The VISES of Garage Journal

[EOC_Jason]

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

Not sure if the slide is cracked or if it's just a paint line or some marker. Yes, the handle is probably a long bolt as someone else said. You can get a nice steel rod and the ball-ends if you want to re-do it correctly.

If it wasn't cracked, and it had a nice & correct handle, it still wouldn't be worth $100... It's only a 204 (4")... $50-$75 tops depending on where you live.

 

[bigcaddy]

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

Athol 614 1/2 It looks like somebody smoothed out the raised letters on the castings but ill bet my vise pile its 100% Athol, Mass iron.

 

[mcmlvif100]

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?

Sorry for the slow response. Haven't been on GJ much in the last couple of days.

The Dodge Slide-Set patent is dated March 15, 1949. The company operated in Mishawaka until 1999. Starting in 1967, it was a division of Reliance Electric but appears to have kep the Dodge name. That said, it's not clear how long Dodge made the Slide-Set vises.

Did not see the 10" machinist "vice" listing and didn't find it when I checked CL tonight. Did you acquire it?

 

[Filson]

If it wasn't cracked, and it had a nice & correct handle, it still wouldn't be worth $100... It's only a 204 (4")... $50-$75 tops depending on where you live.

Damn, I need to move to your area

 

[organ]

Came across a rusty Columbian 603 today. Can't find any info.. Would it be worth cleaning up?

 

[Craptain]

Always.

Even if it was a Chinese vise it would be worth cleaning. My Chinese Colombian has served to save the beating on my smaller USA vises. Pics and we may offer better info. Are there any other markings on it? The US made vises have COO on the side. The Chinese vises may have it underneath (where it belongs).

 

[organ]

Always.

Even if it was a Chinese vise it would be worth cleaning. My Chinese Colombian has served to save the beating on my smaller USA vises. Pics and we may offer better info. Are there any other markings on it? The US made vises have COO on the side. The Chinese vises may have it underneath (where it belongs).

The screw is locked up so I'd have to soak it in my electrolysis tank. That's what I meant by "cleaning up". I just wonder if it's worth it. As best I can remember, the markings are similar to these

Just picked up this 603 1/2 Columbian about 1/2 hr ago for $12.50

Not sure what's up with this though

 

[wrenchguy]

thats a nice vise for 12.50. it may have had dual locking levers. good luck.

 

[drivesitfar]

Gentlemen I need help with this one. one very cool handle and i'm guessing it might be fairly old. i'm hoping it will work as well as it looks and time will tell if that happens. i'll clean it up and see if I can read it better and wondering if anybody has an idea just by looking at the pictures.

 

[drivesitfar]

Oldie I almost found something to bring you out of your drug induced coma or dream and I think I came up a little short. i'm on the search and probably paid too much for this but it does look good. 4 inch jaw width.

 

[suzuki squid]

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

Sorry for the slow response. Haven't been on GJ much in the last couple of days.

The Dodge Slide-Set patent is dated March 15, 1949. The company operated in Mishawaka until 1999. Starting in 1967, it was a division of Reliance Electric but appears to have kep the Dodge name. That said, it's not clear how long Dodge made the Slide-Set vises.

Did not see the 10" machinist "vice" listing and didn't find it when I checked CL tonight. Did you acquire it?

Wrenchguy, pretty much what mcmlvif100 said haha.

But I found this article tonight.

http://articles.southbendtribune.co...-conditions-and-foreign-competition-officials

My grandfather stopped over yesterday to borrow my angle grinder and I was telling him about the vice, and he said my grandmother actually worked there for a few years back in the day. Interesting stuff.
Never heard of the company until I stumbled across the vise on craigslist.

A couple questions maybe someone can answer for me about this slide set vise though..

When this vise was cast, it was cast to have dual lock down handles and for some reason they machined a 20 thousandths or so thick cap and drove it in from the bottom and it layed flush at the top surface. Apparently I just need to find another T nut and handle for it.

Also, on the back side of the vise directly under the dynamic jaw slide, there is another open hole like the two on each side for the swivel base lock down handles, but this hole doesn't line up with the channel in the base plate.
Anyone have any idea what the purpose for this is?

What about where to find a somewhat matching lock down handle for the optional other side that I want to utilize.

Whats the best lube for the this vises screw,the bottom interlocking plate that's part of the "slide-set" mechinism and also on the precision ground sliding surfaces that the main bar slides back and forth on? I've read numerous threads about this subject and im undecided. Ive heard anti-seize for the screw and what not, but johnson paste wax or maybe break-free CLP for the guide bar slides??

Only thing left to do is lube, assemble, get a paint marker and paint the raised cast letters that I took a 2inch wide file to after i derusted them to get them all perfectly flat and uniform Fancy fancy. haha. What color should I paint the letters you think?
Thanks y'all!

 

[oldldh]

Oldie I almost found something to bring you out of your drug induced coma or dream and I think I came up a little short. i'm on the search and probably paid too much for this but it does look good. 4 inch jaw width.

Close, but no cigar...

It would appear to be a 5183...a little lighter weight (about 15 lbs lighter than a 5196)...and a little younger than my ever elusive 5197/5198...see the catalog pages for the differences...similar, but not the same...

They are really nice vises, also made by Columbian, I think, just not quite what I'm looking for...

Helluva try though...Thank you for your efforts...

Ya Dun Gud, Bubba!!!

 

[bl00]

Gentlemen I need help with this one. one very cool handle and i'm guessing it might be fairly old. i'm hoping it will work as well as it looks and time will tell if that happens. i'll clean it up and see if I can read it better and wondering if anybody has an idea just by looking at the pictures.

That looks like a Massey vise. I'll see if I can pull up some info on it tonight. Very cool!

 

[brit road garage]

Where can I get jaws for a record #24?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[EOC_Jason]

A couple questions maybe someone can answer for me about this slide set vise though..

When this vise was cast, it was cast to have dual lock down handles and for some reason they machined a 20 thousandths or so thick cap and drove it in from the bottom and it layed flush at the top surface. Apparently I just need to find another T nut and handle for it.

Also, on the back side of the vise directly under the dynamic jaw slide, there is another open hole like the two on each side for the swivel base lock down handles, but this hole doesn't line up with the channel in the base plate.
Anyone have any idea what the purpose for this is?

The hole in the back (along with the two on the sides) can be used to mount the vise without the swivel base. Typically they used the same casting for both stationary models & swivel bases. Likewise you could buy a swivel base to upgrade your stationary.

 

[bluebolt]

A couple questions maybe someone can answer for me about this slide set vise though..

Whats the best lube for the this vises screw,the bottom interlocking plate that's part of the "slide-set" mechinism and also on the precision ground sliding surfaces that the main bar slides back and forth on? I've read numerous threads about this subject and im undecided. Ive heard anti-seize for the screw and what not, but johnson paste wax or maybe break-free CLP for the guide bar slides??

QUOTE]



suzuki squid, I have been using PB Blaster garage door spray lube, not oily like others. I use it on everything bare metal or moving on the vise, slide, screw, jaws, handle, anvil if it has one. Used it on the swivel base on my 6" Reed and made a huge difference on how well it swiveled without disassembling it.

 

[Mark in Indiana]

Came across a rusty Columbian 603 today. Can't find any info.. Would it be worth cleaning up?

Rust is no issue. The only things that would make the vise not worth the clean up would be cracks / breaks in the body or repairs to cracks and breaks. The only exception would be if the repair was performed by an expert welder.

 

[wrenchguy]

Close, but no cigar...

It would appear to be a 5183...a little lighter weight (about 15 lbs lighter than a 5196)...and a little younger than my ever elusive 5197/5198...see the catalog pages for the differences...similar, but not the same...

They are really nice vises, also made by Columbian, I think, just not quite what I'm looking for...

Helluva try though...Thank you for your efforts...

Ya Dun Gud, Bubba!!!

R these mythical 5197's & 5198's marked as such? Or does one have to cypher out casting numbers? Lets see 1.....

 

[va.grouseman]

Stanly Sweetheart table vise. $15.50 plus shipping.

 

[wrenchguy]

The Dodge Slide-Set patent is dated March 15, 1949. The company operated in Mishawaka until 1999. Starting in 1967, it was a division of Reliance Electric but appears to have kep the Dodge name. That said, it's not clear how long Dodge made the Slide-Set vises.

Did not see the 10" machinist "vice" listing and didn't find it when I checked CL tonight. Did you acquire it?

thanks 4 the info, the 10" machinist vise ended up being a milling/dp vise. not marked. lucky i didn't run out to look, actually got the guy to call me back.

 

[organ]

Rust is no issue. The only things that would make the vise not worth the clean up would be cracks / breaks in the body or repairs to cracks and breaks. The only exception would be if the repair was performed by an expert welder.

I decided to buy it. Paid $5. May post a few pictures later.

 

[drivesitfar]

R these mythical 5197's & 5198's marked as such? Or does one have to cypher out casting numbers? Lets see 1.....

pretty sure on the other side of the vise has the #'s that Oldie is talking about. badge on one side and #'s on the other. I'll double check when I get to the shop if he isn't online today. I think it is a good looking little vise.

on another note which is your favorite "Huge" vise since you own a few? are you searching for a favorite one or just another very old or 200 plus pounder?

 

[balane]

This is a big Craftsman vise with 5" jaws. It's a little disconcerting at first because most of these you see are of the 3.5" variety so to see a large one kind of throws you off. It weighs 40 pounds, is 15" long, 8.25" tall and opens to 7"

The colors are almond on the bottom and navy up top. I know that looks a little unusual but my big box of paint cans are starting to thin out, I still have some wild colors to go though!

Everything works well on it but you can see where one of its previous owners sawed partially through the meat of the rear jaw.

.

 

[oldldh]

R these mythical 5197's & 5198's marked as such? Or does one have to cypher out casting numbers? Lets see 1.....

Nope...

The model # is stamped right on the front of the main screw (see first photo)...

This is a 5196 that sold about four months ago on Ebay for a little less than three bills...

I should have bought it, but it would have been too much for my retired "Christmas" fund...(Got to take care of the Wife and Grandchildren!!!)

Again, I really appreciate your looking out for one...

P.S...The Shingles aren't gone, yet...but there better than they were...they still hurt worse than an IRS audit...

 

[Mark in Indiana]

I decided to buy it. Paid $5. May post a few pictures later.

Great Job! :thumb up:
You deserve a "you ****" award

 

[toomanytoyzz]

Nope...

The model # is stamped right on the front of the main screw (see first photo)...

This is a 5196 that sold about four months ago on Ebay for a little less than three bills...

I should have bought it, but it would have been too much for my retired "Christmas" fund...(Got to take care of the Wife and Grandchildren!!!)

Again, I really appreciate your looking out for one...

P.S...The Shingles aren't gone, yet...but there better than they were...they still hurt worse than an IRS audit...

I think my father-in-law picked one of them up at an auction a few months back for $15. I'll definitely have to take a pic this weekend.

 

[organ]

Great Job! :thumb up:
You deserve a "you ****" award

 

[GETRIDAONE]

That's great for $5.00 bucks
Now the fun starts getting all that layered rust off. It looks in overall good shape.

 

[Jawn]

Just snagged a Rock Island 571 ($free!)

{snip}

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?

As it turns up, it was just stuck with rust. The brazing is because the base is assembled from two pieces. No need to grind that out.

Did not have a socket big enough for the nut underneath (1 5/8", or about 42mm) A chisel and hammer spun it out though (looks like it was put in that way, too).

Any tips for cleaning up / finishing the handles? I figure paint won't last there.

 

[ritzblitz]

That Columbian does look to be in great shape. That should clean up well.

You **** for sure at that price, well done!

 

[organ]

That's great for $5.00 bucks
Now the fun starts getting all that layered rust off. It looks in overall good shape.

It'd be in my electrolysis bucket right now if the temperature would permit.

That Columbian does look to be in great shape. That should clean up well.

You **** for sure at that price, well done!

Anybody got an idea how old it is?

 

[bigcaddy]

Nope...

The model # is stamped right on the front of the main screw (see first photo)...

This is a 5196 that sold about four months ago on Ebay for a little less than three bills...

I should have bought it, but it would have been too much for my retired "Christmas" fund...(Got to take care of the Wife and Grandchildren!!!)

Again, I really appreciate your looking out for one...

P.S...The Shingles aren't gone, yet...but there better than they were...they still hurt worse than an IRS audit...

That vise has great looking paint. Too bad a GJ member didn't buy it so we could get a color match for other Craftsman items requiring paint.

 

[bigcaddy]

I posted a few days earlier about my rather upsetting trip to the scrap yard where i missed a plus sized Columbian vise for an amazing price.

Hoping the buyer didn't come back, with the remaindered payment, i stopped by again yesterday to see if it was still there. To my dismay, it was picked up the same day i saw it but this guy was sitting in its place.

Athol 615 in crusty but excellent condition. The previous owner fabricated some jaw covers that required him to make some rather large holes in the jaw towers but the serrated jaws are nearly mint. Some crud has filled the teeth but it should clean up like new. Once the 30 layers of paint are off, this vise should be a beauty.

 

[bigcaddy]

Once i got home from the scrap yard, i decided to check out what was happening on CL. To my surprise, i found a nice little Wilton bullet vise less the 15 miles from my house. I called the guy and he said it was still available so come on by.

80.00 later, i had this in my hands. Its a 9300, made in January of 1977. The vise is almost in the same condition as the Athol i picked up earlier. The jaws were never used without the covers and are in excellent shape.

I gave the dynamic jaw a quick scrub with some simple green and it cleaned up nicely. This vise kinda puts me in a bind. Its almost nice enough to leave as it but would look outstanding completely refinished with decals and paint.

 

[Craptain]

I posted a few days earlier about my rather upsetting trip to the scrap yard where i missed a plus sized Columbian vise for an amazing price.

Hoping the buyer didn't come back, with the remaindered payment, i stopped by again yesterday to see if it was still there. To my dismay, it was picked up the same day i saw it but this guy was sitting in its place.

Athol 615 in crusty but excellent condition. The previous owner fabricated some jaw covers that required him to make some rather large holes in the jaw towers but the serrated jaws are nearly mint. Some crud has filled the teeth but it should clean up like new. Once the 30 layers of paint are off, this vise should be a beauty.

That is really not as bad as your description implies. It will clean up really well.

So just where is this place? Street address will do

 

[drivesitfar]

Big Caddy: so how big is the vise storage (museum) you are packing these vises into. you just posted 2 really nice vises that you paid practically nothing for considering what they are and you didn't even mention the other one you had laying on it's side up against the wall behind your seats in your pick up's bed.

very nice day at the vise farm!!

Organ: What can one say to someone that paid $5 for a vise that has all it's parts other than good luck beating that deal next time. good luck with the restore.

B100: thanks for digging through those huge books you have to find out that my old vise with the really cool handle is a Massey and I think I saw on the vise that the patent is late 1800's. i'm crossing my fingers I can make that one work like it should.

found a couple vises laying alongside the road today that I couldn't pass up.

one is a nice old Morgan and the other a 100 year old Prentiss Bulldog that actually had the wrench for the swivel locking nut.

 

[bigcaddy]

Big Caddy: so how big is the vise storage (museum) you are packing these vises into. you just posted 2 really nice vises that you paid practically nothing for considering what they are and you didn't even mention the other one you had laying on it's side up against the wall behind your seats in your pick up's bed.

very nice day at the vise farm!!

Organ: What can one say to someone that paid $5 for a vise that has all it's parts other than good luck beating that deal next time. good luck with the restore.

B100: thanks for digging through those huge books you have to find out that my old vise with the really cool handle is a Massey and I think I saw on the vise that the patent is late 1800's. i'm crossing my fingers I can make that one work like it should.

found a couple vises laying alongside the road today that I couldn't pass up.

one is a nice old Morgan and the other a 100 year old Prentiss Bulldog that actually had the wrench for the swivel locking nut.

The vise in the background is an Athol 614 1/2 I picked up on Sunday from a friend. The storage isn't huge but what it lacks in size, it makes up for in density

 

[wrenchguy]

pretty sure on the other side of the vise has the #'s that Oldie is talking about. badge on one side and #'s on the other. I'll double check when I get to the shop if he isn't online today. I think it is a good looking little vise.

*****From what i got from oldie now is the model # is hand stamped on the end of the leadscrew knob. No casting numbers on the side of it i guess...
I got a "crown top" 3 1/2"er which is catalog number 99 m 5182k with casting no. 506 51820. I'm not sure what model the c-man vise guru's would call it. This is why I asked oldie about casting numbers.******

on another note which is your favorite "Huge" vise since you own a few? are you searching for a favorite one or just another very old or 200 plus pounder?

*****This one now till i get the prentiss 58 done.*****
RIDGID 80SN 8"er

 

[Outlawmws]

Wrenchguy, did you make the acorn nuts on the handle, or buy them?

 

[Mark in Indiana]

As it turns up, it was just stuck with rust. The brazing is because the base is assembled from two pieces. No need to grind that out.

Did not have a socket big enough for the nut underneath (1 5/8", or about 42mm) A chisel and hammer spun it out though (looks like it was put in that way, too).

Any tips for cleaning up / finishing the handles? I figure paint won't last there.

For a vise that will see little use, the handles can be polished and clear coated. The clear coat will last for a while. When you start to see flash rust, you can clean it and keep a thin film of WD40 on the metal.
On my Charles Parker 205 vise, I just keep a thin film of all of the bare metal details because it is my daily driver. It's worked for over 5 years in this humid climate.