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The VISES of Garage Journal

Filson

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Just picked up this Rock Island model 542-BX from a sale, Its now my biggest vise.

Awesome score bro! Wish it still had the pipe jaws, but not too big of an issue. Love the electrical company tag that's still on it!
 
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oldldh

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Awesome score bro! Wish it still had the pipe jaws, but not too big of an issue. Love the electrical company tag that's still on it!

That's the Manufacturer's tag---a small sideline, I believe...

Helluva nice vise...

Ya Dun Gud, Bubba!!!
 

trdtaco

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ok guys. can you vise workers give me a hand with this vise. is it junk parts or is it fixable? has 4 cracks in the picture around the center. also the static jaw has a piece broke off right under the replacement jaw pad goes.. what do you think???




 

Filson

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ok guys. can you vise workers give me a hand with this vise. is it junk parts or is it fixable? has 4 cracks in the picture around the center. also the static jaw has a piece broke off right under the replacement jaw pad goes.. what do you think???

Those Wilton bullets are hollow, not solid, and with such damage to it in multiple places, I really wouldn't trust it. =/ I see a potential injury, and if it were me, I would salvage and part it out.
 

EOC_Jason

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The cracks & chunk missing were caused from a person beating downwards on the vise.

If you can get it cheap or free, I would just use it as-is, just don't beat downwards on it like they did. Most of the clamping force is on the back-end of the vise where the main-nut is held in place. Are there any cracks around where the back half meets the main body?
 

trdtaco

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No other damage beside this.. how cheap are we talking? Any estimate of ebay price it could fetch as a complete parts vise?
 

drivesitfar

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probably get more for it from a local guy that is a member here since your dynamic jaw, handle, swivel base all seem ok. $50 worth of parts that would save a guy from having to spend a couple hundred for new ones.

sorry to see it cracked that bad. can you pull out dynamic jaw all the way to see if any damage to it and maybe see a date on the slide at the bottom after you clean the grease off?
 

Provincial

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I thought it was funny that the tag was still there but not the pipe jaws. I will have to start searching for the jaws

Vises with removable pipe jaws generally have deeper throats (distance from top of the jaws to the slide) than regular vises. They were often purchased with the intent to remove the pipe jaws to hold objects that needed the extra room. This explains why the pipe jaws are often missing.
 

trdtaco

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probably get more for it from a local guy that is a member here since your dynamic jaw, handle, swivel base all seem ok. $50 worth of parts that would save a guy from having to spend a couple hundred for new ones.

sorry to see it cracked that bad. can you pull out dynamic jaw all the way to see if any damage to it and maybe see a date on the slide at the bottom after you clean the grease off?

I will try and get it pulled apart this week..
 

trdtaco

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So I paid 35 for it but would rather keep it then resell.. so looks like I need the static jaw if anyone has one??

How interchangeable are these? Do I need to find the static jaw from another 8300n or can the dynamic jaw work with a different static?? Am I shooting a hot dog down a hallway at a midget trying to find a static jaw to redo this vice???
 

wrenchguy

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What size jaw vise is it? I have a Wilton stationary jaw half sitting on my work bench, looking for a new home. I'm pretty sure its a 3.5" jaw so if they match, i can sell you the half you are looking for.

i could use a 4.5" wilton static/body.

trdtaco look in vise parts tread, maybe somthing there. good luck.

 
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GETRIDAONE

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Prentiss 356 I had been searching for info on a 386, but nothing on a 356 either. 28" long x 16 " high & 10" round base.
Weighs in at a trim 201 lbs. :shocking:
 

oldldh

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That Prentiss is approaching "Big Iron" status...

I believe BI starts at 250 lbs---

It's still a serious toe stubber, though...

When does the restoration start???
 

zoomieport

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That Prentiss is approaching "Big Iron" status...

I believe BI starts at 250 lbs---

It's still a serious toe stubber, though...

Lol!
I always thought "Big Iron" started when you either "had to disassemble to move", "call a friend to help you move" or "use some sort of mechanical device to move", haha!
Take care!
ZOOM
 
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Filson

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Lol!
I always thought "Big Iron" started when you either "had to disassemble to move", "call a friend to help you move" or "use some sort of mechanical device to move", haha!
Take care!
ZOOM

Had to use a chain around a couple rafters in my shop, with a come-along for mechanical leverage, to lift my 208. I still need to grind down the back area of the slide a little, so I can actually remove the dynamic jaw, it'd make it so much easier :lol_hitti
 

EOC_Jason

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Lol!
I always thought "Big Iron" started when you either "had to disassemble to move", "call a friend to help you move" or "use some sort of mechanical device to move", haha!
Take care!
ZOOM

Yeah, I had to use my forklift to get the rusty Reed 4C into a rubbermaid container just now. I could lift it about 2" off the ground and that was it, no way I would be able to shimmy it into the container.

On the plus side I got the pipe jaws removed, one pin was being a ***** and I had to bust out the big sledge and show it who was boss. I also hot the handle to move back & forth about 1/2 turn but the slide is not budging.

I need to dig back a few pages to find the links to the e-tank stuff... I've got all my materials together, just need to look up mixing proportions and which end to connect to which... ;)

Will be posting pictures soon.
 

drivesitfar

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Prentiss 356 I had been searching for info on a 386, but nothing on a 356 either. 28" long x 16 " high & 10" round base.
Weighs in at a trim 201 lbs. :shocking:

nice rescue out of that Barn Getridofone. just curious why you guys are trying to lift these huge vises with the dynamic jaw inside the body? it weighs a lot less in two pieces and i'm just saying.

GM: when you showed your awesome vise family a few days ago you had some aluminum jaws that looked homemade on your Reed. did you make them and what did you use and how? picture attached. NICE
 

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Craptain

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I need to dig back a few pages to find the links to the e-tank stuff... I've got all my materials together, just need to look up mixing proportions and which end to connect to which... ;)
.

My tank is not too critical of the recipe. I just throw a handful of some kind of soda (baking, washing or Borax) into the water and stir it up. The negative goes to the item and positive to the other electrode. I am using carbon electrodes, but steel works OK. I was using a battery charger, but have just switched over to a computer power supply and so far it seems to work well. The tank itself is just a rubbermaid tote. Don't over-think it.
 

wrenchguy

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Prentiss 356 I had been searching for info on a 386, but nothing on a 356 either. 28" long x 16 " high & 10" round base.
Weighs in at a trim 201 lbs. :shocking:

Meridan CT, Is this 1 of those parker prentiss'ess? Have we had 1 on this mothership b4?

nice.
 
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GETRIDAONE

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It was in a big shed out in a wooded area off a pasture. It had rained all night and was still raining yesterday when I got there. We had to move about 30 Feet of **** for a path to get to it. It wasn't bad getting it out with two people. I was scared I was going to plow up his pasture as wet and muddy as it was. I will wait a while before I start on this one as I am in the middle of the American Scale project now.
 

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Filson

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It was in a big shed out in a wooded area off a pasture. It had rained all night and was still raining yesterday when I got there. We had to move about 30 Feet of **** for a path to get to it. It wasn't bad getting it out with two people. I was scared I was going to plow up his pasture as wet and muddy as it was. I will wait a while before I start on this one as I am in the middle of the American Scale project now.

Looks great!! :thumbup:
 

EOC_Jason

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My tank is not too critical of the recipe. I just throw a handful of some kind of soda (baking, washing or Borax) into the water and stir it up. The negative goes to the item and positive to the other electrode. I am using carbon electrodes, but steel works OK. I was using a battery charger, but have just switched over to a computer power supply and so far it seems to work well. The tank itself is just a rubbermaid tote. Don't over-think it.

I *just* got it going. Mixed in maybe 1/4 of the box of washing soda in a big rubbermaid container. Tried 3 old battery chargers first so I could do 6V but none would show any current. So I hauled out this big 12V battery and the big charger (newer style with digital readout and buttons to choose volts/amps). At first it was charging the battery and voltage kept going up, then I jiggled the connections a little and then the voltage started dropping and I could see bubbling. IT'S ALIVE!!! Eating some lunch right now, will be checking on it afterwards. I might try one of the older 6V chargers again now that some of the rust have come off and it can get current.
 

Outlawmws

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The Badlands
That Prentiss is approaching "Big Iron" status...

I believe BI starts at 250 lbs---

It's still a serious toe stubber, though...

When does the restoration start???

Lol!
I always thought "Big Iron" started when you either "had to disassemble to move", "call a friend to help you move" or "use some sort of mechanical device to move", haha!
Take care!
ZOOM

Yeah I agree; once one guy cannot reasonably pick it up and carry it. I'd say it was big iron.. :thumbup:

:beer:
 

KMScott

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Daufuskie Island, South Carolina
It was in a big shed out in a wooded area off a pasture. It had rained all night and was still raining yesterday when I got there. We had to move about 30 Feet of **** for a path to get to it. It wasn't bad getting it out with two people. I was scared I was going to plow up his pasture as wet and muddy as it was. I will wait a while before I start on this one as I am in the middle of the American Scale project now.

Really looks nice, I was measuring your jaws and noticed they are very similar to This American Standard 524. Jaws are almost a perfect match to your #25 Vise. Can not wait to see yours finished.
I think I can machine all the weld around the 6" jaw area and salvage this heavy guy, and fit a new set of jaws on it. it is on my list.
 

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EOC_Jason

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The Reed is soaking (mostly)... Have the small charger on it, going 6V @ 2A (that's all it puts out, it's old). I did not clean off any of the grease or dirt, I just dropped it in and let it go. Hopefully once I get it apart I can fully submerge each piece and do a more thorough job. The reason I used rebar was I had a butload of it sitting under the boat so I figured I would put it to good use.
 

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drivesitfar

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nice pictures of your E tank. thanks for sharing.

also on another note either everyone on this thread must know you have a fork lift at your home or all of the guys (and gals) own one, but i'm impressed and need to put that on my list of tools needed for big vises.

good luck on the Reed restoration
 

Monkey_Wrench

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Sarasota, FL
My wife called me earlier from the Thrift store in town, where she was looking for a teacup.
"They have a big vise here, you should check it out".

Fast forward - I'm now the owner of a Prentiss Bull Dog No.56.
Took the paint stripper to it and got all the ugly coats off.

Here's what I got:
01yGJ6Ph.jpg

Came with a stand.

abGeTSrh.jpg


Question is, behind the centerpiece with the Acme(?) thread, there is a round piece sticking out. Is there a bushing that goes on there to keep the center threaded piece in place? A square nut was placed on it. Without it, the jaws move back and forwards an inch or so.
m7U5Eu5h.jpg

What goes there - if anything?
 

EOC_Jason

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Question is, behind the centerpiece with the Acme(?) thread, there is a round piece sticking out. Is there a bushing that goes on there to keep the center threaded piece in place? A square nut was placed on it. Without it, the jaws move back and forwards an inch or so.

What goes there - if anything?

I've seen various tricks used to hold the main nut in place. If it's close enough and the pin in long enough you can just bend it forward. Otherwise I would try to find something to shim between the two to eliminate the play when you open/close the vise. As you mentioned when you open it that main nut will slide back until it hits the pin, then the slide will move.
 

drivesitfar

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Jason is right on as usual. the pin sticking out there is to keep the piece with the female threads from coming out of the vise. I have taken a few out that were bent in a little towards the piece and Jason's idea of putting a shim in there also makes sense. it can and probably has worked like that for 80 years and will continue to do so if you want to leave it as is.

I drove the pins out from the bottom of the vise and some were hard to see so a bright light should help. just use a nice punch and a couple good pops and it's out so you can do a better job cleaning up the nice old beast.

good luck
 

drivesitfar

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David's list that has quite a few Prentiss vises listed on it and it doesn't have your # on there. Prentiss #'s are a hard system for me to figure out because some of the bigger #'s are a lot older than the single digit ones.

how much does yours weigh after you get if off the stand?

i'm guessing yours was made in the 1920's, but I stand to be corrected if someone knows better.

now I have to add Thrift shops to my list of places to find big old US made vises. want to share the price you paid for it with the stand??
 

Monkey_Wrench

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David's list that has quite a few Prentiss vises listed on it and it doesn't have your # on there. Prentiss #'s are a hard system for me to figure out because some of the bigger #'s are a lot older than the single digit ones.



how much does yours weigh after you get if off the stand?



i'm guessing yours was made in the 1920's, but I stand to be corrected if someone knows better.



now I have to add Thrift shops to my list of places to find big old US made vises. want to share the price you paid for it with the stand??


I haven't taken it off the stand yet, my wrenches only go to 1".
I paid $45 for the whole thing loaded into the car.
 
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