The VISES of Garage Journal

[autopts]

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

Gee thanks. Yeah, I think your in the proximity in years...with me and that Athol!

 

[shiftdrift]

review on my wilton 674

 

[zoomieport]

Gee thanks. Yeah, I think your in the proximity in years...with me and that Athol!

I joke because I care... Plus I knew you could take the heat!

 

[JWC07]

Finally scored a good vise at an estate sale.

Reed No. 1C. Perfect shape other than light rust/barn dirt/paint overspray. Don't look like it's ever seen a hammer or really been used much.

. They said 3-4 people tried to get it off yesterday but couldn't. Square nuts rusted onto carriage bolts. Easy enough, I returned with a hammer, chisel, nut splitter, and crescent wrench this morning when they opened and promptly removed it from them.
Cost $20 + $9.99 for a nut splitter from auto zone. And I got a SK Ratchet, couple of files, a hacksaw, a ball peen hammer, and a TN flag for an extra $6.

 

[EOC_Jason]

LOL, sounds like you were on a mission. I probably would of just offered to buy the whole table... hehe... Good score, got to love those Reed's..

 

[BlindViper]

Finally scored a good vise at an estate sale.

Reed No. 1C. Perfect shape other than light rust/barn dirt/paint overspray. Don't look like it's ever seen a hammer or really been used much.

. They said 3-4 people tried to get it off yesterday but couldn't. Square nuts rusted onto carriage bolts. Easy enough, I returned with a hammer, chisel, nut splitter, and crescent wrench this morning when they opened and promptly removed it from them.
Cost $20 + $9.99 for a nut splitter from auto zone. And I got a SK Ratchet, couple of files, a hacksaw, a ball peen hammer, and a TN flag for an extra $6.

I had a similar issue with the columbian 505 I got. There were tearing down the building and no one could get the vise loose. I grabbed a sledge and "dismantled" the bench.

 

[balane]

Here's an old Craftsman No. 5180 vise back from the scrap pile. It was manufactured by Reed in 1947. The jaws are 3 1/2" and the weight is 31 pounds. It's very well made obviously. Had to steal the badge from my drill press because the one it came with was beat to **** and beyond saving.

.

 

[JWC07]

They wouldn't sell me the top or the whole bench. That's the first thing I tried yesterday.
I wanted it too. It was on about a 6' long 2' wide 4" thick of hunk of rough cut oak. It would've been a nice piece of lumber to have.

I think I'm gonna keep this nut splitter in the truck from now on just in case I run across anything else like this. I have another one at home but I just couldn't find it.

 

[Bret888]

They wouldn't sell me the top or the whole bench. That's the first thing I tried yesterday.
I wanted it too. It was on about a 6' long 2' wide 4" thick of hunk of rough cut oak. It would've been a nice piece of lumber to have.

I think I'm gonna keep this nut splitter in the truck from now on just in case I run across anything else like this. I have another one at home but I just couldn't find it.

Good job! You got a great vise for next to nothing!

 

[RustyJoints]

Let me tell you about my Wilton vice. This guy comes to me though my father. He passed away 20 years ago. This was the vice I grew up on. It was always mounted on the heavy steel bench my father built. This is the vice I used to learn how to cut, drill, file, tap and shape metal. All under my fathers watchful eye.
Today, I decided to remove this vice from the wobbly workbench its been mounted to and give it a proper home perched on top of some half inch plate I recently acquired. While I was working on its new home I had a chance to think about all I have learned using it and what it means to me and hundreds of others.
I think the most important lessons taught to me, had nothing to do with the specific operation to be learned that day. It was more about pride of workmanship. Enjoy the satisfaction of a job well done even if no one but you will ever see it. Taking ones time and enjoying the task at hand and spending time with my dad.
I remember the day my dad taught me how to drill a hole. He clamped a piece of quarter inch plate in this vice, handed me a three eighth inch drill bit and told me he would pay me a nickel for every hole I could drill. I remember him saying’” If you want I can show you how.”
That was a lot of money to an eight year old. I thought “easy money” and got to work as fast as I could drilling holes. I didn't have time to learn and I knew how to drill. Hit the trigger and push.
By my second or third hole the going slowed as the bit dulled. By the fifth or sixth the bit was smoking and getting red from the heat it was producing. I don't think I made it to seven. I am sure the last hole must have been painful for my father to watch as I wore though the last of the plate and destroyed that bit.
Then, my dad took the time to explain the right way to sharpen a bit, how to tighten a bit in a chuck what feed speed and tip speed is and what heat treating metal is. How to listen to the bit and read the chips. Along with the many other steps to properly drill a hole. “Slower is faster” It’s a lesson I have never forgotten.
I am a college professor I teach automotive and now I am the watchful eye. I teach the same lessons the same way I was taught.
When I use this vice I feel my father I hear his voice and I feel the comfort of his watchful eye. As can be seen in the picture I still haven't drilled all the mounting holes. I think Ill take it slow.

Carguy, Google brought me here (surfing valuations for my 30-year old like-new Craftsman 4" swivel-base vise) but I joined just to say your May2012 story touched something deep inside. Despite my father being the DIY/Harry Homeowner-type, he lacked the patience or interest for teaching me anything, offering no guidance nor even a pat on the back if I figured something out for myself, but lots of criticism if I bent a nail or dripped some paint. OTOH, for 2-weeks every year I got to visit my grandparents in the mid-West, and my granddad WAS that sorta teacher to which you alluded.
Now, I'm older than my granddad was, yet I fondly remember his sage advice and the time he spent with me. Guys with young kids should print your story out and hang on their workshop wall as a reminder that they are best remembered for what they teach, and how they teach it.

 

[Chris98006]

Does anyone know the story on these? I know they're from England and weren't made too long. Thoughts?

Scored a Paramo No. 4 from Craigslist today. My first real "vice"!

 

[Outlawmws]

Does anyone know the story on these? I know they're from England and weren't made too long. Thoughts?

Paramo was one of several vise factories "spun off" record during WWII so if the Germans bombed out the record factory it wouldn't stop all production. Woden was another I believe. Very good vises and same/similar design as the records. I have a 6" Paramo. heavy mother. I also have a smaller Woden

 

[ZRX61]

I also have a smaller Woden

Have you considered surgical enhancement?

 

[Outlawmws]

Have you considered surgical enhancement?

Well, "smaller" is all a matter of perspective. It still weight about 20 lbs...

 

[Filson]

Picked this up for $15 this morning at a yard sale.

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/62276422@N04/9045944650/" title="Full Vise Coke by Velchosus, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3702/9045944650_82dc27f91b.jpg" width="500" height="282" alt="Full Vise Coke"></a>

 

[Big Pete]

something a little bit different for you guys. This one is an English made vise, The company is still going and tells me its pre '55, I hauled it out of the mud in an industrial scrapyard 25 years ago for £20 when I was a penniless student as my first big bench vise.

after a recent tidy up


before - note it worked fine like this for at least 10 years


This one is a bit oddball, no name or number that I can find, looks purpose designed to hold round/square stock, couldn't resist it, haven't had a chance to use it in anger yet.

 

[Big Pete]

Damn, pictures came out huge! not sure why???

 

[zoomieport]

Damn, pictures came out huge! not sure why???

BIG Pete,
Those are both cool!
The red one reminds me of something Emmert might make...
How big is the blue one? How big of stock can it hold? It looks like the main screw and two guide bars are offset to let the material pass through, but it's tough to see from the angle of the picture. Could you take another picture from straight in front of it, maybe with something in it for size reference (I suppose a tape measure would work too... haha)?
Cool stuff!!!
ZOOM

 

[zoomieport]

Damn, pictures came out huge! not sure why???

Heck, while you are at it... Add a picture of the other side of the red one?

To make pics easier to upload...
right click on them-
open them in "Microsoft Paint"-
on the top left is a "resize" icon, click it-
there will be a choice, percent or pixel, click pixel-
there will be 2 numbers that come up, reset the larger number to 600 pixels (or so) the other number will self adjust -
save and post to Garage Journal!...

Thanks!!!
ZOOM

 

[thundermug]

Balane: I have that same vise, but it's missing the Craftsman badge. The action is super smooth. Probably my favorite vise. And for $20!

 

[neophyte]

something a little bit different for you guys. This one is an English made vise, The company is still going and tells me its pre '55, I hauled it out of the mud in an industrial scrapyard 25 years ago for £20 when I was a penniless student as my first big bench vise.

before - note it worked fine like this for at least 10 years

This one is a bit oddball, no name or number that I can find, looks purpose designed to hold round/square stock, couldn't resist it, haven't had a chance to use it in anger yet.

Nice Vices! I presume the red vise is a Swindens. From what I understand the current Swindens vises cost a fortune.

The second vise appears to have offset jaws. I suppose when combined with the swivel jaws with the various profiles it works excellently for clamping round and square stock vertically.

 

[Mark in Indiana]

Greetings Vise Friends,

Attached are some pictures of a vise that I bought at a yard sale this morning. Anybody have an idea who made it?

Thanks in advance.

 

[Kevin54]

Now that is one handy universal vise!!! I'd love to have that.

 

[Outlawmws]

Big Pete: Great Vises!

Mark, I have one with similar "V" markings, (V6/V7...) and similar styling. Mine is a Lake Side (two words) Mine opens abnormally wide for a vise it's size (3" jaws, and easily opens to 4-1/2", more if I push it ), which is how if found it's way to my welding bench.

 

[Mark in Indiana]

Here's a little Pony vise that I picked for $2. It's surprisingly robust for a Chinese vise.

 

[Mark in Indiana]

Big Pete: Great Vises!

Mark, I have one with similar "V" markings, (V6/V7...) and similar styling. Mine is a Lake Side (two words) Mine opens abnormally wide for a vise it's size (3" jaws, and easily opens to 4-1/2", more if I push it ), which is how if found it's way to my welding bench.

Thanks Outlaw.

 

[toomanytoyzz]

Very cool design for securing the jaws. Sometimes the screws can be a ****** to get out if they are just threaded. Awesome job on the resto as well!! What does it weigh (please convert to lbs.)?

 

[Big Pete]

Nice Vices! I presume the red vise is a Swindens. From what I understand the current Swindens vises cost a fortune.

The second vise appears to have offset jaws. I suppose when combined with the swivel jaws with the various profiles it works excellently for clamping round and square stock vertically.

Yep, the red one is a Swinden, retail for the same model is currently £1120+20% tax over here, ~$2k. If I ever get the big lottery win I'll match it up with a 2" and a 4" one, because they are excellent.

The Swindens is lighter than you might expect, maybe 125lbs or so, some of the sections are fairly thin. The British Army is a big user apparently, and if they survive that I doubt I'll ever break mine.

The little blue one has a range of grooves, so it's good from ~1/2" up to 1 1/2". I want to mount it on a tilting mount eventually, because it's excellent for fishmouthing tube, it holds really tight with no risk of flattening the tube section.

 

[EOC_Jason]

Spraying my Parker 974-1/2B, I decided on "Black Night Metallic" since the Hammered Verde Green doesn't exist in this town and I didn't feel like ordering it because I'm impatient...

This color turned out to be very cool. I was always in envy of Autopts' Parker, the attached picture of the fully assembled Parker was one he sold.

This color came in (relatively) close to giving it a dark raw metal look. It's hard to photograph right now because it's right on the edge of direct sunlight. I still have to paint the underside of the base but then it will be done! I used an entire can on just one vise! It took 2 coats to give it good solid cover, and I did a 3rd just because. I'm kind of regretting that because I hope I don't run out of paint for the base!

 

[zoomieport]

Spraying my Parker 974-1/2B, I decided on "Black Night Metallic" since the Hammered Verde Green doesn't exist in this town and I didn't feel like ordering it because I'm impatient...

This color turned out to be very cool. I was always in envy of Autopts' Parker, the attached picture of the fully assembled Parker was one he sold.

This color came in (relatively) close to giving it a dark raw metal look. It's hard to photograph right now because it's right on the edge of direct sunlight. I still have to paint the underside of the base but then it will be done! I used an entire can on just one vise! It took 2 coats to give it good solid cover, and I did a 3rd just because. I'm kind of regretting that because I hope I don't run out of paint for the base!

Very cool color! Nice job!

 

[Mark in Indiana]

Spraying my Parker 974-1/2B, I decided on "Black Night Metallic" since the Hammered Verde Green doesn't exist in this town and I didn't feel like ordering it because I'm impatient...

This color turned out to be very cool. I was always in envy of Autopts' Parker, the attached picture of the fully assembled Parker was one he sold.

This color came in (relatively) close to giving it a dark raw metal look. It's hard to photograph right now because it's right on the edge of direct sunlight. I still have to paint the underside of the base but then it will be done! I used an entire can on just one vise! It took 2 coats to give it good solid cover, and I did a 3rd just because. I'm kind of regretting that because I hope I don't run out of paint for the base!

The color looks great! I did a vise with blue metallic and had a lot of trouble with chipping. As far as prep, spray conditions and technique, I did nothing different than any of my other tool repaints. Is your metallic paint adhering to the vise well?

 

[EOC_Jason]

The color looks great! I did a vise with blue metallic and had a lot of trouble with chipping. As far as prep, spray conditions and technique, I did nothing different than any of my other tool repaints. Is your metallic paint adhering to the vise well?

Yeah it's adhering fine. I blasted it to bare metal, put two coats of primer, and pretty much 3 coats of paint. I was painting the underside of the base shaking the can and saying "come on, just a little more paint, you can do it!" I literally had *just enough*.... I noticed it doesn't coat nearly as well as the hammered paints or even the regular colors... Dunno why...

I let it sit in the sunlight for a bit to heat up some before priming & painting. Then after about 30 min I close my warehouse door. This metallic paint dries fast, but I'm sure it will take a couple days to fully cure. Once it's dry enough to move I usually put it under my workbench inside for a week before I mess with anything (and I did the same between priming & painting).

 

[Mark in Indiana]

Yeah it's adhering fine. I blasted it to bare metal, put two coats of primer, and pretty much 3 coats of paint. I was painting the underside of the base shaking the can and saying "come on, just a little more paint, you can do it!" I literally had *just enough*.... I noticed it doesn't coat nearly as well as the hammered paints or even the regular colors... Dunno why...

I let it sit in the sunlight for a bit to heat up some before priming & painting. Then after about 30 min I close my warehouse door. This metallic paint dries fast, but I'm sure it will take a couple days to fully cure. Once it's dry enough to move I usually put it under my workbench inside for a week before I mess with anything (and I did the same between priming & painting).

I think the spray can metal flake has something to do with it. The vise that I shot with the metallic blue was darker on the moving jaw. Fortunately, it's a folk art project and will not have any vise use.

My best luck with paints was with Rustoleum Hard Hat floor striping paint and 3 coats of gloss clear coat. Unfortunately, there aren't too many color choices. That's why my daily work vises are all red.

 

[EOC_Jason]

My best luck with paints was with Rustoleum Hard Hat floor striping paint and 3 coats of gloss clear coat. Unfortunately, there aren't too many color choices. That's why my daily work vises are all red.

I think the "Rust-Oleum Professional High Performance Enamel Spray" (The taller silver cans) are a lot more durable than their regular stuff, and forget the "Painters Touch" ones. In fact, the one vise that I use the most that I painted Gloss Black with the high-perf spray hasn't chipped at all, can't say the same for my 4C with the hammered gray...

 

[coolreed]

I finally finished the restoration of my Emmert Turtle Vise and found a place to mount it. The two front dogs were broken so I made new ones from brass stock. The Turtle Vise works great and will make a great addition to my garage.

 

[zoomieport]

I finally finished the restoration of my Emmert Turtle Vise and found a place to mount it. The two front dogs were broken so I made new ones from brass stock. The Turtle Vise works great and will make a great addition to my garage.

WOW, the Holy Grail... Well done, I am jealous!

 

[coolreed]

Don't be,..that beast whooped me good during the installation. As I had no assistance.

 

[zoomieport]

Here's one for "The Journal", a little vise history...

 

[Big Pete]

cool vise! Love the built in anvil, or maybe it's a built in vise.

 

[WQ59B]

Snagged from the family cabin sold this year, 3.5-in jaws ~