The VISES of Garage Journal

[thundermug]

I got this Craftsman / Reed 5180 3.5" vise last fall. Someday this will go to my son, so I went with a theme he can understand now. Firetruck.
I'll use it for the next 20-30 years, or until he can appreciate a good vise. For now it's on light duty. When I have a garage, it will be put through the paces. In twenty years it will look even better.

Brass jaw liners modeled after Wilton copper soft jaws.

Incorrect Craftsman badge / decal, but this one suits it.
https://sphotos-a-ord.**.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/q79/1003502_645043541232_1211708377_n.jpg

CFD, Chicago Fire Department logo.

Inspired by this 2" Wilton bullet. I can't remember who it belongs to:

And this Reed 104R by Autopts;
https://sphotos-b-ord.**.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/q71/375652_645046575152_2129065584_n.jpg

 

[Outlawmws]

Wow, I like that Red with the accent color! did you make the brass balls or buy them?

 

[Bret888]

I knew that post was in there somewhere, cause I remember reading it. But this thing has gotten so big it's hard to go back and find what you know you have read. It's like an encyclopedia on vises without alphabetical order. Should be an index of users, names of vises, sizes of vises, and updated daily. Someone ought to step up and make that happen. Not me.
I read in that post that Mr. Fulton sold out his Fulton Vise Co. and went to the Oswego Tool Co. as CEO. and General Manager. So is it possible that he over saw the productions of Sawyer vises? I want a big Sawyer so bad.
Sorry about the lousy pictures. If I go with the flash I get nothing but glare off the yellow vise. If I dropped the flash I get nothing but blur.
Thanks for the history posts. Their invaluable.

Have you checked your pile lately, maybe you already have one! Seriously, it is quite possible that he was involved.
It would be nice to have some kind of index, and I think Dayid's?? page was started for that purpose. I would add some to it if I knew how.

 

[jakemac]

Wow, I like that Red with the accent color! did you make the brass balls or buy them?

Ummmmm ....... it's a good thing I didn't read that comment out of context. It just doesn't seem right.

 

[thundermug]

Thanks, Outlaw. I didn't make those brass balls, I earned them. Well, bought them. At a place in Chicago called Metomic. They make lamp parts, brass fittings (balls) being one of many items. The owner was nice enough to thread the steel bar for me for free. I'm going back sometime to take pictures of their machine shop.

 

[Outlawmws]

Ummmmm ....... it's a good thing I didn't read that comment out of context. It just doesn't seem right.

 

[Outlawmws]

I knew that post was in there somewhere, cause I remember reading it. But this thing has gotten so big it's hard to go back and find what you know you have read. It's like an encyclopedia on vises without alphabetical order. Should be an index of users, names of vises, sizes of vises, and updated daily. Someone ought to step up and make that happen. Not me.
I read in that post that Mr. Fulton sold out his Fulton Vise Co. and went to the Oswego Tool Co. as CEO. and General Manager. So is it possible that he over saw the productions of Sawyer vises? I want a big Sawyer so bad.
Sorry about the lousy pictures. If I go with the flash I get nothing but glare off the yellow vise. If I dropped the flash I get nothing but blur.
Thanks for the history posts. Their invaluable.

Use the "Search thread" tab, it works out pretty well if you have anything remotely unique to search on. (Vise, or even Vice would not be one of them! )

 

[autopts]

Did you say you like Simplex combo vises?

I'm pretty sure i've posted this on here before but in another thread but here's another near mint 4" Simplex Combo vise i've got laying around the shop. Its pictured by my daily use 3" Simplex Combo

Sorry Jason, i just couldn't resist

I so much hate you!!

 

[EOC_Jason]

Did you say you like Simplex combo vises?

I'm pretty sure i've posted this on here before but in another thread but here's another near mint 4" Simplex Combo vise i've got laying around the shop. Its pictured by my daily use 3" Simplex Combo

Sorry Jason, i just couldn't resist

Yeah, you ****... But I do have a 33CPN myself, original condition too. (Check sig for pictures).

 

[kukko]

thanks for all the suggestions for the retaining clip on the Wilton (previous page). and thanks to PghJKB for the pics!

Jon

 

[Legba]

Yes we do, I burned my leg a bit welding in my Kilt last Saturday!
I'll get some pics up on the vise's soon, enjoying the thread for now!

Winner of the "Best First Post On GJ" award

Are ye makin fun of me lad?

View media item 32213

 

[Legba]

One of my favorite vises!
View media item 32214

 

[Legba]

$5
View media item 32215View media item 322162 1/2 inch jaws, needed to machine one plate as the original was broke in half.

 

[Legba]

$50 Morgan 45
View media item 32218
View media item 32217

 

[Legba]

This is a great thread. Love all the old iron. I do have one question maybe a someone here can answer. I have an old Columbian No 43 vise that was my grandfathers. I have not really found any info about how old it could be. Anyone have an idea? Thanks.

I've got one that my Father owned, most likely got it from Grandpa. Darn Good Vise.
View media item 32220

 

[rusty65]

Good looking vise Legba I really like that morgan on the stand. And that vise from your father has some great patina on it. Cool stuff!


Sent From Snap On Head Quarters deep in China.

 

[cclfn]

I have two more $30 vises; a Morgan 87 from Chicago and a Superior 10-11-12 Nickle Chrome from Saginaw Michigan . Spent an hour searching for Superior Tool Company and with the exception of a Cleveland company that appears to have been founded there, and still in business as plumbing tool specialist, I draw a blank.

Whats the verdict? I almost left it at first thinking it was an import but I decided to drag it home and try to sort it out.

Any ideas?

Wes

 

[rusty65]

Nice looking Morgan cc. Here is a ad showing some old Morgans not sure if your vise is in it but here you go any how.

Sent From Snap On Head Quarters deep in China.

 

[va.grouseman]

Would you mind posting some detailed pics of your Rock Island 577 vise? I'm especially interested in some pics of the swivel lock handle as mine appears to be missing.

Thanks!

Hi CRTDI. As promised, here is some pics of the 577. Don't know exactly what you're looking for, but these might help. The first ones are from the used one that I could get to right easy. But it's almost unused except for the black paint, even right over the Birtman emblem. The ones in grey are from the NOS one that I couldn't get to. I did manage to screw the lock down off of it. There is a little difference in the two but not much. Hope these help.





























Like I said, even the black one was hardly used, so probably not much tampering through the years. It should be pretty much original. Oh the part that looks rusty is mostly motor oil. If I can't get around to restoring, I drowned them in oil. My scales said 156 lbs.. Now that's not a monster but that's not small either. (Large vises) run anywhere from 135lbs. to 225lbs., and (monsters) run anywhere from 275lbs. up, all the way to the proverbial 695 pounder. 225 to 275 is that grey area that's open to interpretation. Good luck.

 

[autopts]

I got this Craftsman / Reed 5180 3.5" vise last fall. Someday this will go to my son, so I went with a theme he can understand now. Firetruck.
I'll use it for the next 20-30 years, or until he can appreciate a good vise. For now it's on light duty. When I have a garage, it will be put through the paces. In twenty years it will look even better.


And this Reed 104R by Autopts;
https://sphotos-b-ord.**.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/q71/375652_645046575152_2129065584_n.jpg

I still talk about this vise. I sold it on Ebay for $75 bucks. It actually needed copper liners. That vise with liners set me back $75. With fees, I lost money on that sale.

 

[va.grouseman]

Are ye makin fun of me lad?

View media item 32213

Any of yaw notice that I ain't the only one that believes in a good chain. Great minds think alike.

Good sense of humor to, Mr. Legba.

 

[cclfn]

I still talk about this vise. I sold it on Ebay for $75 bucks. It actually needed copper liners. That vise with liners set me back $75. With fees, I lost money on that sale.

Geez next time you want to loose on those nice vises, let me know I would be glad to help you out. Do you happened to that Cmajn vise that was listed on there $595. It was not near as nice as yours.

Did you tell the buyer he sucked

 

[CRTDI]

Would you mind posting some detailed pics of your Rock Island 577 vise? I'm especially interested in some pics of the swivel lock handle as mine appears to be missing.

Thanks!

Hi CRTDI. As promised, here is some pics of the 577. Don't know exactly what you're looking for, but these might help. The first ones are from the used one that I could get to right easy. But it's almost unused except for the black paint, even right over the Birtman emblem. The ones in grey are from the NOS one that I couldn't get to. I did manage to screw the lock down off of it. There is a little difference in the two but not much. Hope these help.





























Like I said, even the black one was hardly used, so probably not much tampering through the years. It should be pretty much original. Oh the part that looks rusty is mostly motor oil. If I can't get around to restoring, I drowned them in oil. My scales said 156 lbs.. Now that's not a monster but that's not small either. (Large vises) run anywhere from 135lbs. to 225lbs., and (monsters) run anywhere from 275lbs. up, all the way to the proverbial 695 pounder. 225 to 275 is that grey area that's open to interpretation. Good luck.

Grouseman,

Thank you very much for taking the effort in posting these. I should have made myself a little clearer about the swivel lock assy. The swivel lock is actually intact, however the handle for it is missing.

My vise is in this posting:

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=71487&highlight=rock+island

When I get around to restoring this beast, I would like to duplicate the proper look and style of the handle. My problem was that every other 577 that I could find a pic of either has the handle missing or an odd looking fabrication of one. I was beginning to believe that one never existed for this vise. Why do so many of these go missing on this particular model?....

I do see the differences of the handle styles for your vises. Do you believe that your black vise has a fabricated handle and that your other NOS vise has the correct style?

 

[Provincial]

Grouseman,

Thank you very much for taking the effort in posting these. I should have made myself a little clearer about the swivel lock assy. The swivel lock is actually intact, however the handle for it is missing.

My vise is in this posting:

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=71487&highlight=rock+island

When I get around to restoring this beast, I would like to duplicate the proper look and style of the handle. My problem was that every other 577 that I could find a pic of either has the handle missing or an odd looking fabrication of one. I was beginning to believe that one never existed for this vise. Why do so many of these go missing on this particular model?....

I do see the differences of the handle styles for your vises. Do you believe that your black vise has a fabricated handle and that your other NOS vise has the correct style?

Often, the handles fail early when they are made of inferior materials. They get bent so bad the owners discard them or they break off when the owner tries to straighten them.

 

[Jere]

I was ordered by a few guys to repost this from another vise thread

Here is my Prentiss Bulldog picked it up a few weeks ago for $35 at the thrift store. It still has some really old gray lacquer paint on it, and light use. It does seem to have a lot of play in between the base even though it is very tight against the bench. The strange thing is I only notice the play when there is something in the vice that acts as a lever. It is good and tight otherwise, and seems like either something is missing or it has a design flaw. The metal in the base all looks like it is in good shape. Anyone know if there might be a part I am missing?

 

[va.grouseman]

Provincial is right. After they have been bent and straightened several times, they eventually break. Back in the day they weren't antiques or collectables so no one tried to restore them to the original form. You either quick rigged something for a handle or you used a screwdriver and went on about your business. Stationaries don't have this problem but then they don't swivel either. It's the price you pay.----What I don't understand is why a vise the size of the 577 only has one lock down. There are vises half that size with two. Maybe that was the problem.
About the handles, I think the grey is original with the heated brad. I think someone drilled and tapped a bar of steel and put screws in the end on the black one. There is a post on page 405 that shows how to fix a jig to hold a bar of steel, red wrench it, and tap a brad. It's darn slick.

 

[va.grouseman]

Mr. Jere--------You need to go back to the thrift store and hand them a C-note just to ease your conscience.

 

[Low Friction]

Yeah Jere....that Prentiss looks pretty much perfect. Nice score.

 

[cclfn]

Of course Morgan still supplies replacement jaw inserts for their vises from yesteryear. Slab/T/U style.

I need to get a set of pipe jaws for my Morgan 87 I picked up the other day.
Does anyone know how to come by these? I was not able to get anywhere with Milwaukee Tool have they shut down?

Thanks,
Wes

 

[EOC_Jason]

Maybe try asking Autopts or Zoomieport, I think they have both dealt with Morgan/Milwaukee to get parts. I wonder if the jaws for a columbian would fit. You can look at http://www.viseparts.com/ they have dimensions on those pipe jaws.

 

[Low Friction]

I need to get a set of pipe jaws for my Morgan 87 I picked up the other day.
Does anyone know how to come by these? I was not able to get anywhere with Milwaukee Tool have they shut down?

Thanks,
Wes

Did you call these guys on this site:

http://www.milwmal.com/home.htm

I talked to them a couple months ago. I need to order some jaws and a handle so I hope they are still there.

 

[cclfn]

Did you call these guys on this site:

http://www.milwmal.com/home.htm

I talked to them a couple months ago. I need to order some jaws and a handle so I hope they are still there.

False alarm nobody was answering the phone or replying to my emails from last week. I just tried again and placed an order for the pipe jaws and swivel lock down nut. Not cheap put it will be a nice vise restored.

 

[cclfn]

OK - here is today's addition to the mix. A $25 Wilton HD 9400 (Chicago) with a broken jaw; but you have to love women running estate sales. She threw in the R/R anvil and all the tools for for another $15 because it was broken. There's Snap-on, Proto, S&K, and Cman V and VV's in with some misc stuff.

Vice is not too bad (still has some original paint) except for a lot of dirt and I have a spare set of 4X1 wilton jaws

Good Hunting!
Wes

 

[Duct Tape Man]

Okay that earns you a YOU ****!

 

[EOC_Jason]

Royally ****... man I wish I could just find a decent vise at a garage / estate sale!

 

[J HAV]

Royally ****... man I wish I could just find a decent vise at a garage / estate sale!

American Pickers, Pawn Stars, eBay... It ruined everything for us. Especially here in the big city. We need to find places that have no Internet lol! It used to be hit or miss, but now it seems to be just miss.

 

[bigcaddy]

American Pickers, Pawn Stars, eBay... It ruined everything for us. Especially here in the big city. We need to find places that have no Internet lol! It used to be hit or miss, but now it seems to be just miss.

Even without any of the above mentioned "problems", people are always trying to monetize emotional attachments to particular items they have. Everything is rare and worth much more then they paid for it 15-20 years ago.

You just need to hit enough of them to score the good stuff.

I got this Reed 214 this morning. 30.00

 

[J HAV]

Sometimes I think people in Houston didn't buy a lot of good quality vises, or tools lol... It's just we never have these huge crazy vise and tool hauls a lot of you guys seem to find EVERY weekend! You guys are really lucky to live in areas where you can find things like that. Trust me... I go to a lot of estate, and garage sales here. I never get close to what you guys find. Nice Reed btw

 

[rasman57]

Finished the old Craftsman 5162. For such an old heavy vise (50+ lbs) it is in really nice condition. Lots of minor rust but otherwise it must of been lightly used. CL find for $60. Put about 10 hours into it. First one I painted as it was just too nice not to. My old Parker gets the dirty work and this one gets the love.

 

[va.grouseman]

Rasman----Great job on the Craftsman. You had a near perfect vise to work with.

Cclfn----You did good by bringing home the Superior. That thing looks similar to a Craftsman, rotating head, minus the pipe jaws and swivel base. Never seen a Superior with a rotating head. That's an odd duck. Odd is good. Odd is very good.
There is a Superior on page 29. That's what most of them I've seen look like.