The VISES of Garage Journal

[drivesitfar]

I think I have all that hanging around here except the washing soda or Spa Ph+ which might be code for Baking soda. i'll check for info on GJ and Google and give it a shot. thanks again for all your help.

 

[Outlawmws]

Baking soda can work but not as effective. The recommended are both Sodium Carbonate, which is better. Some have a hard time finding actual washing soda, so the spa chemicals are a good alternate.

 

[drivesitfar]

I found a bolt to stick under the Prentiss #26 pull pin and gave it a push and the pull pin popped out. swivel jaw is still locked in place so might be rust or those screws and pins. Maybe a long "E" bath will unlock the swivel and clean 100 years of crud off Mr. Prentiss. thanks again for all the help

 

[BFBOB]

Here we go again, asking for help with my Yost 1 resto. Last step in the teardown is the pivot/mounting stud. No dice trying to unscrew it with the 2-nuts method. Once I got the nut out I saw why. It's pinned in place. The pin must go off diagonally into the base, but it does not come through, and I can't even see for sure which direction it goes. It's soaking in Kroil for now. Anyone got a good way of pulling it out? As you can see, there's not much to grab on to. It's really not necessary to get the stud out, but it's bent enough that I'd like to straighten (or replace) it. Hard to do with it attached.
All hints appreciated.
Still looking for a donor slide, too. 3x2", 4" long section.

 

[Recoil Rob]

I just installed a new Yost 6" in my garage a few weeks ago and gave the unpainted area's, slide, anvil, etc. a coat of paste wax to prevent rust.

It's an unheated garage and I already have a slight "patina" of rust.

I am going to steel wool the rust off but any other suggestions other than paste wax? It doesn't seem to protect well.


thanks,

Rob

 

[Mark in Indiana]

I just installed a new Yost 6" in my garage a few weeks ago and gave the unpainted area's, slide, anvil, etc. a coat of paste wax to prevent rust.

It's an unheated garage and I already have a slight "patina" of rust.

I am going to steel wool the rust off but any other suggestions other than paste wax? It doesn't seem to protect well.


thanks,

Rob

For the past several years, I've had my restored Charles Parker 205 in my garage in the same conditions. The bare metal parts are left without clear coat or wax because this vise is my daily driver. All I do is keep a thin film of oil on those areas. I've never had any problems. Now with my table saw top and the guide rods on my woodworking vise, I use a heavy paste wax that would be used for bowling alleys. BTW: I oil the table saw down every winter and cover it with cardboard. Again, I've had no problems.

Hope this helps.

 

[Outlawmws]

BFBob, I think the best plan of attack is to leave that stud in place and proceed to de-rusting (Etank?) That stud has been there for a hundred years more of less, why fight it?

 

[BFBOB]

BFBob, I think the best plan of attack is to leave that stud in place and proceed to de-rusting (Etank?) That stud has been there for a hundred years more of less, why fight it?

It just irks me that it's bent, and I could straighten it so easily if it were out. But, you're probably right. It isn't really a functional issue. Yup, I do the little swimming electrons thing. It's already been in the tank a few hours; nearly done on the outside and the inside is smooth enough to work fine.

You do lots of vises - do you have a broken slide to carve up and use to fix mine? 2x3", about 4" long.

 

[Outlawmws]

Sorry, I don't. I try to stay off the broken ones, unless they are free, or close to it, and amazingly, the more broken that are around here, the more most people seem to think they are worth?

The closest I've come is the 5" reed that I'm (still) trying to get the slide unfrozen...

The guys to talk to are the guys that did the Colorado trove...

 

[drivesitfar]

While i'm trying to figure out the best way to set up an "E" tank for my Prentiss vise I thought I'd try to locate the owner of the coolest vise stand and vise handle I've ever seen. anyone here seen this vise in person or is the owner a GJ member? i'd consider selling all my vises which are a few now besides the Prentiss for this one.

 

[oldldh]

The photo you've posted falls under the classification:

UNOBTANIUM GARAGE ART

Whoever owns it...it should fall on his toe and cause massive pain for a very long time...

With a vise and stand like that----

He really *****!!!

 

[bl00]

Those are really nice stands.

Owner info here:
http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showpost.php?p=4775542&postcount=13

Another one using a Reed vise here:
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=66316

 

[bluebolt]

OK My latest addition: an American Scale CO. Kansas City Mo. Red Seal #66

6" jaws, 25" long. I need to weigh it when the Son unit re-surfaces from the GF unit's house to help unload... It is the stationary base model but looks like the swivel base could be bolted right on.

You really don't realize just how much bigger even an inch in jaw width makes these puppies, and there is just no comparison to the 2" difference from a 4" vise. the 7's and 8's must be staggering in person...

/QUOTE]

LOL just lift it out of that trunk yourself Outlaw! I am muscling my Reed 206 around right now mounting it on a stand, I learned the best way to deal with these monsters is to take the slide out first, I have used the engine hoist in the past!

 

[Outlawmws]

Hi All .. Long time lurker ... Seldom post ...
Outlaw talked me into posting photos of this Craftsman # 5222 Vise a friend of mine just found... .
No COO marked anywhere .. Only marking is " Craftsman 5222" ...
Neither of us have seen anything like it before ..
The slide is hex shaped & and the anvil has a horn on it.

The handles are all brushed steel ... No chrome ....

The jaw width is 3 1/2" ...

Anybody have any clues ???

Thanks in advance ......

I was guessing this was maybe 80's or later, but no catalogs in those eras...

the hex slide throws me, I can't recall seeing this slide, certainly not in the usual Asian culprits...

Anyone else have a clue?

 

[Outlawmws]

OK My latest addition: an American Scale CO. Kansas City Mo. Red Seal #66

6" jaws, 25" long. I need to weigh it when the Son unit re-surfaces from the GF unit's house to help unload... It is the stationary base model but looks like the swivel base could be bolted right on.

You really don't realize just how much bigger even an inch in jaw width makes these puppies, and there is just no comparison to the 2" difference from a 4" vise. the 7's and 8's must be staggering in person...

LOL just lift it out of that trunk yourself Outlaw! I am muscling my Reed 206 around right now mounting it on a stand, I learned the best way to deal with these monsters is to take the slide out first, I have used the engine hoist in the past!

I could, but I've leaned better in my old age!

 

[zoomieport]

I was guessing this was maybe 80's or later, but no catalogs in those eras...

the hex slide throws me, I can't recall seeing this slide, certainly not in the usual Asian culprits...

Anyone else have a clue?

I've got one and I think it's more like the 1950's, from the little info I've found.

 

[Outlawmws]

I've got one and I think it's more like the 1950's, from the little info I've found.

I would have thought I would have found it in the catalogs if from the 50's. Hmm, Maybe a Canadian Craftsman?

 

[Outlawmws]

OK My latest addition: an American Scale CO. Kansas City Mo. Red Seal #66

6" jaws, 25" long. I need to weigh it when the Son unit re-surfaces from the GF unit's house to help unload... It is the stationary base model but looks like the swivel base could be bolted right on.

You really don't realize just how much bigger even an inch in jaw width makes these puppies, and there is just no comparison to the 2" difference from a 4" vise. the 7's and 8's must be staggering in person...

The daylight pics are from the ad, and yes those are 6" X 16" blocks it's on...

the trunk pic is after it came home. more later when I get it unloaded.

OK, My scale weighs this bad boy in at 136.5 lbs... That's almost 50 lb's heavier than my Reed 205 R!

 

[Mark in Indiana]

OK My latest addition: an American Scale CO. Kansas City Mo. Red Seal #66

Outlaw,

Do you know how old your American Scale vise is? The styling on yours looks a lot like 75H.

Thanks,
Mark

 

[Outlawmws]

No clue at this point. (Did AS date stamp theirs? Most vise Co's did not...) Research says AS went out of business in 1960 after a union lawsuit killed them. so minimally 53 years old, probably muck older based on the apparent model no. history B100 has posted in the past...

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=107301

The base has three mounting holes, two to the sides, one at the back, and it is machined so you could have a (optional?) swivel base, in addition there is in the front slide support in the base, a hole for a 4th mounting hole if desired? (probably a carriage bolt to clear the slide... :dunno)

 

[drivesitfar]

in case your son doesn't think Dad is more important than his girlfriend I have moved a few of these heavy vises by pulling them apart in 2 pieces which i'm sure you have too. unless it's seized that is always my first choice. of course putting it back together is not easy and almost a two person job so the son should be there for that help if possible. are you planning on restoring that and finding a spot in your shop to use it or is it going up on GJ or Ebay? any flaws that you can see or know of so far? looks like a good one and i'm curious to know how old since I think that company was in Kansas until about 1950 until it closed it's shop?

 

[Outlawmws]

A few more pics as I get ready to start stripping it this week. This one is getting the full treatment. I need to pick a color, but I'm leaning to red because of the "Red Seal" model name... Or I can paint the background of that seal area red...:

It completely swallows a UMD:

the Slide is wider that the UMD, and count them, four screws holding the jaws on...

The markings:

Head on showing the screw head - The perspectie makes the can look bigger than it is:

and a similar shot of my daily driver Parker 974 (4" and probably 1/2 the weight of the AS...)

 

[Outlawmws]

in case your son doesn't think Dad is more important than his girlfriend I have moved a few of these heavy vises by pulling them apart in 2 pieces which i'm sure you have too. unless it's seized that is always my first choice. of course putting it back together is not easy and almost a two person job so the son should be there for that help if possible. are you planning on restoring that and finding a spot in your shop to use it or is it going up on GJ or Ebay? any flaws that you can see or know of so far? looks like a good one and i'm curious to know how old since I think that company was in Kansas until about 1950 until it closed it's shop?

We got it unloaded this AM. ( holiday weekend so lots going on...) Yeah, so far it's been a two man job to do safely.

I am going to do it up clean. The only damage is one jaw on the lower right is missing a corner (you can barely see that in the first UMD pic), other than than that, it simply needs a good cleanup and lubing, and I will probably paint it unless I decide to let it go ****.


It is likely going to land on the bench I have it clamped to in the most recent pics. A-S, according to what I have found so far, closed in 1960

 

[Outlawmws]

Hmmmm Smithsonian has this info:

Title:
American Scale and Service Company Records, 1912-1956.
Phy. Description:
0.66 cu. ft.: 2 boxes.
Scope and Content:
These records of this company, located in Kansas City, Missouri, include invoices; bills of material (quantity surveys); sales records with model name, number, date, customer; and promotional literature and specifications.
Organization:
1 series: 6 notebooks.
Provenance:
Transferred from the Division of Physical Sciences, 4/5/83
Finding aids:
Container list, book-level description.
Place of creation:
Missouri Kansas City.
Cite as:
American Scale and Service Company Records, 1912-1956, Archives Center, National Museum of American History.

 

[Mark in Indiana]

Outlaw,

I've googled as mush as I could about American Scale. Comparing the style of my AS 75H (similar to your vise) with my 1930 C Parker 205 (which has the same style mounting feet), I would say that both yours and mine were made in the 1930s. Maybe someone has an old tool catalog that could give some guidance.

Now, on to my next vise.

Thanks,
Mark

 

[bigcaddy]

Geez.....I don't post on here for a few weeks and everybody goes nuts pulling in some killer vises.

I hope everybody had a great Thanksgiving. I couldn't of asked for better weather, 63 with a slight wind, as i sat around and grilled my turkey but i still had some things gnawing at the back of my mind. Something about a sight unseen deal over the phone and a package being delivered in the dead of night via private courier


Here is what i ended up with after a friend picked up the vise for me and dropped it off on the way to see his grandkids for Thanksgiving.


I still can't figure out why these particular vises always have little to no damage on them. Its like they were never really used

 

[bigcaddy]

Once my weekend started to wind down, i did a bit more looking for vises and after a few dead ends, i was able to meet with a guy who was clearing out his garage to make room so he could hang out with his friends.


Both of these vises were on a table when i arrived and i made sure i didn't leave anybody behind.

Hollands 24 in great shape

Reed 204R with smooth jaws. Thats something i've never seen before. The brass tag is a nice touch too

 

[bigcaddy]

Here is a shot of everybody together. The Craftsman is the smallest of the 3 with 3 1/2" jaws. The other 2 both have 4" jaws but all are in the 50-60lb range

 

[wrenchguy]

nice. that reed a connecticut vise?

 

[bigcaddy]

nice. that reed a connecticut vise?

No, Reed was in Pennsylvania

 

[KMScott]

bigcaddy, you have to many Craftsman already, gotta trade me for something, jaws, handles, vises something. Really want one of those Craftsman's. Looks like you California's don't use vises that much. the vises are as good as shape as the old cars that come from your state. I think you get a you **** for your weekend finds. Nice set of vises. The brass tag was popular with large company's back a few years. I installed a few in IBM when they was building stuff.

 

[wrenchguy]

No, Reed was in Pennsylvania

google plastiglide.

nevermind, i see a plastiglide in santa monica on 2nd google page.

 

[bigcaddy]

bigcaddy, you have to many Craftsman already, gotta trade me for something, jaws, handles, vises something. Really want one of those Craftsman's. Looks like you California's don't use vises that much. the vises are as good as shape as the old cars that come from your state. I think you get a you **** for your weekend finds. Nice set of vises. The brass tag was popular with large company's back a few years. I installed a few in IBM when they was building stuff.

This is coming from the mining foreman of the Colorado lode you picked a few months ago

I've been searching for another Craftsman like that so i can unleash some talent and make it new again. Ill never forgive myself for selling that 4" one last year. It was a thing of beauty and its gone forever

 

[bigcaddy]

google plastiglide.

nevermind, i see a plastiglide in santa monica on 2nd google page.

I gave it a shot but the only ones i came up with were formed long after this thing was made. I bet it was the Santa Monica one since this vise came out of Southern CA and the previous owner was here all his life.

 

[Outlawmws]

I think that style of Craftsman/Columbian was about as heavy inch for inch on the jaws than just about anything, with much higher quality finish, and with the anti backlash nut to boot...

 

[KMScott]

Anyone got a busted dynamic jaw with a 3" x 2" cast iron slide to spare? Easiest way to fix my Yost No. 1 would be cut a patch out of a similar slide. (see post 11590). The missing piece is a bit less than 4" long. PM me if you can help resurrect this beast.
I just pulled the dynamic jaw out of the electrolysis tank, and the parting lines of the jaw faces are visible. No fasteners, so it must be one of the cast-in types. They're in pretty good shape; cross hatching still distinct.

Still looking for a 2 x 3 square slider? I was scrounging around and found this Yost 204-1/2 with a 2 x 3-1/4 slider. I'd be happy to saw off more then you need to fit and weld into place, if yours happens to be broke on the opposite side. There is at least 6" of un damaged square slide. PM me if still looking.
Kevin

 

[oldldh]

I think that style of Craftsman/Columbian was about as heavy inch for inch on the jaws than just about anything, with much higher quality finish, and with the anti backlash nut to boot...

And why do you think I've had a Wanted ad posted for a Craftsman 5197/5198 for about six months??? (2,282 views, and four responses...) No luck yet...

They are out there, I will find both of them...

And I thought BigCaddy was my pal...By the way, that 5195 Craftsman tips the scales at 51 pounds!!!...For a 3 1/2" vise!!!!

 

[dgmpam]

Here are a few pics of my recently purchased Wilton 9400.
the swivel lock-downs were able to be fabricated with the help of information received from Kevin Scott. Thanks much Kevin.

Dave Marshall

 

[oldldh]

dgmpam---

Ya dun gud, Bubba...

 

[KMScott]

Great job Dave on your restore. I am happy to see that you made those swivel clamps we talked about. Nice work.
Kevin