The VISES of Garage Journal

[bigcaddy]

Had some great weather today so I decided to head to my favorite salvage yard to see what "treasures" were waiting for me. I came across this Wilton Bullet Vise in the mud so I dug it out and gave it a quick once over and decided that it was going home with me. Its very smooth and feels really nice and tight but as you can see in the pics its got issues with the jaws. Every thing else is good, the swivel is nice, no broken ears on the mount and no weld marks and the handle is still straight. Is there hope for this one or is it just a parts vice?

Man did you get lucky today!! I stopped by a metal yard near my work to pick up some rods for a home project and ended up nearly ruining my day.

This scrap yard will pull out all vises and leave them near the scale for customers to look over/purchase. I don't stop by frequently but i might have to from now on. Sitting by the scale was a pretty nice looking Columbian 406 which means 116lbs, 6" jaws on a fixed base with a rear swivel jaw!! Then i noticed the nice paper tag attached to the vise read SOLD

I talked to the guy at the counter and was told it had been sitting there for over 3 weeks and was sold for 90.00 on friday of last week

Hopefully the guy that bought it won't come in to finish his layaway payment plan and ill get that beast

Consider yourself very lucky to pick that vise up. Its like picking up a gold nugget on the sidewalk

 

[bigcaddy]

If you read my previous post, you would think my day was nearly ruined by what happened at the scrap yard. I thought the same until i saw my dad at work. He has been clearing out his storage container and came across something he thought i would be interested in.

These 2 vises came from an auction he attended 15+ years ago. The vises were part of a lot of 15 on a pallet. His total price, with fees and buyers premium was 75.00

Hopefully they will fit in my vise storage

 

[oldldh]

You know you have too many vises when you have a---

DESIGNATED VISE STORAGE AREA!!!

 

[mcmlvif100]

Anyone here get the real nice "DODGE 4" mishawka indiana" made vise on south bend c-list? I couldnt get away this weekend 4 that mission. ZOOMIE! did u travel south yesterday??

Tried but failed. Talked to the seller before he even had time to take down the ad but was still too late. Buyer texted him a few hours before I called. Seller told me that he bought it at a local estate sale on the second day for $22.50. Got his CL asking price of $85 when he sold it. This is the second Dodge Slide-Set vise that I have missed out on in the last 6 - 8 months. The other one was also at a local estate sale. It went for $70.

 

[Outlawmws]

You know you have too many vises when you have a---

DESIGNATED VISE STORAGE AREA!!!

 

[KMScott]

Hopefully they will fit in my vise storage

Still waiting for that Vise Museum you are going to open one day, must be what you are talking about. I'll be first in line. oldldh would be real interested in seeing your big Craftsman's.

 

[wrenchguy]

Tried but failed. Talked to the seller before he even had time to take down the ad but was still too late. Buyer texted him a few hours before I called. Seller told me that he bought it at a local estate sale on the second day for $22.50. Got his CL asking price of $85 when he sold it. This is the second Dodge Slide-Set vise that I have missed out on in the last 6 - 8 months. The other one was also at a local estate sale. It went for $70.

did u happen to copy the photo? it looked real nice with maybe original black paint. r they old?

Did u happen to see the 10" machinist "vice" on s-bend c-list?

 

[bigcaddy]

Still waiting for that Vise Museum you are going to open one day, must be what you are talking about. I'll be first in line. oldldh would be real interested in seeing your big Craftsman's.

Oldldh will be allowed into the museum with leather hand restraint mitts borrowed from the local nuthouse. I don't trust him around my pristine Craftsman/Columbians i have on the shelves. I think he will be too tempted to make a run for it with one of my exhibits

 

[oldldh]

Oldldh will be allowed into the museum with leather hand restraint mitts borrowed from the local nuthouse. I don't trust him around my pristine Craftsman/Columbians i have on the shelves. I think he will be too tempted to make a run for it with one of my exhibits

I'm big, but I'm old...

Too old to fight, and too fat to run...

However, I still have my moments

Go ahead, make me feel worse...post a picture of your 5197...

 

[autopts]

Bart, another outstanding job!!

69 you dug it out of the mud? Christ Almighty! Its still usefull Nice score

 

[drivesitfar]

Drivesitfar---Your request is my command...

I've had a "Wanted Thread" posted since 17 Jul 2013, which, as of this writing,
has had 2.993 views...one PM from a fellow that wanted me to tell him how much his "Father's vise was worth, and would I please send him the money---or something along those lines...Oh, and he didn't have any pictures...

The two I'm looking for are the 5197 (4 1/2") and the 5198 (5")...

Not doing too well, so far, but I have a Starrett 925, from the Great Colorado Vise Stash, to tide me over...

I've put it all over this forum for the last three days...but here I go again...

If you've had Chicken Pox, you already have the SHINGLES virus hiding in your nerves somewhere...and you can get SHINGLES!!!

If you haven't gotten one, yet, GET A SHINGLES VACCINATION!!!!

I have SHINGLES all over my head and in my right eye...worst pain I've ever had...

GET THE SHINGLES SHOT!!!!

Oldie: get over those damn shingles and you'll feel better. I actually asked a couple guys today if they had any old Craftsman vises. nothing yet, but didn't have on my radar a few days ago. cheer up maybe before the end of the year you'll have it on your bench or in your glass cabinet. or do you have a Vise storage too. cheers

 

[69supercj]

Bart, another outstanding job!!

69 you dug it out of the mud? Christ Almighty! Its still usefull Nice score

Yep, this pic was taken when I first found it.

 

[balane]

Here's a little Columbian home shop 3 1/2" vise. Colors are John Deere Green and Dove Gray. Nothing special here but one thing surprised me. Columbian ran out of space on the side and abbreviated the state Ohio to just the letter O. I've never seen that before.

.

 

[Filson]

Here's a little Columbian home shop 3 1/2" vise. Colors are John Deere Green and Dove Gray. Nothing special here but one thing surprised me. Columbian ran out of space on the side and abbreviated the state Ohio to just the letter O. I've never seen that before.

.

Gotta give a +1 for JD Greene as 3 of our vises are sporting it lol. Keep 'em coming, Bart!

 

[Jeanke]

Here's a little Columbian home shop 3 1/2" vise. Colors are John Deere Green and Dove Gray. Nothing special here but one thing surprised me. Columbian ran out of space on the side and abbreviated the state Ohio to just the letter O. I've never seen that before.

.

Excellent restore! How did you get the slide so nice and clean without disc marks? Electrofunk?

 

[balane]

Thank you. That Columbian wasn't rusty so no e-tank needed. That was a combination of sand blasting, wire wheel and scotch pad disks.

 

[Jawn]

Gee thanks Garage Journal. Here's another addiction to add to my vises (err, vices?).

Just snagged a Rock Island 571 ($free!) just days after finishing a quickie paint job on the $20 Craftsman 3 1/2"er. On the bench is my 3 1/2" Columbian.

There is one little problem though... somebody didn't want a swivel vise so they brazed it together. Any better ideas for getting it apart other than a die grinder or a chisel?

 

[GETRIDAONE]

balane, " Columbian ran out of space on the side and abbreviated the state Ohio to just the letter O. I've never seen that before."
Got me wondering and I have two Columbians with just "O" and both are smaller home shop size. There was plenty of room for Ohio

 

[drivesitfar]

Jawn: a free Rock Island?? doesn't sound like much of a vice and a great price for that vise. i'm sure you can probably figure out how to free up the swivel, but honestly why mess with it. the vise looks great except for that.

on a side note did you make that mounting piece that your Columbian is sitting on the corner of your bench or where did you buy it. great idea.

 

[Evan(CA)]

This site is killing my bank account. It started out with tool boxes and tools, now I've moved on to vices. I finally got my first "real" vise yesterday after months of searching. It's in pretty nice shape with zero issues other than the cosmetic ones. It's much bigger in person than I expected! I can't wait to strip it down and give it a fresh coat of paint. I'm already on the hunt for more big old USA made vises. Vise collecting and restoring might be a new hobby for me I have a feeling that this site is driving up vise prices considerably though This is by far the best deal I found and it's still more than the $1 per lb rule I've read about.

Rock Island 597 for 180 delivered to my door.

 

[toomanytoyzz]

This site is killing my bank account. It started out with tool boxes and tools, now I've moved on to vices. I finally got my first "real" vise yesterday after months of searching. It's in pretty nice shape with zero issues other than the cosmetic ones. It's much bigger in person than I expected! I can't wait to strip it down and give it a fresh coat of paint. I'm already on the hunt for more big old USA made vises. Vise collecting and restoring might be a new hobby for me I have a feeling that this site is driving up vise prices considerably though This is by far the best deal I found and it's still more than the $1 per lb rule I've read about.

Rock Island 597 for 180 delivered to my door.

Grab a number and get in line. We have all drank the Kool-Aid.

I have been "willed" the same vise which my father has owned for over 40 years. I have used that thing countless times, but it probably doesn't touch the surface as to how many times he used it at his body shop. Needkess to say, it's now a family heirloom.

How much does the vise weigh? I've always wanted to remove it from the workbench at his shop to weigh it, but for one reason or another it's never happened. You got yourself a nice vise sir!!!

 

[Filson]

Evan - toss that $1/lb idea out the window, especially for the 6"+ ones. I paid $400 for my 8" Reed. You can get good deals though some times, but that's the exception, not the rule. I paid $100 for a Hollands 6" and $40 for my 6" Parker. Much better deals than the 8"... But, just try and buy an 8" for dirt cheap.

On the flip side, picture picking up a little 3" vintage US vise. Might only weigh 20-25 lbs, but expect to pay $75-125 if its in good shape. *Shrugs*

When you see old school American steel for under $1/lb, grab it. But don't use that as your bench mark, or you'll pass up a lot of gems.

 

[Evan(CA)]

How much does the vise weigh? I've always wanted to remove it from the workbench at his shop to weigh it, but for one reason or another it's never happened. You got yourself a nice vise sir!!!

~130lbs according to my bathroom scale. I'm really happy to have finally found one for a reasonable price. I had passed up 2 different Wilton c2's awhile back because I couldn't stomach the prices and was beginning to regret that decision before yesterday

 

[Evan(CA)]

Evan - toss that $1/lb idea out the window, especially for the 6"+ ones. I paid $400 for my 8" Reed. You can get good deals though some times, but that's the exception, not the rule. I paid $100 for a Hollands 6" and $40 for my 6" Parker. Much better deals than the 8"... But, just try and buy an 8" for dirt cheap.

On the flip side, picture picking up a little 3" vintage US vise. Might only weigh 20-25 lbs, but expect to pay $75-125 if its in good shape. *Shrugs*

When you see old school American steel for under $1/lb, grab it. But don't use that as your bench mark, or you'll pass up a lot of gems.

I looked at the links in your sig earlier and I would consider all 3 of those excellent buys. I'd love to come across a 2-300lb vise I was so jealous of the guy who scored the 300lb (chas parker?) vise for 250 recently on here. The picture of it on a pallet in his hatchback really put it's size in perspective. That thing was a beast!

 

[Filson]

I looked at the links in your sig earlier and I would consider all 3 of those excellent buys. I'd love to come across a 2-300lb vise I was so jealous of the guy who scored the 300lb (chas parker?) vise for 250 recently on here. The picture of it on a pallet in his hatchback really put it's size in perspective. That thing was a beast!

Just keep looking bro, they're still out there. I intend to grab every 8"er I can. I contacted Reed to see if they had any records of how many 208s they made but no reply lol.

 

[flashman]

Are my eyes deceiving me with this vise? The top of the handle looks like it has a nut on it...or is it round and just hard to tell. Also, does the back of the slide look cracked or would that possibly be from casting?

http://wichita.craigslist.org/tls/4298747980.html

 

[Outlawmws]

Not sure on the slide but the handle looks to have been replaced with a long heavy bolt, and the excess threads cut off and probably peened over. I see this happen quite often.

 

[Filson]

Are my eyes deceiving me with this vise? The top of the handle looks like it has a nut on it...or is it round and just hard to tell. Also, does the back of the slide look cracked or would that possibly be from casting?

http://wichita.craigslist.org/tls/4298747980.html

Yep. And a split in the slide. Not at all from casting, that's damage. Reeds are prone to stick when unscrewing the dynamic jaw fully. That crack will almost garuantee you won't be able to dismantle it.

 

[Evan(CA)]

Any idea what kind of vise this is? I have a couple more pics if needed.

 

[KMScott]

Any idea what kind of vise this is? I have a couple more pics if needed.

Looks like a Athol to me.

 

[drivesitfar]

Any idea what kind of vise this is? I have a couple more pics if needed.

I'm pretty sure Autopts posted that same vise a few days ago. he really liked the reference of the sizing to the AA battery. it does have about 10 coats of paint on it over the name, but i'd bet that Kevin is on the right track.

 

[oldldh]

Time for a little vise humor---

I searched on Google for a picture of the ever elusive Craftsman 5198...

And guess what came up???

The first photo, the one in the upper left corner, was MY AVATAR!!!

(The only reason I can think of is that I've used the term 5197/5198 more than any other online source...)

Hell, I'm famous!!!

 

[Filson]

Time for a little vise humor---

I searched on Google for a picture of the ever elusive Craftsman 5198...

And guess what came up???

The first photo, the one in the upper left corner, was MY AVATAR!!!

(The only reason I can think of is that I've used the term 5197/5198 more than any other online source...)

Hell, I'm famous!!!

Second picture for me... Your not there yet, kid!

 

[oldldh]

Second picture for me... Your not there yet, kid!

I just did it again...

I'm still in the upper left...

My laptop loves me, and didn't want to bruise my, already fragile, ego...

Your computer, obviously, can't recognize good breeding...

 

[drivesitfar]

Oldie: you made me almost spit out my dinner when I read your first post. I googled and you are the top 2 so not sure what Mr. Filson is thinking. maybe he just doesn't know where he lives now that he can't smell the salt air of Puget Sound any longer. glad your sense of humor is coming back so you must be shingle less or close by now.

I think Filson might win if it was a Google or Bing for a Reed 208 or Reed 209 though.

 

[oldldh]

No joy---the Shingles are hanging in there like a rusty fish hook...

I just decided to take my Zombie pills, and ignore them...

 

[suzuki squid]

did u happen to copy the photo? it looked real nice with maybe original black paint. r they old?

Did u happen to see the 10" machinist "vice" on s-bend c-list?

I'm the guy that was able to snag the dodge slide set and here are the sellers CL pics i saved.

http://s363.photobucket.com/user/su...et vise 40/01717_irJDQwygHrt_600x450.jpg.html

It wasn't the original paint. I spent the weekend cleaning her up in a electrolysis tank and got her hanging up in the basement with some fresh black paint drying.

One of the jaw bolts took a torch to get out. Got her out without ruining the jaw at all though. Need to buy a manual impact driver really bad:/

I'll add pics of it all put back together in a couple days.

 

[Filson]

Your computer, obviously, can't recognize good breeding...

This laptop was a Christmas gift from the in-laws, so... go figure.

 

[wrenchguy]

I'm the guy that was able to snag the dodge slide set and here are the sellers CL pics i saved.

http://s363.photobucket.com/user/su...et vise 40/01717_irJDQwygHrt_600x450.jpg.html

It wasn't the original paint. I spent the weekend cleaning her up in a electrolysis tank and got her hanging up in the basement with some fresh black paint drying.

One of the jaw bolts took a torch to get out. Got her out without ruining the jaw at all though. Need to buy a manual impact driver really bad:/

I'll add pics of it all put back together in a couple days.

welcome squid, that is a nice 1. do u know anything about its manufacture?

 

[Jawn]

Jawn: a free Rock Island?? doesn't sound like much of a vice and a great price for that vise. i'm sure you can probably figure out how to free up the swivel, but honestly why mess with it. the vise looks great except for that.

on a side note did you make that mounting piece that your Columbian is sitting on the corner of your bench or where did you buy it. great idea.

Yes, can't beat free. I do want to fix the swivel, it's currently stuck with the jaw above one of the mounting holes.

As to the mount for the Columbian - I didn't want to drill the maple bench in case I changed vises. Also it just puts it out there closer to the edge. That one I made of MDF and I made the mistake of countersinking the nuts underneath that clamp it onto the bench - the MDF has delaminated as a result. But it did serve as a solid "proof of concept", showing that I can simply clamp a vise onto the bench that way and it's plenty strong enough. I'll pull the whole bench over before pulling the mount off the bench.