The VISES of Garage Journal

[Groundscrapers]

Take the screw out, pull the clip up & out. You should be able to unscrew the handle all the way out of the slide. If it binds up in the main nut you might check the threads on the end of the screw for a nick or bad spot ?

I have no idea how to get that screw out. Its nearly impossible to get a screwdriver in that space.

 

[wrenchguy]

What you would call a drill press, I believe. We refer to them as pillar, pedestal or bench drills.

Right, Here, back in the day any vertical drill was called "upright drill", i believe ol'school metal smith's still call them that. I know they cringe about the "camelback drill" term when theres conversation about big upright drills. When they were able to go on a bench language went to "drill press" which covers any generic mechanical way to apply pressure while drilling.

 

[kmbo]

I initially posted this in a new thread before I found this one - oops.

Hi Folks,

Does anyone know anything about a Metro No. 4 swivel base bench vise? I'm trying to figure out the name of the manufacturer and if the vise was made in the U.S. My dad passed away and this vise is the one tool of his that I have managed to bring home. I would love to know more about it. He had it forever and I want to clean it up, and someday I'll give it to my son. Any information on the vise itself, how old it is, how best to mount it, or how to clean it up would be greatly appreciated!

A daddy's girl.

 

[GETRIDAONE]

I have no idea how to get that screw out. Its nearly impossible to get a screwdriver in that space.

Try an offset screwdriver with some penetrarting oil to start with.

 

[PghJKB]

I have no idea how to get that screw out. Its nearly impossible to get a screwdriver in that space.

Groundscraper
Do you have a right angle ratcheted screw driver? Stanley (Yankee) and others made them. This would be the perfect application for one.

I will provide an image later.


KMBO Welcome!
Can you provide images of the other side of the vise and the front, head on. The more angles you provide the easier it is to discern who made what.

Based just on the jaws, my first guess would be either Rock Island or Prentiss, but the jaws and swivel base look more like a Desmond Stephans. Rock Island OEM'ed for a lot of other vendors (including Sears). I have an unmarked RI that looks much like yours.

JKB

 

[Groundscrapers]

Groundscraper
Do you have a right angle ratcheted screw driver? Stanley (Yankee) and others made them. This would be the perfect application for one.

I will provide an image later.


JKB

Yes I do! I forgot about that. I snapped my offset screwdriver last night but I did get a ratcheting one for some car audio stuff years ago!

 

[Mark in Indiana]

What you would call a drill press, I believe. We refer to them as pillar, pedestal or bench drills.

Fretters: I've heard them referred to as post drills or floor drills. A bench drill would be a short drill press.

BTW, it was a good investment of my time to watch a lot of British television shows on Netflix 'cause it's easy for me to follow your phrases.

 

[Fretters]

Fretters: I've heard them referred to as post drills or floor drills.

Post drill is something we don't tend to hear much these days. That one generally applies to the old post drills, as in the type where a drill was mounted to a vertical beam or post. Floor standing is one term that'll be seen/used on occasion.

A bench drill would be a short drill press.

It is indeed. Pillar or pedestal would usually be used for describing a floor mounted one, but any can apply to a bench drill.

BTW, it was a good investment of my time to watch a lot of British television shows on Netflix 'cause it's easy for me to follow your phrases.

Same type of method we have for becoming familiar with American idioms.

 

[joe.striper]

I found this Wilton on CL. 1955-1963 as i figured it. On CL for $200 but i cannot figure what model because the paint obscures the #. Any opinions?

Thanks

 

[KMScott]

I found this Wilton on CL. 1955-1963 as i figured it. On CL for $200 but i cannot figure what model because the paint obscures the #. Any opinions?

Thanks

My guess is Wilton 9400. 5/8 x 1.0 x 4 inch jaws

 

[PghJKB]

Hey California Guys
Just posted on EvilPrey:

Check it out, see what you think;

http://www.ebay.com/itm/LARGE-OLD-F...251?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item19ea405dc3

Looks like a damn good deal...

JKB

 

[drivesitfar]

Striper: I agree with KM that it's a 9400 and 4 inch wide jaws. a bit on the high side in price, but if you don't need a swivel and a good vise it seems to have all it's parts to be one.

Fretters: keep teaching us "English" while we work on our vise vice. cheers

JKB: at that price it's worth paying the shipping even if the swivel base is missing. those jaws it has are worth more than the asking price. nice find

 

[Mark in Indiana]

Same type of method we have for becoming familiar with American idioms. [/QUOTE]

Fretters: I quit watching a lot of American TV because most of it is reality shows. I promise that we are not like the Kardishians or Duck Dynasty. However we are the Real Vises of Garage Journal.

 

[drivesitfar]

most of us learned our "English" from the Beattles and Benny Hill

we need upgrades please!!

 

[jakemac]

most of us learned our "English" from the Beattles and Benny Hill

we need upgrades please!!

From the 90's - try Red Dwarf, The Young Ones, and BlackAdder.

 

[beakie]

just picked this 4" vise today, no idea who makes it.
Can get a better pic of the design, but it's painted over and to me resembles a cursive M maybe???
just brought it home, $40







Never thought to add my others.
Got this Yost model 104, from work few years ago, actually came with swivel bottom, but it broke while I was really torquing on a tube clamped in the vise. May get replacement part, or just bolt it down as is in the new shop.
$$Freebie


And this York 125A, I got in a package deal from a guy, Eagle compressor, Makita 7" angle grinder, four 6ton jack stands and this vise for $650.

 

[jpickar]

Same type of method we have for becoming familiar with American idioms.

Fretters: I quit watching a lot of American TV because most of it is reality shows. I promise that we are not like the Kardishians or Duck Dynasty. However we are the Real Vises of Garage Journal. [/QUOTE]

Duck Dynasty is AMERICAN!!! I am proud to be American!

John

 

[Mark in Indiana]

Fretters: I quit watching a lot of American TV because most of it is reality shows. I promise that we are not like the Kardishians or Duck Dynasty. However we are the Real Vises of Garage Journal.

Duck Dynasty is AMERICAN!!! I am proud to be American!

John[/QUOTE]

I stand corrected. I should have said Real Housewives or Honey Boo Boo. I actually know some folks around the farm that resemble the DD clan. They appreciate old tools also.

 

[Mark in Indiana]

just picked this 4" vise today, no idea who makes it.
Can get a better pic of the design, but it's painted over and to me resembles a cursive M maybe???
just brought it home, $40

http://i1124.photobucket.com/albums/





That vise looks like a Bison... A high end one made in Poland. What is the number on the side?

 

[beakie]

That vise looks like a Bison... A high end one made in Poland. What is the number on the side?

upon further inspection I think you are right.
that cursive "M" is in fact "100" under many layers of paint
looked on the Bison site, this one has no crest on the front, unless hidden under paint.

thanks for help, will have to get some more info now that I have a direction.

 

[beakie]

never thought of posting this little vise before
not sure of make/model as I can't find any markings on it. not overly concerned as I use it on my drill press, nothing too heavy duty, but very handy.
this was part of a "free tools" package I found online. Older couple getting rid of things they found randomly in basement. Bunch of older tools I have packed away to move soon.
I gave them $40 anyway as it felt like stealing seeing all the stuff they gave me.

 

[Mark in Indiana]

upon further inspection I think you are right.
that cursive "M" is in fact "100" under many layers of paint
looked on the Bison site, this one has no crest on the front, unless hidden under paint.

thanks for help, will have to get some more info now that I have a direction.

I thought that yours is a 100. My dad has a #80 that he bought in the 70s. I think if you Google bison, you will find some good information in an English format.

 

[jpickar]

Duck Dynasty is AMERICAN!!! I am proud to be American!

John

I stand corrected. I should have said Real Housewives or Honey Boo Boo. I actually know some folks around the farm that resemble the DD clan. They appreciate old tools also.[/QUOTE]

 

[CudaChick1968]

Thankfully we all have shops and garages to play in rather than have to watch reality tv. Most everything on is a waste of time these days.

UPS reports the Reed will be here about noon tomorrow!!! << wiggle wiggle >>

 

[EOC_Jason]

UPS reports the Reed will be here about noon tomorrow!!! << wiggle wiggle >>

LOL.... I think someone is getting the vise fever!!!

 

[epossum]

Hi There epossum

Welcome to the thread.

Hey, your pin is a lost cause, best thing to do is send me the whole vise so I can put it next to it's little brother, my Reed 405 1/2. Please hurry, little brother is crying...

JKB

LOL - I'm beginning to get a clue that BIG boy might be something special! I couldn't let him go now - I've been hauling him around with me for about 20 years through a couple of moves and all. Just got around to cleaning him up and getting him a job. If he hadn't been capable of coming apart into two pieces I might not have been able to keep him around so long - he is one heavy feller.

I spotted a similar vise on ebay, not a Reed, but I suspect made by Reed or off the Reed designs. It's a bit smaller but has the swivel jaw and the pin is in the hole. I want it, I mean really want it, but the price is terribly high plus shipping. I also want a small metal-cutting lathe - I've almost convinced my wife I could fix up old vises and sell them. Only problem is once I fix then up I might not be able to let them go.

Thanks to you guys for the welcome! I should have jumped on here a long time ago. I love my tools, my shop, doing projects, you all know what I mean!

 

[epossum]

Hi all - I have another vise I'd really like to return to original functionality. It's an old 4" Wilton bullet. It's in fair shape except the swivel base ring had been broken then brazed together long before I got it. The ring finally got to the point where the vise wouldn't clamp down to it securely. The problem was at least half of the clamping ring had also been broken and brazed back together (I didn't break it - have no idea who abused that vise). I've used that vise for years and don't know how it lasted as long as it did. Funny thing is when I took it off my bench to put the Reed on I didn't find any broken pieces of the base ring. When I got ready to set it up on another bench there just wasn't enough left of the clamping ring to allow using it so I had to mount the vise as a stationary vise for now. Obviously what I'm getting at is I'd really like to get a hold of a replacement swivel base. I'm attaching some photos showing the ring, and one photo shows the Wilton part number.

Any help or advice on this would be appreciated.

Thanks!

 

[kmbo]

** UPDATE ** I finally finished the restoration of my dad's vise!

KMBO Welcome!
Can you provide images of the other side of the vise and the front, head on. The more angles you provide the easier it is to discern who made what.

Based just on the jaws, my first guess would be either Rock Island or Prentiss, but the jaws and swivel base look more like a Desmond Stephans. Rock Island OEM'ed for a lot of other vendors (including Sears). I have an unmarked RI that looks much like yours.

JKB

Thanks JKB, sorry I didn't post more pics initially, my work is getting in the way of my regular life! Here's a shot of the side with Metro No. 4. I've looked and can't find any other writing, but haven't had a chance to do a full inspection.

 

[drivesitfar]

Hi all - I have another vise I'd really like to return to original functionality. It's an old 4" Wilton bullet. It's in fair shape except the swivel base ring had been broken then brazed together long before I got it. The ring finally got to the point where the vise wouldn't clamp down to it securely. The problem was at least half of the clamping ring had also been broken and brazed back together (I didn't break it - have no idea who abused that vise). I've used that vise for years and don't know how it lasted as long as it did. Funny thing is when I took it off my bench to put the Reed on I didn't find any broken pieces of the base ring. When I got ready to set it up on another bench there just wasn't enough left of the clamping ring to allow using it so I had to mount the vise as a stationary vise for now. Obviously what I'm getting at is I'd really like to get a hold of a replacement swivel base. I'm attaching some photos showing the ring, and one photo shows the Wilton part number.

Any help or advice on this would be appreciated.

Thanks!

check the Classifieds and the Parts thread for another swivel base for your Wilton. there are a lot of abused Wilton vises in different ways and I've seen some nice swivels with broken vises sitting on them so PM those guys and see if they will sell you their swivel base. welcome to GJ and sounds like you already have the vise vice. PM means private message that you can use to contact a member.

 

[epossum]

check the Classifieds and the Parts thread for another swivel base for your Wilton. there are a lot of abused Wilton vises in different ways and I've seen some nice swivels with broken vises sitting on them so PM those guys and see if they will sell you their swivel base. welcome to GJ and sounds like you already have the vise vice. PM means private message that you can use to contact a member.

Never thought of that!

Thanks for the info and welcome!

 

[drivesitfar]

how about posting an ad in the Wanted section for a swivel base and give the measurements and vise #'s you have so you get the right one if somebody has one to sell. put a price you'll pay or just say will pay reasonable amount.

Jake: the 90's are a blurr for me because had twins in 1990 and they were 4th and 5th so not much TV then.

Duck Dynasty is damn funny some espisodes and worth the time to watch

Downton Abbey is interesting for old English that my wife and daughter watch, but I'd rather get my "English" from tool guys like Fretters and Craptain. cheers

 

[va.grouseman]

kmbo----The Metro looks like a Morgan.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Millwrights...1?pt=BI_Tool_Work_Holding&hash=item2ecfd3edf5

Nice looking vise, and another vise with a car name. Hang on to it.

 

[EOC_Jason]

Uh Oh... Large Craftsman vise sighting!!!

Pflugerville, TX

http://austin.craigslist.org/tls/4356967405.html

 

[GETRIDAONE]

Jason, Your going to get oldldh's blood pressure up

 

[EOC_Jason]

Jason, Your going to get oldldh's blood pressure up

LOL... Well if he wants to call the guy about it, I have no interest in that vise.

In other news... a friend gave me this post vise the other day... I haven't looked it over too carefully yet but I didn't see any name or stampings on it. Anyone have a clue as to the maker or age?

 

[Mark in Indiana]

I spotted a similar vise on ebay, not a Reed, but I suspect made by Reed or off the Reed designs. It's a bit smaller but has the swivel jaw and the pin is in the hole. I want it, I mean really want it, but the price is terribly high plus shipping. I also want a small metal-cutting lathe - I've almost convinced my wife I could fix up old vises and sell them. Only problem is once I fix then up I might not be able to let them go.

Thanks to you guys for the welcome! I should have jumped on here a long time ago. I love my tools, my shop, doing projects, you all know what I mean![/QUOTE]

Hey epossum: On a vise that I'm currently working on, the jaw faces are toast. Soooo, I told my wife that "it is a good thing that I bought that milling machine last month so now I can make a new set of jaw faces instead of buying them. That will increase the profit on this vise when it's sold."
See if that will work with your wife.

 

[KMScott]

Hey epossum: On a vise that I'm currently working on, the jaw faces are toast. Soooo, I told my wife that "it is a good thing that I bought that milling machine last month so now I can make a new set of jaw faces instead of buying them. That will increase the profit on this vise when it's sold."
See if that will work with your wife.

It worked for me. The only thing is I have no time to fix vises.

 

[Outlawmws]

Jason, Your going to get oldldh's blood pressure up

I know; he's such a tease!

 

[Outlawmws]

Jason, ordinarily I'd say ID'ing an unmarked post vise is a hopeless cause, but that one has several unique identifying marks, so you may get lucky. The "hooks" on the jaws, the flats and angles on the arms, and that end cap...

 

[oldldh]

Jason, Your going to get oldldh's blood pressure up

Nope the Shingles is doing a fine job...keeps the pressure right up there...

It has now "settled" in my right eye...it may be "a while" before it leaves/ceases/desists/goes away---

I can't read the Model # on the vise...can anybody???

I do know it ain't the ever elusive 5198...

Speaking of tease---Wait until I post a picture that only shows---209---!!!!!