The VISES of Garage Journal

[72CZ]

I just picked up this 3 inch it's dated 3-46

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This one has no date. Witch one would the older?

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[72CZ]

Parker 974 1/2 Is their a good way to deal with this old repair?
Anyway to know the year of mfg?

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[AndrewH]

6" Hollands just went up for sale near Akron..

http://akroncanton.craigslist.org/tls/4527278676.html

Looks to be in great shape, If only it was closer..

 

[Provincial]

72CZ, the repair looks very much like the one on my 974-1/2. I wonder if these models were a little weak at that point? I use mine on my welding bench, since it has no collectors value any longer. It seems to be strong enough, but I don't abuse it with heavy pounding or prying.

If the jaws line up properly, yours should be a "user" vise.

 

[72CZ]

Thanks !
Yes the jaws lineup very well.

 

[biscuit141]

Thoughts on this one for $150 and needing new jaws? Looks like a Parker 974 1/2.

http://southbend.craigslist.org/grd/4510043977.html

 

[Outlawmws]

I just picked up this 3 inch it's dated 3-46


This one has no date. Witch one would the older?

The one with no date; barely. Nice finds!

Parker 974 1/2 Is their a good way to deal with this old repair?
Anyway to know the year of mfg?

Is there an issue with the repair now? Is it failing?

Parker (and most other vise Co's) didn't use dates codes like Wilton. so you are lucky to get within a few decades for the most part.

 

[va.grouseman]

Quote by AndrewH

6" Hollands just went up for sale near Akron.--- Looks to be in great shape, If only it was closer..
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Andrew, it's just one state over. Call it a daycation.

 

[KMScott]

Thoughts on this one for $150 and needing new jaws? Looks like a Parker 974 1/2.

http://southbend.craigslist.org/grd/4510043977.html

Replacement jaws for that vise if done right will cost more then $200. Is a Parker 4-1/2 worth more then $350. I think so. But I am partial to Parkers, I really like them, to bad they didn't make the jaws easier to fabricate.

 

[Outlawmws]

Thoughts on this one for $150 and needing new jaws? Looks like a Parker 974 1/2.

http://southbend.craigslist.org/grd/4510043977.html

Too much for one needing a jaw.

 

[KMScott]

6" Hollands just went up for sale near Akron..

http://akroncanton.craigslist.org/tls/4527278676.html

Looks to be in great shape, If only it was closer..

This 7 incher I have weights 220 lbs, The Hollands like these are very nice vises. I feel $250 is a good price.

 

[va.grouseman]

Quote by KMScott.------The Hollands like these are very nice vises. I feel $250 is a good price.
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+1 on the $250.00. Hollands might be second behind Reed, but I believe it would be a photo finish.---JMO.

Where on earth did you find a 7 incher. Their harder to find than the 8s. First one I've seen.

 

[KMScott]

va. I bought several big vises from the Golden Pile including a 8-1/2 Prentiss #58. I wish I had time to work on them. Some day I will restore them.

 

[AndrewH]

Thoughts on this one for $150 and needing new jaws? Looks like a Parker 974 1/2.

http://southbend.craigslist.org/grd/4510043977.html

I talked to him about it when he first posted it. He will go down to at least $120, but be prepared to spend some big bucks on jaws as Kevin said. I already have a 976 that needs new jaws and it is worth what i paid + $275 for them, a 974 1/2 however is not (to me), as that is a pretty common model.

Andrew

 

[AndrewH]

Quote by AndrewH

6" Hollands just went up for sale near Akron.--- Looks to be in great shape, If only it was closer..
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Andrew, it's just one state over. Call it a daycation.

I emailed him with a offer, we'll see if he accepts it.

 

[Fretters]

Parker 974 1/2 Is their a good way to deal with this old repair?

Unless that's causing any problem, the most I'd personally do with that would be to just tidy it up, if you feel the urge, with a half round or rat tail file and call it good.

What you want to remember is that restoration doesn't necessitate returning something to factory condition, though for those who find grinding/filing, buffing and polishing the slightest mark out of something floats their boat, all well and good. There are various approaches and all are sound. We each have our personal quirks and opinions. Restoration in its base form merely implies returning something to usable and sound condition. However, keeping as many details as possible intact as to how it has fared over the years is part of its history, and leaving those visible and untouched for all to see is not something to be overlooked. Pretty is nice, but a honest and sound sympathetic restoration is preferable, in my personal opinion.

 

[Fretters]

Replacement jaws for that vise if done right will cost more then $200. Is a Parker 4-1/2 worth more then $350. I think so. But I am partial to Parkers, I really like them, to bad they didn't make the jaws easier to fabricate.

Just to say, you do make a lovely job of those jaw inserts. How do you do the heat treatment on those, btw?

 

[wrenchguy]

Too much for one needing a jaw.

i got a extra set of parker 4 1/2" clampers. would they go right on? holes line up? i guess this is 4 kevin.

 

[KMScott]

Just to say, you do make a lovely job of those jaw inserts. How do you do the heat treatment on those, btw?

Fretters, The steel is A-2 which is a air quench tool steel. After heat treating the steel is very hard like glass, other words it is very fragile but hard (60-62 Rockwell) Then it goes back into a tempering oven that is not as hot, to get A-2 drawn back to 54-56 R/C the oven is around 1100 degrees and the steel is held at this temperature for more then a hour, the Parker jaws are tempered twice because of the stress points. This is called tempering. When this is being done I ask the the heat treater to temper using Nitrogen instead of argon or a gas mixture and this gives the steel surface the different color pattern I like, kind of like a trade mark.

i got a extra set of parker 4 1/2" clampers. would they go right on? holes line up? i guess this is 4 kevin.

Wrench, last night I was fitting a set of 4 inch jaws for a 974, he is a new GJ member, I had blanks made from my last set and was hoping these would just slip on. Wrong assumption, these jaws need more then 3/64 of material removed, that is a bunch in my world. So maybe your jaws with a little filling, sanding might fit another vise of the same width but in my experience I would say no, especially the holes, the holes are put in around a 6 degree angle so the pins can be driven out from the bottom. I always add a new set of holes in a clean area of the vise. Remember, old Parker jaws are soft and can be drilled, filled and hand worked pretty easy.

 

[allinon72]

I'm sure this has been covered in this thread somewhere....but those with bare metal vises, what oil do you use to coat them?

 

[jakemac]

For bare metal with "age", I use boiled linseed oil. Put it on thin, let it dry (this can take time), then repeat repeatedly. Once you have built up some thickness to the layers, you can take a soft cloth to the finish and buff it out by hand to a fine luster. This will also work with wood and is how "oldtime" finishes were achieved.

 

[McBrownie]

I emailed him with a offer, we'll see if he accepts it.

Andrew,

While you are in the area, this Hollands has been listed for months in Southeast Cleveland, north of Akron/Tallmadge

http://cleveland.craigslist.org/tls/4427343681.html

Back when it had a picture, it looked rusty, but not beat up. It's a bolt-through the bench swiveler (the kind with the big wing nut). It has been $80, $60, and now $40.

Good luck.

 

[AndrewH]

Andrew,

While you are in the area, this Hollands has been listed for months in Southeast Cleveland, north of Akron/Tallmadge

http://cleveland.craigslist.org/tls/4427343681.html

Back when it had a picture, it looked rusty, but not beat up. It's a bolt-through the bench swiveler (the kind with the big wing nut). It has been $80, $60, and now $40.

Good luck.

I decided to pass on this one as I've got a couple other out of state vises that I'm planning on buying, someone else can have it. Hopefully another member here!

Plus, I have to go pick up the 975 another member graciously paid for out of their own pocket to hold for me and reimburse him. As well as possibly picking up a vise I found pretty cheap.

 

[biscuit141]

Thoughts on this one for $150 and needing new jaws? Looks like a Parker 974 1/2.

http://southbend.craigslist.org/grd/4510043977.html

Seller emailed me today and said he is going to relist the vise at $100. I'd be all over it at that price but I don't have the extra $200 for jaws. I will just be patient and wait for a better deal. I'm in no rush and besides I just spent nearly $250 on tool deals in the past week. My wife would kill me with just spending he $100 on the vise.

 

[joe.striper]

Here is my vise that started life as a Snap On Dealers truck vise. Stripped and restored it as a Wilton Tradesman 1760. Has copper jaws but I'm letting the paint setup HARD before I mount them.

Original jaws are perfect as is the action.Used Rustoleum's new Rosemary hammered finish. Clear coated the pipe jaws with clear enamel.

The anvil pad was pretty hammered so I decided to try to a turned metal finish. If I graded myself I'd give me a 'D' on it but I like it regardless.

I like the color, not as blue as the Wilton factory finish. I have to say that the original red Snap On paint looked like a 6 year old had applied it.

Vise was manufactured in 9/86, so not too old.

 

[AndrewH]

Here is my vise that started life as a Snap On Dealers truck vise. Stripped and restored it as a Wilton Tradesman 1760. Has copper jaws but I'm letting the paint setup HARD before I mount them.

Original jaws are perfect as is the action.Used Rustoleum's new Rosemary hammered finish. Clear coated the pipe jaws with clear enamel.

The anvil pad was pretty hammered so I decided to try to a turned metal finish. If I graded myself I'd give me a 'D' on it but I like it regardless.

I like the color, not as blue as the Wilton factory finish. I have to say that the original red Snap On paint looked like a 6 year old had applied it.

Vise was manufactured in 9/86, so not too old.

Turned out looking great! Looks much better than it did a few days ago, just watch out it'll quickly turn into an addiction!

 

[FMC1959]

The anvil pad was pretty hammered so I decided to try to a turned metal finish. If I graded myself I'd give me a 'D' on it but I like it regardless.

Looks pretty good to me, glad you were not my teacher

 

[joe.striper]

Turned out looking great! Looks much better than it did a few days ago, just watch out it'll quickly turn into an addiction!

My wife of 31 years would tell you I am already addicted. If I could make just a couple of bucks per vise I'd do one every weekend. I do love the tearing down and rebuilding, sort of like a jigsaw puzzle.

I do have to say though, now I know why everyone loves the Wiltons. For such a big vise is is so tight and so beautifully made.

I greased the threads and everything else on the vise with some Campagnolo grease I've had for years. It's a really expensive paraffin based grease but it never dries out. I've used it for years (years ago) in my racing bicycles.I think the tin I have here is over 30 years old.

SO, I've finished my first vise, a really easy one, now I've got to get something harder!

 

[McBrownie]

SO, I've finished my first vise, a really easy one, now I've got to get something harder!

Be careful what you ask for. I have a Parker 203 that is requiring a lot of work. The "hard" scale goes up exponentially if you don't have a machine shop.

As for your copper jaws not beating up the paint. I dipped the ends of mine in "Plasti-kote" (that liquid plastic rubber stuff). It not only protects the paint, but helps the jaws stay on. Just an idea.

Really nice job on your vise, btw.

 

[AndrewH]

My wife of 31 years would tell you I am already addicted. If I could make just a couple of bucks per vise I'd do one every weekend. I do love the tearing down and rebuilding, sort of like a jigsaw puzzle.

I do have to say though, now I know why everyone loves the Wiltons. For such a big vise is is so tight and so beautifully made.

I greased the threads and everything else on the vise with some Campagnolo grease I've had for years. It's a really expensive paraffin based grease but it never dries out. I've used it for years (years ago) in my racing bicycles.I think the tin I have here is over 30 years old.

SO, I've finished my first vise, a really easy one, now I've got to get something harder!

Wilton's are a piece of cake, just wait until you graduate to Parker's. Getting the jaws off can be a serious pain, I've had to drill a few sets out and that's not an easy task, even with a drill press. The first Parker that broke 3 of my punches and kept laughing at me nearly ruined the restoration of vises for me, but eventually after about a week I prevailed with a very large sledge. When I got to that point I didn't care if I broke the entire jaw off, I just knew that flippin' pin was coming out one way or another!

 

[HoosierMark]

I just went and looked at a Wilton Bullitt style vise . It has been repainted red and looks kinda rough although the roughness appears to be more surface as nothing appears to be bent. It has the swivel base and the numbers 1010 on it. Any idea on what it is worth?

 

[AndrewH]

I just went and looked at a Wilton Bullitt style vise . It has been repainted red and looks kinda rough although the roughness appears to be more surface as nothing appears to be bent. It has the swivel base and the numbers 1010 on it. Any idea on what it is worth?

I could be wrong, but I do believe that you're missing two numbers after 1010, check and see if you can at least get the jaw width, that'll make it simple to tell you what it is and what it's worth.

 

[McBrownie]

Wilton's are a piece of cake, just wait until you graduate to Parker's. Getting the jaws off can be a serious pain, I've had to drill a few sets out and that's not an easy task, even with a drill press. The first Parker that broke 3 of my punches and kept laughing at me nearly ruined the restoration of vises for me, but eventually after about a week I prevailed with a very large sledge. When I got to that point I didn't care if I broke the entire jaw off, I just knew that flippin' pin was coming out one way or another!

I did that on my 974. I haven't gotten that far on the 203. Something tells me that I better get some spare punches.

 

[joe.striper]

Be careful what you ask for. I have a Parker 203 that is requiring a lot of work. The "hard" scale goes up exponentially if you don't have a machine shop.

As for your copper jaws not beating up the paint. I dipped the ends of mine in "Plasti-kote" (that liquid plastic rubber stuff). It not only protects the paint, but helps the jaws stay on. Just an idea.

Really nice job on your vise, btw.

oooh thats a great idea. thanks

 

[HoosierMark]

I did not see any other numbers after the 1010. I opened the jaw and it seemed to open wide but I thought that that you could simply keep opening it to remove the jaw.. Would 6 inches or more be typical? Seemed to me it was even wider. The owner estimates it is about 40-50 lbs in weight.
Obviously I am a rookie. I have just read things on this thread and kept thinking I should get a Wilton to use and as a good long term tool investment.

 

[joe.striper]

Wilton's are a piece of cake, just wait until you graduate to Parker's. Getting the jaws off can be a serious pain, I've had to drill a few sets out and that's not an easy task, even with a drill press. The first Parker that broke 3 of my punches and kept laughing at me nearly ruined the restoration of vises for me, but eventually after about a week I prevailed with a very large sledge. When I got to that point I didn't care if I broke the entire jaw off, I just knew that flippin' pin was coming out one way or another!

I've got a line on a Parker 240X that I'm trying to get to see. He's asking $80, I'd pay less, but it seems a good project for my next job.

I only have a 2 car garage so limited space for vises.

I still have my Ludell 6" vise that i plan to use for my beater work, that is unless I can finder a new home for it.

After working on the Wilton, the Ludell is almost an exact replica in construction. It really is a very nice vise but not as nice as the Wilton, sort of like if you took two photocopies of a photograph, just a little lost detail, but at least the Wilton Jaws fit. Or a better example would be if your girlfriend, who is really nice and pretty, had a really hot sister...yeah that's the best way to explain the difference in vises between the Ludell and the Wilton. Still cannot find ANYTHING out there about the ludell though.

 

[joe.striper]

I did not see any other numbers after the 1010. I opened the jaw and it seemed to open wide but I thought that that you could simply keep opening it to remove the jaw.. Would 6 inches or more be typical? Seemed to me it was even wider. The owner estimates it is about 40-50 lbs in weight.
Obviously I am a rookie. I have just read things on this thread and kept thinking I should get a Wilton to use and as a good long term tool investment.

Mark, measure NOT how far it opens but how WIDE the jaws are from right to left. I made the same mistake when I got my first vise.

 

[Outlawmws]

HoosierMark, "Bullet" is a specific type of Wilton and while its similar, a tradesman is not really a bullet IMO. the "real" bullets are worth significantly more than a tradesman. See JoeStrippers vise above.

 

[AndrewH]

I did not see any other numbers after the 1010. I opened the jaw and it seemed to open wide but I thought that that you could simply keep opening it to remove the jaw.. Would 6 inches or more be typical? Seemed to me it was even wider. The owner estimates it is about 40-50 lbs in weight.
Obviously I am a rookie. I have just read things on this thread and kept thinking I should get a Wilton to use and as a good long term tool investment.

6" or wider is actually atypical, it could only be a Wilton tradesmen if it's a bullet type. A 6" Wilton Bullet would weigh 150 lbs, so at 40-50 lbs I'm guessing it's a Tradesman which is a good vise, unless you can post a picture all we can do is speculate.

 

[McBrownie]

I did not see any other numbers after the 1010. I opened the jaw and it seemed to open wide but I thought that that you could simply keep opening it to remove the jaw.. Would 6 inches or more be typical? Seemed to me it was even wider. The owner estimates it is about 40-50 lbs in weight.
Obviously I am a rookie. I have just read things on this thread and kept thinking I should get a Wilton to use and as a good long term tool investment.

A picture is worth a 1000 numbers. Wilton's can go from "It *****" to "You ****!". The latter being a good thing on this thread.