The VISES of Garage Journal

[Bret888]

I got a pretty good one this morning. It is a 6" #155 Ridgid 61 CPN combination vise. I think this is a Desmond Stephan made one? I know some of you guys have studied Ridgids, and my memory is not the best. Has anyone figured out who made which Ridgids when? Was Desnond first, then Columbian, then Peddinhaus? Any other Ridgid contracts?
I took one of the "steel slide" also, it is cast into the dynamic jaw.

Here is an old post, that I figured was relevant. I just figured Ridgid contracted these, I didn't know they bought the division. I have only seen one other 61CPN, on a Phoenix craigslist ad, http://phoenix.craigslist.org/evl/tls/3817055102.html since I got this one last year. There must be a few more out there somewhere.
These are the only pictures I have, since paint. The jaw plates are not back in it. That is a welded up 103 Reed sitting on it.

 

[The Ratchet Man]

Ratchet man, I'd love to know who in the USA made that for Ace...

To be honest without the box (I'd keep that box BTW, evidence...) I (and probably all of the other regulars on GJ that do the "vise thing" would have instantly said that was Asian made. It does appear to be a cut above what is usually seen, but it also has the pacific rim "markers" (Plated screw handles, the angle gauge strip and it matches almost EXACTLY the basic pattern of the typicla HF/Jet/Taiwan brand x swivel head vise.

Would I have bought that in similar circumstances? If I saw the made in USE adn the castings looked clean and not bondoed for "pretty" paint, likely. good deal, I just hope ACE/you weren't lied to about COO.

ps: are you sure it was in the original box?

Yes, it was the original box as the part number came up on several websites with pictures of that exact vise. I agree that its probably China. The markers you noted and the lack of any numbers, COO or anything gives me this feeling. Having said that, it is well made regardless of COO and I think its a lot of vise for the money.

The made is USA thing was just going to be icing on the cake. I still paid less than a $1 per pound for new though.

What are the triangle shaped jaws on the bottom for?

 

[Kevin54]

Here's my Desmond after I got it back together. Now I have to get the other two stripped and repainted.

 

[torqueman2002]

Another stunning 'wet' look paint job!

TSC paint again?

 

[Kevin54]

Another stunning 'wet' look paint job!

TSC paint again?

Yep. TSC paint again. I really like it. It covers great. They have two different types of paint. They have an industrial paint which I did see a gray, although I don't know how many colors they have it in, then this is the tractor, truck, and implement paint which it claims is rust and weather resistant, excellent adhesion, and heavy duty formula. The have about three or four different colors of the red and although my pics show it kind of a bright red in one or two of them, it's actually darker. I'd say it's more along the lines of the Craftsman tool box red. It's actually International Harvester Red.

I'm getting ready to spray my hydraulic press with it so I can get it back together as I need to use it

 

[Craptain]

So...I made another vise purchase that I thought was a great deal. I don't know much about it though. Tell me what I got and how I did.

The details...

I was in Ace Hardware a couple of days ago and saw this vise had a red clearence tag on it. This vise has been on the shelf for at least the last 5 years in the same beat up box. Since I'm a sucker for clearance items I brought it up to the register to inquire about price since the clearance price was $99 but the regular price wasn't listed.

The cashier told me that the regular price was $99 and the clearance price was $99. I asked her what the red tag was for then, while mumbling about carrying an estimated 75 lb. vise all the way to the register. She ended up offering an extra $10 off. I opened the box and found the paint was chipped around the anvil and said I would take it for $25 off. She called the manager and the manager agreed.

After using $15 in Ace Rewards points (that she let me use on a clearance item ) I walked out the door with it for $59.99 plus tax.

One of the things I noticed on the box was that it said "Made in the USA for Ace Hardware Corp". If it hadn't been for that I might've passed because I don't need another vise...well maybe.

After researching the model number I found that this is not the current model offered by Ace. The current model is gray in color and has "ACE" in raised letters on the side. This one has no markings, not even the model number. Model # is 2185619. A couple of sites have is titled "ACE TRADING-BENCH VISES APEX" if that helps.

The whole jaw assembly will turn 360* and the whole vise will swivel 360*. It has 2 numbered strips, one for the degrees of rotation of the jaws and one for the extension of the jaw. It has 3 sets of jaws: one standard set, one pipe set and a set of triangle notched jaws on the bottom that I can't figure out what they are used for. It has 2 swivel clamps and 1 rotation clamp. All three movements operate smooth as silk and that is with the old dried up grease still in there. Complete teardown and lube is in the near future.

So did I do good?

Ratchet Man, That is very similar to one I looked at on CL last week. There was no info about it but it is still available, I just need to get off my lazy ****. It is different in a few details but overall it is the same vise.

 

[Engineer61]

Ratchetman you did great, I would bet that is a Wilton made in the USA before they moved the manufacturing of that vise to China. Several Chinese companies have done a very poor job of copying the design and now that vise design has a very bad reputation; earlier models like yours do a wonderful job of holding anything in about any position you can think of and make a great addition to any shop.

 

[The Ratchet Man]

Ratchetman you did great, I would bet that is a Wilton made in the USA before they moved the manufacturing of that vise to China. Several Chinese companies have done a very poor job of copying the design and now that vise design has a very bad reputation; earlier models like yours do a wonderful job of holding anything in about any position you can think of and make a great addition to any shop.

Wow. Now that is an Exact copy. The only thing different on mine is the color and the Wilton stamp. If you look on mine the square indention on the side is the exact same as the other one, minus the "Wilton" inside. It even has the 2 measuring strips for degrees and inches.

The site says the pipe jaws were permanent so i double checked mine and sure enough mine are cast into the jaws so that matches too. The site you posted lists it at 45 lbs. though. I weighed mine earlier and it weighed 60.9 lbs. Also weighed my Craftsman and was within half a pound of the 37 lbs. that Craftsman claims, so I know the scale is accurate. Maybe the weight is wrong on the site?

Does anybody have this vise that can take a picture from the back so I can compare the lead screw nut and rear retention collar to be absolutely 100%.

It appears that I might be able to have my cake AND my icing.

 

[The Ratchet Man]

The model number for the one on the site you listed is Wilton 69999. Northern Tool carries them and has a close up picture on their site. It's gray instead of blue and has the indention in the side without the "Wilton". You can even see the desidn on the jaw inserts is the same pattern which is more wavy than standard checkering.

Link: Wilton #69999

I'll check it out next time I'm in Northern. This and other site state made in China though. Oh well its a Wilton.

 

[oldldh]

Kevin----You get a: "YA DUN GUD, BUBBA!!!"

 

[balane]

I'm not really a wood vise type of guy but I couldn't pass on this giant honker. This thing is big and this thing is heavy. It also has the best quick release system I've ever used. Turn the screw a little bit CCW and the threads release allowing you to slide it in and out easily. Turn it a little bit CW and it locks again so you can tighten it down. It just works really well.

It's a Craftsman 10R-2A and the date stamp puts it at May 1981 production. Really clean all over. The jaws are 10" x 4" and they open to a little over 10" Overall length is 22"

It weighs 37 pounds and makes my late model JET wood vise look like ****. I see wood vises here and there but I've never come across one like this.

In the photos, that isn't exactly a small tree stump.

.

 

[Outlawmws]

Ratchetman and Engineer, I'm pretty sure they made those a couple different sizes, (certainly the Taiwan and chicom vises have more than one size) which could account for the difference in weight. check the jaw widths for a sanity check.

 

[KMScott]

Here's my Desmond after I got it back together.

Kevin
Are the jaws original or did you make em, and are they hard steel? Curious to what the faces looked like. Nice paint job. I'll have to research your TSC paint.

 

[Kevin54]

Kevin
Are the jaws original or did you make em, and are they hard steel? Curious to what the faces looked like. Nice paint job. I'll have to research your TSC paint.

I didn't make the jaws. They have a smooth face to them with three different size "vees" running horizontally across, and one vertical vee I think. I'll look and snap a pic when I get out to the garage today. I don't know if they came from Desmond that way, or if years ago someone made or modified a set of jaws at our shop. They are hardened. Like I mentioned above, a carbide end mill barely phased them. Desmond claims they had hardened jaws, so I can't tell whether they are factory or not.

 

[MDSPHOTO]

Pulled mine off the work bench at my old house and brought her down to the new house last night. Will play around with positioning before bolting down.

 

[jpickar]

I have finally gotten around to taking some pics of my vises.

First is a 4" Milwaukee. It is missing the swivel base.
Second is a 4" Craftsman Jr.
Third is my father-in-laws 6" Craftsman that he bought in the 50's I am guessing. It is mine now and my user vise.

Last is a Wilton Cadet but it is missing the jaws. I paid $20 for the vise. I found viseparts.com and they have the jaws. but they are $60!! Is there any place that has them cheaper? Or am I going to have to make a set?

John

 

[va.grouseman]

Finally got better pics of the 800.





Tried to take the slide out to see what year it was made, got it about half way out and it went into a roll as it was upside down, got all over me, weighs too much, not worth it, I don't even care anymore.

 

[Outlawmws]

Finally got better pics of the 800.

SNIP
Tried to take the slide out to see what year it was made, got it about half way out and it went into a roll as it was upside down, got all over me, weighs too, not worth it, I don't even care anymore.

Please tell us someone had a video camera rolling!

 

[EOC_Jason]

Last is a Wilton Cadet but it is missing the jaws. I paid $20 for the vise. I found viseparts.com and they have the jaws. but they are $60!! Is there any place that has them cheaper? Or am I going to have to make a set?

Check: http://wiltonviseparts.net/

You didn't say what size it was but I think they might be cheaper...

 

[jpickar]

Check: http://wiltonviseparts.net/

You didn't say what size it was but I think they might be cheaper...

Thanks, John

 

[datsbooksleia]

nice vises Ratchet Man! I just picked up a Wilton 656 today, not as cool as a bullet but a Wilton no doubt.

Here are the two I picked up today. Wilton 6" 656 and a Columbian A3-1/2. Anyone have any info on the Columbian?

I have the same vise like your columbian but mine is made by Brink and cotton and the jaws are 4 1/2" wide.I bought is from Home depot brand new in 1998 for $25.

 

[Big Pete]

I didn't make the jaws. They have a smooth face to them with three different size "vees" running horizontally across, and one vertical vee I think. I'll look and snap a pic when I get out to the garage today. I don't know if they came from Desmond that way, or if years ago someone made or modified a set of jaws at our shop. They are hardened. Like I mentioned above, a carbide end mill barely phased them. Desmond claims they had hardened jaws, so I can't tell whether they are factory or not.

Thats a fab looking vice. Is there any spring in the jaws when you really clamp down? They look tall for the size of the vice.

 

[toomanytoyzz]

Here's the jeweler's vise my wife got me for Father's Day. I put it on top of a Rock Island with 6" Jaws for scale.

 

[KMScott]

Any info on this 4-1/2 inch vise my cousin owns. I think it was built before Ridged changed it's name but I can not find any thing else about it. I wish he sent a view of the jaws, pretty large Pipe jaws and the t-style jaws were built with a full radius instead the square style. Gives the jaw insert cavity more strength. Thanks in advance.

 

[EOC_Jason]

Any info on this 4-1/2 inch vise my cousin owns. I think it was built before Ridged changed it's name but I can not find any thing else about it. I wish he sent a view of the jaws, pretty large Pipe jaws and the t-style jaws were built with a full radius instead the square style. Gives the jaw insert cavity more strength. Thanks in advance.

Yes, Ridge Tool Company became "Ridgid"... Ridge Tool took over Desmond Stephan's vise manufacturing I think sometime in the 60's? There was some posts about this in this thread a page or two back....

I have three Ridgid vises, they are all excellent...

 

[Bret888]

Any info on this 4-1/2 inch vise my cousin owns. I think it was built before Ridged changed it's name but I can not find any thing else about it. I wish he sent a view of the jaws, pretty large Pipe jaws and the t-style jaws were built with a full radius instead the square style. Gives the jaw insert cavity more strength. Thanks in advance.

Somewhere in this thread I think someone posted literature on these, and I thought I saved it, but I can't find it. I have a 6" version of the combination vise, 61CPN. I suspect that Desmond Stephans made vises for Ridgid early on, then sold the division to Ridge later? I have seen on here, both the "T" and "L" shaped jaw plates early and late. I figured the L plates were a cost saving revision, in later years, but now I am not sure?

 

[GETRIDAONE]

Found this Parker No. EE on Craigslist yesterday. Not sure how old it is but judging by the center mounting screw pre 1900 ? I looked and didn't find any info for the lettered vises just the numbered ones. 5" Jaws, 8-10" opening, 80 lbs or so.

 

[KMScott]

Thanks Bret888 and EOC _Jason, I am continually being educated on Vises, I have always owned Wilton's and I see now there is some very nice vises out there that do not have the Wilton name on them.

 

[Roju1985]

Here's a refurbed Wilton import a family member rescued from the dumpster and gave to me. I wanted a different color than normal. Came out pretty good I think.

5" but I'm not sure of the model number. Perhaps someone can help.

 

[Clarifixer]

Been looking for a Boley-style watchmaker's vise, and found one on eBay, but should have looked more closely at the ad. This thing is TINY--less than half the size of the one I have which is already small by the standards of this thread. I did a bead blast and wire wheel clean up and couldn't resist doing a little lathe work to make a little knurled "speed knob" on the end of the lead screw. Works great, but I'm not sure if I'll really be able to use it.

 

[freedomgli]

I posted this vise before (Columbian No. 03 1/2), but now I've made a new mount for it to go with the new workbench.

I didn't want to drill that maple top because I might move the bench and decide I want the vise on the opposite corner, or might have a project that a flat bench top is more useful than a vise. It's a relatively light duty vise anyway, so clamp mount should be fine.

So, here we go. It's made of layered MDF with a piece of cork lining the inside for extra grip. Carriage bolts between the two halves provide the clamping force, and it clamps quite well. I would pull the bench over before I could inadvertently pull the vise mount off the bench.

Very interesting. I've been trying to figure out the least bad way to mount my vise as my garage situation is both very compact (meaning I only need a vise once in a while but I need every square inch of work surface possible all the time) and temporary (we're house shopping). Right now my vise will only fit on the left corner of the work bench but I'd really prefer it on the right side, which may be possible in the next home with a bigger garage.

 

[PugetDude]

Any of you vise guys know what it would take to fix this?

http://seattle.craigslist.org/est/tls/3875096107.html

 

[Bret888]

Any of you vise guys know what it would take to fix this?

http://seattle.craigslist.org/est/tls/3875096107.html

It is hard to guess what is actually broken. I doubt the screw is broken, but the nut could be, or the pin that holds the nut in may be missing or broke? I would go look at it if it is not far away.

 

[Roju1985]

Any of you vise guys know what it would take to fix this?

http://seattle.craigslist.org/est/tls/3875096107.html

Last picture in the add shows the cast piece the drive screw threads into. One of the taper fit "legs" appears to be broken off and looks to have been brazed back together in the past. If it was repaired and re-broke I personally wouldn't attempt to re-fix it again.

The piece I'm talking about is the piece in this picture on top of the base:

 

[PugetDude]

Last picture in the add shows the cast piece the drive screw threads into. One of the taper fit "legs" appears to be broken off and looks to have been brazed back together in the past. If it was repaired and re-broke I personally wouldn't attempt to re-fix it again.

That was what I was afraid off.. I've scrolled thru some of the other vise threads here and it looks like that is an integral part of the vise casting, not a bolt-on piece that could be easily replaced...

But, then again, after seeing the picture you added...

 

[J HAV]

The mail man came today and dropped off a mysterious box... lets take a peek


Ahhhh.... reunited and it feels so good. I got issues

 

[k p]

Picked this up a few days ago for $15 at a garage sale. Some damage below the stationary jaw but meh, can't turn down $15.

 

[Roju1985]

That was what I was afraid off.. I've scrolled thru some of the other vise threads here and it looks like that is an integral part of the vise casting, not a bolt-on piece that could be easily replaced...

But, then again, after seeing the picture you added...

Well it is a removable piece that taper fits into the body of the vice. But sourcing a new piece would be very difficult I imagine. like I said it appears to have had a repair attempted to it in the past that failed. The piece in question actually holds the entire load on the jaw so I imagine a poor repair will be short lived.

 

[EOC_Jason]

Well it is a removable piece that taper fits into the body of the vice. But sourcing a new piece would be very difficult I imagine. like I said it appears to have had a repair attempted to it in the past that failed. The piece in question actually holds the entire load on the jaw so I imagine a poor repair will be short lived.

That's not necessarily true... If you check out viseparts.com they have some of the newer parts off the columbian line. It might take a little filing or shimming to get to fit, but if the threads are the same and the height of the threaded hole is the same, then it might not be too difficult to fix.

http://www.viseparts.com/504_4_MACHINED_SPINDLE_NUT_p/ba-10103s04.htm

 

[Steve V.]

Picked this up a few days ago for $15 at a garage sale. Some damage below the stationary jaw but meh, can't turn down $15.

For that price even if its garage shelf art you can't go wrong.



Steve