The VISES of Garage Journal

[454ragtop]

Picked up a Yost 203 today, pretty sure it's the first Yost I can ever remember seeing in the flesh. Appears to be in real nice shape under the porch paint, straight handles and nice jaws. Also a couple pics of a little guy I found a couple weeks ago, can't find any markings on it, looks too old to be offshore, anybody recognize it?
Jim

 

[Burgerkong]

Slowly cleaning my Athol up!

Cleans up super nice!

Still cracking away at it!

 

[oldldh]

Next time, please post some BIG pictures!!!

 

[Kevin54]

Slowly cleaning my Athol up!

Go look at the wife and when she ask what you are doing, tell her you're cleaning your Athol up. Then snap a pic of the funny look you will get

 

[Maclin]

Hello, this is my first post after a long time lurking and learning from so many of you loyal vise purists. Many thanks to you first of all. I want to share a very positive electrolysis bath for my Athol 624 that was tutored by the members here. Hooked the tub up and 20 hours later the Athol was a most beautiful thing. My wife says I'm not mentally disturbed for thinking these vises are works of engineering art. Gotta love her for that.

 

[Mark in Indiana]

Hello, this is my first post after a long time lurking and learning from so many of you loyal vise purists. Many thanks to you first of all. I want to share a very positive electrolysis bath for my Athol 624 that was tutored by the members here. Hooked the tub up and 20 hours later the Athol was a most beautiful thing. My wife says I'm not mentally disturbed for thinking these vises are works of engineering art. Gotta love her for that.

Welcome to the group. If your Athol turns out like the vises in your avatar, you will have a work or art. As far as wives go, I often include mine un color choices for my vises and other restoration tools. More and more, in my opinion, vises are like vintage cars...you can't beat the looks.

 

[sloppy]

little pipe vise.

 

[zoomieport]

zoomie r u the guy i bought the 4 1/2" athol from on mazoo craigslist early this week? my pickup guy might not make it this weekend..... ok?????

If it's in Kalamazoo and you need a hand, I can pick it up and hang on to it until your guy can make it. He can just pick it up from me. PM me if you need a hand. Take care.

I picked it up for you Sunday, here are a couple of pics for you...

 

[wrenchguy]

thanks zoom, about what vintage is it? i'll be in touch.
mike

I picked it up for you Sunday, here are a couple of pics for you...

 

[zoomieport]

thanks zoom, about what vintage is it? i'll be in touch.
mike

Older than AUTOPTS!!! LOL!
I'm not sure, early 1900's...
Is that about right Nick?

 

[Exceller8]

Burgerkong, what an Athol!

 

[buzzdex1]

This may have been posted but I could not find it. "It has been my experience that folks who have no vises have very few virtues." Abraham Lincoln

 

[EOC_Jason]

My Reed 1C finally came in today after USPS decided it needed to take the scenic route around Texas...

It's a little rough around the edges and the handle is bent in a couple places, nothing that can't be fixed. The jaws have plenty of bite on them so I'm happy.

 

[Outlawmws]

This may have been posted but I could not find it. "It has been my experience that folks who have no vises have very few virtues." Abraham Lincoln

I like it; despite the spelling liberties! :lol;

 

[va.grouseman]

My 608 Columbian












This is my 608 Columbian that came from Washington state that replaced my 6 inch stationary Columbian. I'm short on room so the swivel feature is a luxury to me even though the stationaries are stronger vises. By comparison the 608 is about the same size as my 208 Reed, 31 1/2" long, and 14 1/2" high, but 111lbs. lighter. The Reed has no voids in the static and dynamic towers, but the Columbian has huge voids. So I filled them with lead, that's right lead. I slowly heated each tower so not to cause temperature shock to the metal and then I melted wheel weights and babbit led and poured it in. It took 40lbs. of led to fill the voids. Now when you peck on the vise, what used to sound like ringing a bell, now sounds like a dead blow hammer. Didn't do it for the weight, did it so not to crack or knock a hole in in a good vise.

 

[autopts]

My 608 Columbian


"The Reed has no voids in the static and dynamic towers, but the Columbian has huge voids. So I filled them with lead, that's right lead. I slowly heated each tower so not to cause temperature shock to the metal and then I melted wheel weights and babbit led and poured it in. It took 40lbs. of led to fill the voids. Now when you peck on the vise, what used to sound like ringing a bell, now sounds like a dead blow hammer. Didn't do it for the weight, did it so not to crack or knock a hole in in a good vise.

Larry, that's a ingenious idea as to "shutting the bell off" Great looking vise. Those jaws almost look oversize. Usually the big Columbian's. have been beat half to death. That one is a beauty. Haven't seen to many 8" Columbians on this thread, if any. Nice addition

 

[Bret888]

That is a great vise, and in nice shape! It is common to try to kill the ring of anvils, but I never thought about doing it with a vise.

This is my 608 Columbian that came from Washington state that replaced my 6 inch stationary Columbian. I'm short on room so the swivel feature is a luxury to me even though the stationaries are stronger vises. By comparison the 608 is about the same size as my 208 Reed, 31 1/2" long, and 14 1/2" high, but 111lbs. lighter. The Reed has no voids in the static and dynamic towers, but the Columbian has huge voids. So I filled them with lead, that's right lead. I slowly heated each tower so not to cause temperature shock to the metal and then I melted wheel weights and babbit led and poured it in. It took 40lbs. of led to fill the voids. Now when you peck on the vise, what used to sound like ringing a bell, now sounds like a dead blow hammer. Didn't do it for the weight, did it so not to crack or knock a hole in in a good vise.[/QUOTE]

 

[Bret888]

My Reed 1C finally came in today after USPS decided it needed to take the scenic route around Texas...

It's a little rough around the edges and the handle is bent in a couple places, nothing that can't be fixed. The jaws have plenty of bite on them so I'm happy.

I have a 1C that is my most often used vise, partially because of where it is mounted, and partially because I like it. It has the jaws with the dowel in the center, and I flipped them smooth side out. I usually don't want things scarred up by aggressive teeth.

I just painted a 2C. While looking at paint, I saw this textured stuff, and decided to try it. They only had one color, so it didn't take long to pick a color.
I made a stand for the 4C, since I posted on here. It consists of a cast iron wheel weight, off a McCormick W-9, 1/2" plate with pipe spacers to fit the contour, 5" box tube, and a 1" top plate. I added a piece of drawbar to the back, where it would have a mounting hole, if it was a stationary vise originally. I didn't like having just the 2 swivel mounting holes, and this clamps down hard on the back of the base.

 

[datsbooksleia]

I am about to make a decision on a Parker vise purchase but i lack the knowledge to buy one. I feel attracted by them to the point that i would like to start collecting vises. I started a thread with pictures of a parker vise and would like your opinion as to what YOU would pay for it. Thanks in advance.
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=204160

 

[EOC_Jason]

That's cool, my 1C's jaws are not removable so I'm stuck with them as-is. I think I have some small copper jaw caps though that might fit it. As of right now it's sitting in queue to be restored.

I have a 1C that is my most often used vise, partially because of where it is mounted, and partially because I like it. It has the jaws with the dowel in the center, and I flipped them smooth side out. I usually don't want things scarred up by aggressive teeth.

Nice 2C... I'm hoping to collect a 2C & 3C eventually too... Did you ever try contacting Reed about a 6" swivel base? I think they are like $125, if you go to their website and do a search on the part number there are a few places that sell the swivel base kits.

Here is my Reed 4C Mounted on a big truck rim filled with concrete. It sits kind of high though, one of these days I'm going to cut out several inches to bring it down to a better working height.

I just painted a 2C. While looking at paint, I saw this textured stuff, and decided to try it. They only had one color, so it didn't take long to pick a color.
I made a stand for the 4C, since I posted on here. It consists of a cast iron wheel weight, off a McCormick W-9, 1/2" plate with pipe spacers to fit the contour, 5" box tube, and a 1" top plate. I added a piece of drawbar to the back, where it would have a mounting hole, if it was a stationary vise originally. I didn't like having just the 2 swivel mounting holes, and this clamps down hard on the back of the base.

 

[va.grouseman]

Bret 888, and Eoc Jason. Gentlemen, those 4C's and stands are awesome. But I'm partial to the 4C anyway.

 

[Bret888]

Nice 2C... I'm hoping to collect a 2C & 3C eventually too... Did you ever try contacting Reed about a 6" swivel base? I think they are like $125, if you go to their website and do a search on the part number there are a few places that sell the swivel base kits.

Here is my Reed 4C Mounted on a big truck rim filled with concrete. It sits kind of high though, one of these days I'm going to cut out several inches to bring it down to a better working height.[/QUOTE]

What if you put a smaller/shorter vise on that post, and made up a new one for the 4C?
I am not a big fan of swivels, and a post vise won't need one. I do use them to swing a bench vise out of the way, since garage space is tight though.
I have been keeping an eye out for 2&3C's, and the 2C came up last week.

 

[rusty65]

I just picked up this little vise from a pawn shop for a buck. No clue on the brand but the wilton pictured with it has 3 1/2 inch jaws for size reference. I'm not sure if the images uploaded more then once if so please delete my post I tried editing it but I don't know what's happening.

 

[zoomieport]

Bret 888, and Eoc Jason. Gentlemen, those 4C's and stands are awesome.

^^^What he said...^^^

 

[va.grouseman]

Autopts, Thanks for the kind words on the 608.

 

[EOC_Jason]

That is a really cool idea. That is the one thing that bugs me about Columbian's is how they are hollow. I might have to steal your idea if I ever come across a Columbian that I have to have...

This is my 608 Columbian that came from Washington state that replaced my 6 inch stationary Columbian. I'm short on room so the swivel feature is a luxury to me even though the stationaries are stronger vises. By comparison the 608 is about the same size as my 208 Reed, 31 1/2" long, and 14 1/2" high, but 111lbs. lighter. The Reed has no voids in the static and dynamic towers, but the Columbian has huge voids. So I filled them with lead, that's right lead. I slowly heated each tower so not to cause temperature shock to the metal and then I melted wheel weights and babbit led and poured it in. It took 40lbs. of led to fill the voids. Now when you peck on the vise, what used to sound like ringing a bell, now sounds like a dead blow hammer. Didn't do it for the weight, did it so not to crack or knock a hole in in a good vise.

 

[Nathanl_01]

 

[ZRX61]

https://sphotos-b.**.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/229248_1868004712626_5261832_n.jpg

 

[Outlawmws]

These really need to be in the Tiny Tools thread guys...

And what's a vise without a hammer and anvil?

 

[zoomieport]

935 I just finished... If it didn't say 1947 on the keyway, I wouldn't believe this one was that old, almost spotless...
P.S. I remembered the "serrations" this time Kevin! HAHA!

 

[KMScott]

935 I just finished... If it didn't say 1947 on the keyway, I wouldn't believe this one was that old, almost spotless...
P.S. I remembered the "serrations" this time Kevin! HAHA!

Wow, really nice, I bet those jaws are at least 56 R/C to still look that good for over 55 years. Nice Job Zoomie on the vise restoration. If only mine could last that long.

Kevin

 

[Mark in Indiana]

These really need to be in the Tiny Tools thread guys...

And what's a vise without a hammer and anvil?

I thought I would chime in on this one: In the picture, my largest vise is holding my littlest vise (a Starrett pin vise). Interesting that both vises were manufactured in Athol, Mass. and they are my oldest and newest vises.

The anvil is a lead one that I sand casted in an 8th grade industrial arts class, back in the days when dinosaurs roamed the earth. I can imagine that allowing children to work with casting lead these days, would go over like a "lead phart".

 

[zoomieport]

Wow, really nice, I bet those jaws are at least 56 R/C to still look that good for over 55 years. Nice Job Zoomie on the vise restoration. If only mine could last that long.

Kevin

Thank you! To be honest, this one was easy, just a straight "strip and paint", it was super clean, except for the coat red latex house paint on it (maybe it has special vise potective powers???)... If it didn't say Chicago on the side and '47 on the slide, I would have guessed mid '80's... I think this one might go to Ebay though, I've got too many 3-1/2" somehow, haha... Take care!

ZOOM

 

[zoomieport]

"lead phart".

HAHAHAHAHAHA! I still love a good fart joke!

 

[zoomieport]

IT'S TIME TO PLAY EVERYBODY'S FAVORITE FUN GAME!!!!.... "WHAT THE HELL IS THAT?" It's where I show you a vise and you tell me what the hell it is!!! But beware gentlemen... This ain't Hollywood and I ain't Alex Trebek, because I don't know the answers!!! If everyone likes this game, I've got a couple more that might be fun to try to figure out, let me know...

This vise is a "Bulletesque" piece with 2-1/2" jaws. It is sitting next to a 2-1/2" Wilton. The only marking on it is "Pat. Pend" on the tail. Speaking of the tail, WOW is it pointed! And the base, never seen anything like it. The jaw towers are different, the collar looks like a Wilton, I could go on and on... It's up to you fine gentlemen to supply America with the answers they hunger for!!! Be brave and sound off like you've got a pair!!!

ZOOM

 

[zoomieport]

I thought I would chime in on this one: In the picture, my largest vise is holding my littlest vise (a Starrett pin vise). Interesting that both vises were manufactured in Athol, Mass. and they are my oldest and newest vises.

The anvil is a lead one that I sand casted in an 8th grade industrial arts class, back in the days when dinosaurs roamed the earth. I can imagine that allowing children to work with casting lead these days, would go over like a "lead phart".

My smallest vise, sitting on top of a BABY bullet...

 

[EOC_Jason]

Hmmm... They probably never got the patent because Wilton had it...

Very cool though. Have you taken it apart yet?

 

[zoomieport]

Hmmm... They probably never got the patent because Wilton had it...

Very cool though. Have you taken it apart yet?

No, not yet... I've had it for a while now, it just gnaws at me not knowing what it is...

 

[zoomieport]

No, not yet... I've had it for a while now, it just gnaws at me not knowing what it is...

Well... I've taken the dynamic jaw off, but not the main nut.

 

[va.grouseman]

Zoomie, It looks like a converted 5" Navy destroyer round. Unique.