The VISES of Garage Journal

[BFBOB]

Bob, the threads appears to be plated?

Get some muratic acid (swimming pool acid) and drop it in some; this will safely strip the zinc plating off, (and start the muratic to being converted to Zinc Cloride a good acid for cleaning copper/brass for soldering (i.e. old school radiators. when the muratic stops reacting to added zinc, its fully zinc chloride)

Once stripped, rust, wire brush, rust, wire brush... till you get the patina you want. I'd do that after brazing. (The heat of brazing will also age it)

Good idea - one that had occurred to me. Might take a while!
The threads are not plated; they're freshly cut. I started out with a zinc plated bolt with short threads, but removed the plating with acid before threading and shaping- took all of two minutes!

As for rusting, it just struck me that dousing it in the e-tank with the polarity reversed might accelerate the process considerably!

 

[454ragtop]

Sorry for the late reply, was on vacation and had a computer failure, been offline for a while. Almost can't keep up with this thread. Anyway, that vise came off a very large metal shaper. I think G&E used an offset base like that. I have a similar vise, but mine is only 12" or 14" wide.
HTH, Jim

Hey vise guys.. so I informed my father that I'm looking for an older vise that is in good shape, so he can keep an eye open for me in his area. I then went on to tell him about this thread on GJ, and he mentioned he knows a guy that's got a HUGE vise that you guys might enjoy seeing, so I asked him to get pics that I can share it with you guys. Ok, here goes the jaws are 16" wide, and they open 19". There are no markings or castings of any kind that he could find on it. Also the screw just had a hex looking fitting on it, not a handle and it has flat/smooth jaws. Here are the pics.

Anyone have any idea what kind of vise this is?

 

[va.grouseman]

So which one of you fellows bought the two Charles Parker #976 on E-bay last Friday. I've been waiting for someone to crow but no one has come forward yet. The one he had showing was in extra good condition but he was selling two. I put in a offer on 1 but someone snagged both of them in just a short while later. I'm kicking myself for not going ahead and buying both and selling one. They were $375.00 apiece, but I figure I could ship one to balane, have him fix it up for $250.00, put it on the stump, sell it for a$1000.00, minus shipping, to and fro, I'd get mine for free.

 

[nords1853]

Hello All,
I've recently become interested in vintage vises. I have had many questions about them and most of my searches on google have bought me here. Sure sounds like you guys are the experts. I picked up a couple vises at the flea market the other day, and I need your help. The first is a Prentiss No 181. Its about 55lbs. The second is an Athol No 023 1/2X and is more like 20 lbs. Both vises have 3 1/2 in jaws. I plan on restoring both.
I would like to know when they were made, some history (specifically on the Athol), and where you guys get any replacement parts.
Any response is appreciated.
Brad

Also, I tried to attach photos but wasnt able to. The message that pops up says something about a missing security token.

 

[bigcaddy]

I got my little Wilton 9300 cleaned up this afternoon. All of the threaded metal parts got a soak in some diluted muratic acid to get rid of the rust but not make them too shiny.

The painted parts were just scrubbed with a toothbrush and some simple green.

For a 37 year old vise, it wasn't beat on too hard and cleaned up nicely. I wish they were all this easy

 

[EOC_Jason]

So which one of you fellows bought the two Charles Parker #976 on E-bay last Friday. I've been waiting for someone to crow but no one has come forward yet. The one he had showing was in extra good condition but he was selling two.

Do you have a link? I never saw it on eBay....

 

[bigcaddy]

Hello All,
I've recently become interested in vintage vises. I have had many questions about them and most of my searches on google have bought me here. Sure sounds like you guys are the experts. I picked up a couple vises at the flea market the other day, and I need your help. The first is a Prentiss No 181. Its about 55lbs. The second is an Athol No 023 1/2X and is more like 20 lbs. Both vises have 3 1/2 in jaws. I plan on restoring both.
I would like to know when they were made, some history (specifically on the Athol), and where you guys get any replacement parts.
Any response is appreciated.
Brad

Also, I tried to attach photos but wasnt able to. The message that pops up says something about a missing security token.

Athols are fairly anonymous as far as history goes. They made thousands of them and for some reason, written history on them is far and few between.

Pretniss vises was started my a man named Mason Prentiss sometime at the turn of the last century, 1880's or so and was just a memory by the 1950's.

 

[nine4gmc]

Good stuff BC, love the patina!

 

[Outlawmws]

Didn't Starrett buy Athol, and continue the name for a while, even had both names on some of them? I can't remember, I was sick last night, and am really not on top of things today...

 

[drivesitfar]

Hello All,
I've recently become interested in vintage vises. I have had many questions about them and most of my searches on google have bought me here. Sure sounds like you guys are the experts. I picked up a couple vises at the flea market the other day, and I need your help. The first is a Prentiss No 181. Its about 55lbs. The second is an Athol No 023 1/2X and is more like 20 lbs. Both vises have 3 1/2 in jaws. I plan on restoring both.
I would like to know when they were made, some history (specifically on the Athol), and where you guys get any replacement parts.
Any response is appreciated.
Brad

Also, I tried to attach photos but wasnt able to. The message that pops up says something about a missing security token.

the security token message pops up every once in a while when I try to attach also and usually the second or third time it goes through. now if your pictures are too big or copied and pasted that might send you the message so try this. do you have an online photo storage account like www.photobucket.com? if you save your pictures to that account then pull the link over and paste it on your post the picture will show up full size. PM me if you are still having problems or good luck with the process and good to know we have another person that has a vice for vises.

 

[nords1853]

Alright thanks for the tips. Here are some photos

 

[drivesitfar]

http://dayid.org/mediawiki/index.php/Prentiss_Vise

go to this site and you might find your Prentiss or more likely somebody on GJ owns his brother that can tell you more. jaws and slide look good, swivel base is nice. only issue I see is the pipe jaws are missing and might never be found and the handle has been hit a few times with a sledge or had a pipe on it so you might want to try to straighten it.

clean it up, grease it and put it on your bench. that nearly 100 year old vise is a keeper. sorry I don't know much on Anthol vises (yet) and not a huge fan of the open screws but every vise has it's use.

congrats on your find.

 

[navymech]

I never had much luck finding anything about Athol's. Researching my 613 1/2, I found that they were bought in 1905 so most likely if the only brand on it is Athol, it's from before that purchase. That is about the extent of what I've seen. Certainly interested in what anyone else knows.

 

[zkling]

How's this for a color? Green Apple.

.

I'm liking the color I think I might have highlighted the letters with a black or maybe white paint to make them stand out against the green background though. Just an idea. What type of jaws are those?

 

[bl00]

nords1853, here's an ad from 1923 with your vise.

 

[va.grouseman]

Originally posted by EOC Jason.
Do you have a link? I never saw it on eBay....
------------------------------------------------------

http://www.ebay.com/itm/221356220806?ssPageName=STRK:MEDWX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1435.l2649

 

[balane]

I'm liking the color I think I might have highlighted the letters with a black or maybe white paint to make them stand out against the green background though. Just an idea. What type of jaws are those?

My attempts at letter highlighting are usually met with frustration and poor results. Those jaws are cut from some plastic block I have. I think it's a hard nylon sort of material. It makes good soft jaws.

 

[va.grouseman]

Originally posted by nords 1853.
Hello All,
I've recently become interested in vintage vises. I have had many questions about them and most of my searches on google have bought me here.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Blake came in #181, 182,183, and 184. All combinations. The 184s weigh north of 250lbs. Biggest combination vise that I am aware of. Beautiful round top contour, and very solid. I missed a 184 right in my back yard 2 years ago and I am still grieving. Guy had it on Craigslist for $300.00, said it was a monster vise, and weighed 275lbs.. I waited a week to call because I didn't believe it and had never heard of a 275lb. combination, especially not for just $300.00. When I called he said he had just cashed a guy's check and dropped the vise off at the shippers. I was skeptical and quizzed him about it and he said, yes it is a combination vise and still had the bull dog jaws under the regular jaws. First time I had ever heard them called that. I begged him to tell me the guy's name that bought it, I was going to give him a hefty profit, but he wouldn't tell me who it was. Guess I sounded pretty desperate, like a stalker. Was only 60 miles away.

 

[zkling]

My attempts at letter highlighting are usually met with frustration and poor results. Those jaws are cut from some plastic block I have. I think it's a hard nylon sort of material. It makes good soft jaws.

Ah, that makes sense, for a moment I almost thought it looked like pieces of drywall.

 

[Outlawmws]

My attempts at letter highlighting are usually met with frustration and poor results. Those jaws are cut from some plastic block I have. I think it's a hard nylon sort of material. It makes good soft jaws.

Have you tried a paint pen?

 

[nords1853]

Ok thanks for the info. I'll continue to research. Sorry about the 184 grouseman. If anyone has any more info on the Athol, I would appreciate the help. The Prentiss has a chipped jaw, a bent handle, and a sorry looking screw nut. I may be able to weld the nut and straighten the handle some, but if it's possible, I would rather replace them. The jaw is not servicable, and the U shaped replacements are hard to come by. Anyone have any info on where to buy any of these items?

 

[drivesitfar]

KMScott should have vise jaws for your Prentiss and he might also be able to help with the handle www.wilsonviseparts.net is his company's web site.

I didn't see the issue with the jaw in case you would like to post another picture of a close up of it. also what are you calling the screw nut and can you provide a picture of that too?

 

[balane]

Have you tried a paint pen?

Yes, my problem is patience.

 

[nords1853]

Only one side of the jaw is damaged. Sorry, I believe it's called a vise nut. Here are some pictures.

 

[va.grouseman]

Nords 1853----------In the thread---------Everything you need to know about bench vises, page 10, post 193, b100 has an awesome 1959 chart on vises and it also shows a #182 1/2, but is not showing the 184. It's an excellent reference, check it out.

 

[wrenchguy]

Only one side of the jaw is damaged. Sorry, I believe it's called a vise nut. Here are some pictures.

if u can, u might want to change ur camera settings to get bigger better pictures. my .02 cents worth. i copy alot pics here for personal file.
thanks.

 

[drivesitfar]

CoolReed just started a thread that mentions videos of vises (vices) on Youtube and it is pictures of GJ members vises off of this thread. i'm not sure if it was made by a member here or not and I did a quick search and didn't see this posted before so here are the links for you take all at once or a little at a time. These 4 videos total over 3 hours of just pictures of vises. Enjoy

1st video of 4

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fzvBxur_yL #2 video of 4

#3 video of 4

#4 video of 4

Nords: the jaw damage looks like it is only to the removable jaw and the screw is in there so finding an replacing might just be a money issue because I think KMScott makes those jaws. the inner screw piece that has damage is another issue. i'm sure there are talented enough guys on here that might be able to repair that piece, but it takes a lot of pressure so best to find another off a different Prentiss that might have a good one and other broken parts. good luck with that.

 

[BFBOB]

My attempts at letter highlighting are usually met with frustration and poor results.

Just a thought - I haven't tried it yet. A foam brush? Load it with One-Shot sign paint, one light swipe and yer dun.
I've also thought of a small roller- not a paint roller (too much nap) but one that's made for inking engraving plates (AKA "brayer"). The one I have is hard rubber, probably too hard, but I expect they come in different consistencies.

My hand isnt't steady enough to paint those tiny letters with a tiny brush either.

 

[BFBOB]

Only one side of the jaw is damaged. Sorry, I believe it's called a vise nut. Here are some pictures.

Hey, Nords- I know there are restrictions on how big a picture you can upload to GJ, but you can go bigger than that! I set my camera at 3 megapixels (about 2000 x 1600 pixels) and the files upload fine, and make pix that fill the screen. The uploading sometimes works better if I upload 2 or 3 at a time rather than the whole 7. (yes, you can do that. Just click the next "browse" tab after the first upload finishes).

Oh, and if your camera has Anti-Shake (Vibration Reduction), use it. Not saying your pix are shaky, just sayin'

 

[BFBOB]

Only one side of the jaw is damaged. Sorry, I believe it's called a vise nut. Here are some pictures.

You could carve a new nut out of a chunk of steel with only hand tools - drill, hacksaw, grinder. The hard part would be coming up with a tap to cut the right threads, so start with that. Measure the thread pitch, diameter and profile, and hope it's a 60 degree thread! Everything's harder to find in Acme or square.

OK, another thought. If you can find nuts to fit the leadscrew (McMaster-Carr, maybe Fastenall) stack up 3 or 4 to make the proper length, weld them together, weld onto the nut body you just carved (see above) Steel, not iron, so it's easy to weld.

Good luck, and keep us posted if you decide to go this route!

 

[Filson]

CoolReed just started a thread that mentions videos of vises (vices) on Youtube and it is pictures of GJ members vises off of this thread. i'm not sure if it was made by a member here or not and I did a quick search and didn't see this posted before so here are the links for you take all at once or a little at a time. These 4 videos total over 3 hours of just pictures of vises. Enjoy

1st video of 4

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fzvBxur_yL #2 video of 4

#3 video of 4

#4 video of 4

Cool find, Dean!

I wonder who went through the trouble of making these?

 

[rgtorque]

anyone know anything about new britian conn vises? im looking to buy this but cant find any info.

 

[GETRIDAONE]

Look on the bottom of the base and see if it says USA ? I betting on Japan

 

[PghJKB]

KMScott should have vise jaws for your Prentiss and he might also be able to help with the handle www.wilsonviseparts.net is his company's web site.

I didn't see the issue with the jaw in case you would like to post another picture of a close up of it. also what are you calling the screw nut and can you provide a picture of that too?

Hey drivesitfar
Watch your fingers...
thought it was wiltonviseparts.net, not sure if Wilson ever made vises. Back in my day they did make one hell of a fielder's mitt.

 

[taumac]

Added this one to collection today. Im waiting on maker of this one.



Have a good one, Gerard

The 5 Stitches Garage part 1 http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=142100

The 5 Stitches Garage part2 http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=211899

 

[rgtorque]

no other markings, there looks like a stamp should be there on one side but nothing...

here is a similar one on ebay

http://www.ebay.com/itm/vintage-New...685&&clkid=4582730643420343193&_qi=RTM1562569

 

[navymech]

Well my wife just called me from some antiques mall she was shopping at in North Carolina. She picked me up a new vise for the collection... an Athol 602 1/4.

Can't wait for her to get back and check this thing out! And of course, here's a picture.

 

[oldldh]

Behold---The dreaded Lower Slobbovian Iron Worm!!!

Much more common in lower quality Asian vises than USA made clampers...

The only known cure is 00 Buckshot applied with vigor, and malice aforethought every four hours for at least a week...

There teeth dull very quickly on, for example, a Wilton, a Starrett, or a Reed, rather than one of the PRC chunks of low grade iron...

Just one more reason to restore/refresh/polish/fix up OLD AMERICAN IRON!!!

If one was needed...

 

[Hot Chop shop]

Well my wife just called me from some antiques mall she was shopping at in North Carolina. She picked me up a new vise for the collection... an Athol 602 1/4.

Can't wait for her to get back and check this thing out! And of course, here's a picture.

What a great wife!
(((Mine usually complains and says how many vises do you really need!?)))

 

[bigcaddy]

Added this one to collection today. Im waiting on maker of this one.



Have a good one, Gerard

The 5 Stitches Garage part 1 http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=142100

The 5 Stitches Garage part2 http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=211899

Its a Luther brand vise