[Outlawmws]

How big?

Whoops! 2-1/2" and I'll fix momentarily...

 

[Provincial]

I saw an American Standard vise for the first time this weekend. It was a 3-1/2" model with a swivel base. Very heavy base, straight boss where the handle fits. Gray paint, no chrome. My guess is 1940-1960 era. Very heavy for it's size.

 

[Xr4idk]

Hi all, i'v been looking around here for some time now and have decided its time for me to post alittle myself too.

Since this is my first post ever here on GJ, il start of with a little introdution of myself. Im 28 and live in Denmark. for a living i buy cheap cars that needs inspection, get them thro inspection and then sell them again. in my spare time i work on my own cars and from time to time clean the workshop.

The first Vise i want to show you, it my little workhorse. I got it for free from a friend a couple years back, and even tho its a small "discount" Vise it have yet to fail me, its a VPA GS Powerfix+. Iv have had complete Struts with controlarms and driveshafts in it, and im not afraid to put a hammer, welder or grinder near it too

The only thing wrong with it is the ring inside the swivel is cracked but it still works:

Brake Cleaner does the job of keeping it clean:

10cm full open, about 4"

10cm wide Jaws, again about 4"

Replaceable Jaws seems solid

Kind of glows in the dark, doesnt it?

Last shot with the name, VPA GS Powerfix Profi+

Next Vise is my Big workhorse, anything too greasy or too big for my VPA goes in this, it has no name or anything on it, it had a logo once on the right side but its almost gone, it is very slobby and the moving jaw doesnt go out by itself. i still enjoy beating it and even with a cheaterbar of 1½meter and my 105kg's it still sits there laughing at me . Jaws are 13.5cm wide (about 5.3") and it opens up to 18cm (7"). Im thinking about giving it a full resto but when there's no brand on it and the jaws are non-replaceable its not really worth it right?

Here you see whats left of the logo

From the left.

The rear.

Now after i started looking around in here and beeing amazed by all the beauties you guys restore, iv been looking around for something to have a go at myself, and one day i was picking up some things at a neighbor, i found this laying in his pile of scrap metal. again a vise with no brand or anything, it only says 7.5, funny enough it has 7.5cm (3") wide jaws and opens 12cm (5") it looks abit like a Leinen vise tho, so might even be worth saving

The end:

When im done with the resto il post pictures with its new look.
Oh and i have a Record Vise too, but thats got to be another day, all for today people, hope you enjoy the pictures.

 

[Outlawmws]

Now THAT's a first post!

Interesting vises but I'm liking the second two the most. Why not clean yup and fix the second one? Its a brute and continues to serve it's purpose. it shouldn't be difficult to sort out the wind out issue; probably just a missing keeper or loose set screw on a collar.

 

[autopts]

Hi all, i'v been looking around here for some time now and have decided its time for me to post alittle myself too. "

Excellent Post My Brother!!

 

[maddawg308]

Picked this one up today for less than a buck. Smallest vise I've ever seen with my own eyes. The screwdriver below it is about 2 inches long. It's made by Great Neck in Portugal. Not the best vise in the shop, but a neat addition.

 

[jesse72]

This was part of the machine shop in the USS Midway. Its now a museum but is to cool!
<a href="http://s255.photobucket.com/albums/hh122/jessstang/?action=view&current=IMG_3872.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/hh122/jessstang/IMG_3872.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

 

[Outlawmws]

Picked this one up today for less than a buck. Smallest vise I've ever seen with my own eyes. The screwdriver below it is about 2 inches long. It's made by Great Neck in Portugal. Not the best vise in the shop, but a neat addition.

JeffMoss posted one similar to that recently. Nice find.

 

[Flatland Dave]

My hand vises, for no particular reason.



COO......First two USA, next England last little one Germany

 

[Catalyze]

Nice small vises Flat!!
Things don't have to be big to be cool.
Craig

 

[nine4gmc]

My hand vises, for no particular reason.

Vises need no reason

 

[Xr4idk]

Now THAT's a first post!

Interesting vises but I'm liking the second two the most. Why not clean yup and fix the second one? Its a brute and continues to serve it's purpose. it shouldn't be difficult to sort out the wind out issue; probably just a missing keeper or loose set screw on a collar.

Excellent Post My Brother!!

Thank you both, i like the second one too, and i want to repair it, but it only seems to bug me, when im using it, and iv got so many projects going at the moment, so i may wait some time. Also thinking of trading the last vise for a bigger and better when im done restoring it. I would really love to find a BIG Wilton or a Columbian, but they seems pretty rare here in Scandinavia.
Maybe a big Record will do.

 

[Saiga]

Got these last week

 

[north]

Nice haul. What's the idea with the static jaw on the Prentiss?

 

[Low Friction]

That Prentiss doesn't have a static jaw! Sweet.

 

[dayid]

Nice haul. What's the idea with the static jaw on the Prentiss?

I'm presuming that you mean the pin/swivel? It's just a swivel jaw so that when the pin is removed you can have the stable jaw angle slightly to aid in gripping particular objects.

 

[north]

Thanks. Can't remember to have seen that before.

 

[NewShockerGuy]

Welp, I bought the 5" wilton from a member here, and then painted it again since it was chipped up a little, and then polished some parts on it, and got new vise jaws.

Found a little 4" wilton in a box and fixed it up as well.. Not fully assembled... I like them!

-Nigel

 

[Saiga]

Prentiss 19 1/2 swivel jaw

 

[gilbo]

Welp, I bought the 5" wilton from a member here, and then painted it again since it was chipped up a little, and then polished some parts on it, and got new vise jaws.

Found a little 4" wilton in a box and fixed it up as well.. Not fully assembled... I like them!

-Nigel

very nicely done, there

btw is that your workbench or show bench, its too darn pur-tee and clean 2b a workbench

 

[EOC_Jason]

Nice find on that Prentiss Iron Workers'... Usually the pin is seized up pretty good in the hole.

 

[north]

Thanks for the pics of the swivel function Saiga.

 

[Catalyze]

Nice vises Saiga! They all look really familiar for some reason to me.....LOL

Very clean looking Wiltons NSG! The bench and the vises are cleaner than mine....nice work.
Craig

 

[NewShockerGuy]

very nicely done, there

btw is that your workbench or show bench, its too darn pur-tee and clean 2b a workbench

Thanks!

Work bench/modding room...etc. I'll take some pictures here once they are together, but I picked up two of those work benches from sam's club about a week ago...only thinkg I don't like about them is the extremely soft butcher block...arg, what are you going to do though..lol

-Nigel

 

[W650Mike]

Not as spectacular as some of the vices here, but kinda cool none the less; my junk-shop find:

Before:

During:

After:

 

[ckadams00]

LOL this one cracked me up: "I think there is a vise under all that paint!"

http://www.ebay.com/itm/VINTAGE-CRA...834?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item27cabc1702

 

[Xr4idk]

Not as spectacular as some of the vices here, but kinda cool none the less; my junk-shop find:

What a cool find, looks alittle like a milling Vise, reminds me to take photos of mine

 

[Catalyze]

Very nice redo on the Stanley milling vise! It looks like a good handy size too.
Craig

 

[admranger]

Just brought home two vises today. The Wilton is frozen up so I need to figure out what the process is for trying to free it. The Chas Parker has a frozen swivel adjuster and the other one is broken off, so some work to do... Not even sure which ones I have as I just took the pics. Too hot to mess with things in the garage right now after schlepping 580 lbs of steel and iron to the scrapper today!

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