The VISES of Garage Journal

[EOC_Jason]

Jason: My Reed 104 looks tiny compared to most of my bigger vises and yours looks pretty big. is it the "arrest me red" or is it about half the size of your Reed 4C's?

Mmm... It's about the size of other 4" vises... I guess I should have put the obligatory coke can in there for scale... Here it is a while back sitting on top of my 8" Ridgid... How's that for scale? Or did I just make it worse? lol...

 

[drivesitfar]

Yes that is a HELLUVA lot better reference than a coke can. also that is about how small my Reed 104 looks next to my Rock Island 577's.

those jaws on yours almost look removable and i'm pretty sure they aren't. my 104 looks like just cast, but i have a few years of rust to remove. not as pretty as yours is now, but hopefully an "E" tank and some elbow grease will help.

 

[Filson]

Mmm... It's about the size of other 4" vises... I guess I should have put the obligatory coke can in there for scale... Here it is a while back sitting on top of my 8" Ridgid... How's that for scale? Or did I just make it worse? lol...

Arrest-me-red truck! Where's Larry!?

 

[PCA4208]

great save of your Grand dad's old Craftsman vise. that should do almost any job you throw at it. of course once you join GJ you might get the bug and want a 100 pounder on the other end of your bench. just saying



in case you ever want to strip it and do a restore on Gramps vise you might check out all of Balane's two and maybe 3 tone beauties he has posted over the last few months. as is sounds good to me because Gramps hands were all over it and thougt i'd let you know about painting options. welcome to GJ in case the others didn't know you are new member.

Thanks. Yeah I'm already loving the looks of Wilton bullet vise. I'm going to look for one at every swap meet and yard sale for now on.

 

[drivesitfar]

PC: since the RR was working hard in your area you might not find too many Wiltons so how about this deal. i'll give you 2 Wiltons if you find me a huge Reed or another 250 pound plus vise.

Another thing i want to mention is that if you have to haul one home out of a barn please save your back and pull out the front (dynamic) jaw all the way out and haul it home in 2 pieces.

 

[EOC_Jason]

Yes that is a HELLUVA lot better reference than a coke can. also that is about how small my Reed 104 looks next to my Rock Island 577's.

those jaws on yours almost look removable and i'm pretty sure they aren't. my 104 looks like just cast, but i have a few years of rust to remove. not as pretty as yours is now, but hopefully an "E" tank and some elbow grease will help.

Actually they ARE removable... The very very late model machinist reeds used the classic T jaws like you find on other vises. Basically only the ones with that Oval REED logo... It has two pins on each side. I just didn't feel like punching them out. I'm pretty sure I have some pictures on my other computer I'll try to post tomorrow.

 

[PCA4208]

PC: since the RR was working hard in your area you might not find too many Wiltons so how about this deal. i'll give you 2 Wiltons if you find me a huge Reed or another 250 pound plus vise.



Another thing i want to mention is that if you have to haul one home out of a barn please save your back and pull out the front (dynamic) jaw all the way out and haul it home in 2 pieces.

Lol deal. I'm just going to guess and say the RR is railroad? Haha please inform me.
I'll be on the lookout for a huge vise now.

 

[oldldh]

Arrest-me-red truck! Where's Larry!?

I'm here, my Son...

If one is going to haul, gigantic honking vises...

One should have an "Arrest-Me-Red" pickup to do it with...

I had an '86 C-10 Chevy in that shade, and it went to Belgium, Germany, and England with me...

And the police watched it like a hawk...A full size American pickup in Europe is a gendarme magnet... Especially if it's going 100 mph in the fast lane on the Autobahn... Does a helluva job trimming the bushes in the median, too, let me told you, Bubba...

As I have gotten older, and smarter, I've gone more subdued...

Now I've got a black and gold '93 K1500, that I bought new... My new vise hauler... A Craftsman 5198 is NOT a giant, honking vise, so a lower profile mode of transportation is adequate...

But I could paint it, if I ever find the 209...

Notice: I said "THE" 209, not "A" 209...

 

[Filson]

I'm here, my Son...

If one is going to haul, gigantic honking vises...

One should have an "Arrest-Me-Red" pickup to do it with...

I had an '86 C-10 Chevy in that shade, and it went to Belgium, Germany, and England with me...

And the police watched it like a hawk...A full size American pickup in Europe is a gendarme magnet... Especially if it's going 100 mph in the fast lane on the Autobahn... Does a helluva job trimming the bushes in the median, too, let me told you, Bubba...

As I have gotten older, and smarter, I've gone more subdued...

Now I've got a black and gold '93 K1500, that I bought new... My new vise hauler... A Craftsman 5198 is NOT a giant, honking vise, so a lower profile mode of transportation is adequate...

But I could paint it, if I ever find the 209...

Notice: I said "THE" 209, not "A" 209...

Man you've done a lot of traveling. Military?

THE 209 will become FILSON'S 209.

 

[oldldh]

Your Tax Dollars at work...

USAF MSgt...1965 to 1992....Retired, and YES, I miss it everyday...

I spent 12 years in Europe, and a short, thankfully uneventful trip to one of those countries in SE Asia, during the unpleasantness...

The Chevy pickup was a bigger traffic stopper than the Charger was...same color though...

ARREST-ME-RED!!!!

 

[KMScott]

Thanks Oldie for making a career out of protecting us. Wow 27 years and a stint in Nam.

 

[zkling]

I have one of these that I use with fine sand out in the yard. I know it's not the best way but it actually works pretty well. I've cleaned many a vises with it. It's wasteful but a giant 100 pound bag of sand is less than $10 and it lasts a long time.

.

That's what you use for your blasting? Wow mass respect on that. What do you use for the wire wheeling you mentioned earlier?

 

[balane]

Thanks. I like the old Craftsman stuff. I use these. I wish I had a real blast cabinet but just no room for it.

.

 

[oldldh]

Thanks. I like the old Craftsman stuff. I use these. I wish I had a real blast cabinet but just no room for it.

.

I like your shop...


A LOT!!!!


Ya Dun Gud, Bubba!!!

 

[Filson]

Your Tax Dollars at work...

USAF MSgt...1965 to 1992....Retired, and YES, I miss it everyday...

I spent 12 years in Europe, and a short, thankfully uneventful trip to one of those countries in SE Asia, during the unpleasantness...

Thank you for your service!

 

[oldldh]

It was a privledge...

And now---history...

Now about THE 209...

And I'm afraid...

THE 5198...

 

[Fretters]

I use these. I wish I had a real blast cabinet but just no room for it.

You should post those in the "Let's see your workbench" thread. It'd practically be a novelty to see an obviously used bench setup in there.

 

[GETRIDAONE]

Thanks. I like the old Craftsman stuff. I use these. I wish I had a real blast cabinet but just no room for it.

.

I have the floor models of that band saw & drill press. I restored this Craftsman Cross Slide vise that came with the drill for use on a Walker Turner I restored. I have a Dunlap grinder I need to fix up. My son recently has taken an interest in woodworking so I am unloading some of my stuff on him.

 

[drivesitfar]

I'm looking for a great drill press vise to put on my old Canedy-Ott and that one you posted Gitridofone looks awesome. you say it's a Craftsman? by the way how do you get the knobs so shiny? wire wheel, buffer or ??

Balane thanks for sharing pictures of your workbench with all those nice old Craftsman machines sitting at the ready to go to work when you need them.

 

[EOC_Jason]

those jaws on yours almost look removable and i'm pretty sure they aren't. my 104 looks like just cast, but i have a few years of rust to remove. not as pretty as yours is now, but hopefully an "E" tank and some elbow grease will help.

Pics on the removable jaws as promised...

 

[zkling]

Thanks. I like the old Craftsman stuff. I use these. I wish I had a real blast cabinet but just no room for it.

.

I've seen your shop setup before (very nice BTW) just figured with all the cleaning work you do you would have a good size wire wheel or the like. Goes to show it's the operator not the tools that get it done. Do you ever use a 4.5 or even 7" angle grinder to clean up before paint? I'm considering painting my vises after all these, just not looking forward to the stripping process.

 

[GETRIDAONE]

I'm looking for a great drill press vise to put on my old Canedy-Ott and that one you posted Gitridofone looks awesome. you say it's a Craftsman? by the way how do you get the knobs so shiny? wire wheel, buffer or ??

Balane thanks for sharing pictures of your workbench with all those nice old Craftsman machines sitting at the ready to go to work when you need them.

The 1950's vise was in very good shape when I got. The handle plating had very little surface rust so I used Evapo-Rust, a bristle brush, and a final polish on a buffer.
I put a new 6" wire wheel on the grinder and what a difference it makes on the brightness of the metal on the handles & slides.

 

[balane]

Thank you zkling, you've said some nice things and I appreciate it. Bottom line is that I want people to enjoy the vises I refurb more than I want to make a ton of money on them. That's honestly my motivation for doing the best job I can.

I occasionally will use an angle grinder with a Scotch Disc (3") on stubborn machined surfaces such as rectangular slides. Now and then I'll also have to pull out a flap disc on an electric angle grinder to bring down some ugly casting flash or surface mars which have caused elevated irregularities. My cheap, Delta belt sander gets used often to smooth out the towers, typically lots of rough spots on old vises right behind the jaw inserts. For the most part each old vise will call for different types of work to be performed. Admittedly my shop isn't much to speak of because of space (Two car garage.) so one just makes do the best he can with what's available.

I know this isn't vise related but it is stump related. ( ) Had some good lighting and I think these wrench photos turned out nicely. I had to polish these on the wheel, they didn't look so hot when I got them. I get up early for photos to catch the "Golden Hour" as photography buffs like to call it. In my opinion getting good photos is also very important to selling on line.

.

 

[oldldh]

I've got to get me a stump...

If you ain't got a stump...

You're just not going to get it done...

I've got to get me a stump!!!

 

[oldldh]

I restored this Craftsman Cross Slide vise that came with the drill...

Me wants!!!



Ya Dun Gud, Bubba!!!

 

[zoomieport]

Me wants!!!



Ya Dun Gud, Bubba!!!

I'll trade you one for a Reed 2C...

 

[autopts]

Thank you zkling, you've said some nice things and I appreciate it. Bottom line is that I want people to enjoy the vises I refurb more than I want to make a ton of money on them. That's honestly my motivation for doing the best job I can.

I occasionally will use an angle grinder with a Scotch Disc (3") on stubborn machined surfaces such as rectangular slides. Now and then I'll also have to pull out a flap disc on an electric angle grinder to bring down some ugly casting flash or surface mars which have caused elevated irregularities. My cheap, Delta belt sander gets used often to smooth out the towers, typically lots of rough spots on old vises right behind the jaw inserts. For the most part each old vise will call for different types of work to be performed. Admittedly my shop isn't much to speak of because of space (Two car garage.) so one just makes do the best he can with what's available.

I know this isn't vise related but it is stump related. ( ) Had some good lighting and I think these wrench photos turned out nicely. I had to polish these on the wheel, they didn't look so hot when I got them. I get up early for photos to catch the "Golden Hour" as photography buffs like to call it. In my opinion getting good photos is also very important to selling on line.

.

Those were NOS? They look new.

 

[autopts]

Here's one. Its a Vise-Anvil listed locally and its in nice shape.

http://chicago.craigslist.org/wcl/atq/4365752649.html

 

[autopts]

Anybody recognize the insignia?

 

[balane]

Those were NOS? They look new.

No, not at all. They had tons of mars, box rash and signs of use when I got them. I polished them on my wheel to make them look nice. Thankfully no owners markings on them. Those are a freaking pain to get out, often not even possible.

Edit: Nick, that anvil vise on CL is badass!

 

[oldldh]

I'll trade you one for a Reed 2C...

Deal...

Now where did I put that 2C???

Oh, I remember, I don't have one...

Something else to look for...

Let's see...

Search list:
Craftsman 5198
Reed 209
Reed 2C

Ain't got a prayer of finding all of those...but I'm a'looking

 

[zkling]

I occasionally will use an angle grinder with a Scotch Disc (3") on stubborn machined surfaces such as rectangular slides. Now and then I'll also have to pull out a flap disc on an electric angle grinder to bring down some ugly casting flash or surface mars which have caused elevated irregularities. My cheap, Delta belt sander gets used often to smooth out the towers, typically lots of rough spots on old vises right behind the jaw inserts. For the most part each old vise will call for different types of work to be performed. Admittedly my shop isn't much to speak of because of space (Two car garage.) so one just makes do the best he can with what's available.

Thanks for the info. This thread has inspired me to do some vise and plane painting. Just trying to mentally prepare for it. I hate painting, especially intricate castings. I'm more of the clean rust off and put to use type.

 

[bigcaddy]

It was a busy weekend and an even busier week but at least i have some new additions to show for it besides sore feet and a empty wallet

First up is a Rock Island i picked up in early Jan or Feb that had been outside for most of its life. The jaws had horrible staining to them that a scotch brite, mill file and belt sander could hardly budge. It still needs some jaw screws but i'm working on that.

Thanks for your adventurous spirit, Balane. I would of never painted a vise this color but i think the Rustoleum "Sage" fits in nicely.

 

[bigcaddy]

Next up is a Prentiss No. 3 that came from a garage sale. It was in pretty decent shape and it one of the older models with the ornate typeset on the side.

The locating pin was a absolute to remove and had the appearance of a deformed mushroom. It has since cleaned up nicely after a few minutes in the lathe.

One jaw is missing the screws while the other side has no visible screw mounting them in place. I don't know what the previous owner did to them but its gonna be fun removing a blank screw/bolt

 

[bigcaddy]

This Prentiss 52 came from a garage sale that listed "vises" in the ad. I was the first guy in only to be told the garage was off limits. I picked up an exposed screw/slide vise on the lawn while staring at this vise bolted to the bench, in the garage

I spoke with the owner and he said it was for sale, he just didn't want people trampling his stuff. Since it was "nice and a big boy vise" i had to give him 20.00 for it but unbolt it myself since he tried and couldn't.

 

[oldldh]

It seems that all I ever find are ChiCom Specials..." and it's a buy at $ 175.00..."

You guys are luckier than I appear to be...

But I shall persevere, and THE 209, THE 5198, and now, a 2C shall be found...

Maybe...

I hope...

 

[bigcaddy]

I saved the biggest and best for last. This beast was spotted while i was driving by my local scrapyard. First i did this, then i made a sharp right turn at about 90 to get there and tackle this thing.

How often do you see an Athol 646? 6" jaws with a swivel base and a rear swivel jaw. I know my measuring devise isn't a national standard like the UMD but that vise is huge and made my bumper drag all the way home.

 

[oldldh]

Big---


That's so not fair!!!


So as a little chain puller...


Behold....


A REAL BIGCADDY!!!

 

[bigcaddy]

Nice but i prefer my 1964's Last year of the fins but you don't look like a shark driving dwon the road.

 

[balane]

Good lord. Did they make you spend more than $20 for that one?