The VISES of Garage Journal

[drivesitfar]

Balane: very nice and thanks for Outlaw's assist. now can you paint it bright "Arrest me Red" with maybe some white lettering?

DX: Did i hear $70 6 inch Reed and some doubt whether it's a great deal. i'm going to email him to check costs of shipping if you don't get in the car after calling him to hold it for you. of course check for cracks, welds and other issues that would keep it from working correctly before you hand over the cash.

 

[Outlawmws]

Good thinking!

.

Good Job!

OK oldldh! Your new avatar!

 

[balane]

Avatar size.

/

 

[Outlawmws]

And; No excuses!

 

[oldldh]

You folks are giving me ulcers...

However a good idea, is always a good idea...

Thanks "Balane"...

 

[FMC1959]

Thanks guys for the reply's

To sad that thing turns out to be a Chincom, but is it really ****?
few vises to chose from CL right now,
This looks good but two hours away. http://victoriatx.craigslist.org/tls/4488947992.html
I like this one best http://corpuschristi.craigslist.org/tls/4463358378.html Waiting for e-Mail reply from seller.

DXN1EL, If you are simply looking for a good vise, I agree with the others, $70Reed is a great buy. These CL listings, unless you see a model number, you can't rely on what the seller says.

The first one he says 6" Reed, does he mean opening or jaw width. Thing is for $70, even if it is opening, that would make it a 4" Reed and for $70 will still be a great and solid vise.

The second, it has a tag and almost no writing, could be a very recent model that is rusted to heck. He says it is 150 lbs, I've heard many people guess a weight from what it feels lifting it and then is quite a bit less when put on a scale.

I agree with Andrew, if it is a true 150 lbs, then it would be a 6" vise, but still suspect of it not being a very old Reed, and $450 is a bit high.

The $70 one is a winner any way you slice it.

 

[oldldh]

i hate to say it, but that's probably as close as I'll ever get to the "Ever Elusive" Craftsman 5198...

But...

The quest shall go on...

Hell, I'd be happy with one of the other 519X series...

My Starrett 925 is about half stripped, and when I get to the painting stage...

It will be "Arrest-Me-Red"...

(Funny thought---The Craftsman 5198 now has a "Photo" on the internet!!!)

 

[Outlawmws]

I don't know if this is an improvement, but I hit the mid-tones and brightens up a tad:

 

[Mark in Indiana]

Balane: i'm not sure how you did that, but can you also change the # to 5198? Awesome and your talent goes far past the things you show us that sit on your stump.



ALL: a lot of guys ask what a vise is worth and every vise is different and there isn't a real good way to price so here's my rule. if it is open screw and not rare and made in the US it's probably worth less than $50 and most times half that amount. if it is closed screw and made in US or another quality old vise and doesn't have and cracks, weld repairs or any other issues like needing new jaws then probably up to $150 and anything less would be a deal for 4.5 inchers and less. Big vises that have over 5 inch jaw "widths" and rarer ones then pay what you can afford because some day there won't be one to buy and it will be rare. do your own research before posting asking questions of the same vises we gave answers to a few days or weeks or month ago. AND of course i agree the POS vises that were maybe quality at one time that show up that need work or have issues that are asking same prices as a fully restored ones then they need to stay where they are until they reduce the price. don't bother trying to convince that person it's worth less so he can be buried with it or his spouse can sell it for $5 at a garage sale.

There are a couple of other variables:
1. If you really want the vise for your collection, then you will pay more.
2. If you buy vises to flip, you definitely want to pay is little as possible.

Cheap vises that I flip won't get restored because the retail price is low. However, high end vises get a full restoration so the customer San appreciate it for years.

 

[GETRIDAONE]

If anyone wants to go to Tulsa OK Rock Island 7" swivel jaw $250 It looks a little rough but you never know
http://tulsa.craigslist.org/tls/4503492213.html
Sorry about the picture it won't enlarge

 

[oldldh]

If anyone wants to go to Tulsa OK Rock Island 7" swivel jaw $250 It looks a little rough but you never know
http://tulsa.craigslist.org/tls/4503492213.html

A 7" Swivel Jaw Rock Island is definitely worth $ 250.00...

It really doesn't look too bad...

Horrible color, but two cans of "Arrest-Me-Red" will fix that...

That's a big dude...

I saved the photos, in case it disappears...

Go fetch---somebody!!!...That listing is THREE WEEKS OLD!!!

AndrewH, Filson, somebody save this wee beastie!!!

 

[AndrewH]

A 7" Swivel Jaw Rock Island is definitely worth $ 250.00...

It really doesn't look too bad...

Horrible color, but two cans of "Arrest-Me-Red" will fix that...

That's a big dude...

I saved the photos, in case it disappears...

Go fetch---somebody!!!...That listing is THREE WEEKS OLD!!!

AndrewH, Filson, somebody save this wee beastie!!!

Man I really wish I could! Poor thing rotting away in the dirt, I'd give it a forever home! I hope someone from here gets it!

 

[balane]

You folks are giving me ulcers...

However a good idea, is always a good idea...

Thanks "Balane"...

Yay! And yvw.

 

[DXN1EL]

Are the new vises like a 33C or any other listed on eBay in the $850 plus good quality? It might sound dumb, but stuff seems to be crappier every day.

 

[KMScott]

Just finished a 4 inch set of Chas Parker jaws for a GJ member, I am getting faster but still very time consuming and worth more then I charge if shop rates are used.

Oldie, I like your new Avatar, good job Balane, oldie will forever be gratefull.

Andrew, I used the hook and loop pads finishing the top of these jaws, the same ones that I sent the McMaster Carr link to you. These pads would work great on the square sliders on all those vises you been collecting.

 

[RivennHewn]

I was at a shop today, that had a vise on a bench right by the garage door.

The owner had placed some sort of bird food/seed brick in the vise.

The birds flew in, picked a piece off, then flew out to eat on a limb.

Then back in for more.

Kinda a fun way make feathered friends.

 

[AndrewH]

Just finished a 4 inch set of Chas Parker jaws for a GJ member, I am getting faster but still very time consuming and worth more then I charge if shop rates are used.

Oldie, I like your new Avatar, good job Balane, oldie will forever be gratefull.

Andrew, I used the hook and loop pads finishing the top of these jaws, the same ones that I sent the McMaster Carr link to you. These pads would work great on the square sliders on all those vises you been collecting.

Finished em just in time to start on new jaws for my 976! Unfortunately it weighs too damn much for me to ship you the whole vise or I most certainly would, if only to make your life easier!

 

[scott bates]

Hi! I just bought a Lakeside 3 1/2" bench vise off of ebay. Could someone tell me the history of Lakeside vises and where their vises were made and what years? It appears to be pretty old and I've seen some of the Lakeside planes on line in the antique websites. Thanks, Scott

 

[drivesitfar]

Kevin: great stuff and looks like you are ready for the Wilton jaw calls with that pile next to the Parker. great pics and work as per the usual we all expect to see from you.

Oldie: nice change on the Avatar and Balane and Outlaw did a great job. yes the first 5198 we've seen so maybe that's a start of good things to come.

Getridofone: don't you love how a quality tool can just be discarded like the trash and then they want a big price for you to take it off their lot? i bet that was a great vise and maybe could be again if the right guy can snag it.

Mark: of course prices can vary for a number of reasons like area, condition, need and purpose for buying and thought i'd just throw out some that i kinda work off of. i guess I've seen too many questions on this thread or one where somebody starts a thread with a Craigs ad asking how much the vise is worth or is it a good value. your points are all good and i'm sure there are many more we can talk about. like the value of the 2.5 inch and smaller vises. what's up with that market? are the jewelers, gunsmiths and small tool guys all needing them or are they just easier to ship and store so maybe a few guys have storage units full of them? any other imput on what others might pay for a vise might have already been said, but a new member having to read 1000 or so pages with almost every vise possible might need an easier method so maybe a new thread for pricing might be needed for us and for the public? i know i'm not going to keep all my vises i pick up, but not sure which ones i'm going to keep just yet before the great NW vise sale begins. (i'll have to get a big stump for a few of them).

 

[oldldh]

Reverend Scott---

I'm glad you like my "Custom Made" avatar...

Balane and Outlaw do good work!!!

I was wondering what all the stuff was in the background of the attached photo???

Leftovers, mistakes (I've got a lot of those---)...

Or have you been whittlin' overtime???

What say you, about the "Tulsa 7" Swivel Jaw"...easy/hard fix...worth it???

 

[Outlawmws]

Scott, "Lakeside" will be difficult. I think MW used that as a marketing name, but there were many foundries that had "Lakeside" in their names over the decades...

I've have a Lake Side (with a space), with casting No's V6/V7 on my welding bench for a long time now. Mine has 3" jaws, swivel base, a longer than average max opening, but is an exposed screw homeowners, level vise.

Pics of your's might help.

ps: Was it this one?: http://www.ebay.com/itm/VINTAGE-LAKESIDE-SWIVEL-BENCH-VISE-WITH-ANVIL-/301206134767?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item462148dfef&nma=true&si=YfX7KtMFDEI8J8%252FGO9eCISLQ2kY%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557

 

[KMScott]

Reverend Scott---

I'm glad you like my "Custom Made" avatar...

Balane and Outlaw do good work!!!

I was wondering what all the stuff was in the background of the attached photo???

Leftovers, mistakes (I've got a lot of those---)...

Or have you been whittlin' overtime???

What say you, about the "Tulsa 7" Swivel Jaw"...easy/hard fix...worth it???

Hey Oldie, those in the back ground are waiting for a trip to the heat treater. I still fitting four different Colombian T-style jaws for this lot. Just a note on replacing the Colombian T jaws, they are not that precision, the three pin holes are close but not perfectly drilled and reamed on location, Pounding soft pins might be OK and might work but what I noticed is the jaw faces on the Dynamic and Static supports was they are not perpendicular to the slide, so there might be gaps that will seat over time.

The Rock Island Swivel jaw does not look damaged, maybe rusted. 7" swivel jaw for $250, it is a no brainer. How many 7" swivel jaws are out there. I have a 7" Prentiss Swivel jaw and it is heavy. Like the Rock Island it has no swivel base.

 

[bigcaddy]

Reverend Scott---

I'm glad you like my "Custom Made" avatar...

Balane and Outlaw do good work!!!

I was wondering what all the stuff was in the background of the attached photo???

Leftovers, mistakes (I've got a lot of those---)...

Or have you been whittlin' overtime???

What say you, about the "Tulsa 7" Swivel Jaw"...easy/hard fix...worth it???

Hey oldldh, you gonna share where that vise is located. If I wasn't on vacation right now I would be in the car/airport heading off to where ever that was located. For now, I guess I'll just sit on the porch and stare out at the sea, wishing I was out picking vises

 

[mtesh73]

that is great work kevin, very impressive setup.

 

[drivesitfar]

BC: Oldie found that swivel jaw vise on Tulsa Craigslist and here's the ad in case you want to plan your next trip. I know working off your phone on vacation is a PIA so hope this helps. asking $250 if still available.

http://tulsa.craigslist.org/tls/4503492213.html

DX: where are you located and somebody might have one ready to sell you?

Riven: nice story and any pictures to share or maybe get the next time you are there. remember the story about the hawk coming in and sitting on the Reed vise a few months ago.

ALL: I now own a vise from a battleship. This Morgan 50 was on the USS Independence and was rescued a few years ago by the prior owner just before the entire ship was scrapped. the pictures don't do it justice and i'll work on getting the white overspray off it, but it works great. can you guess the original color? it is a 5 inch wide jaw and might weigh around 70 pounds.

 

[FMC1959]

Are the new vises like a 33C or any other listed on eBay in the $850 plus good quality? It might sound dumb, but stuff seems to be crappier every day.

I have a 33c I bought new from a retailer about a year ago, tax & shipping I paid right around $850 (96 lbs). I also have a Parker 955, it is about 10-15 lbs less, but if my Parker was a 975 with swivel, I think it would be about the same weight as my Yost.

Both great vises, very solid, very beefy, in both cases I would say that they handle just about anything I throw at them. The Parker being about 80 years old has a bit of play and slop, but nothing significant. I bought the Parker fully restored and with the shipping, paid about $350.

I think the quality on the Yost is top notch, and if you bought a Wilton C2 (equivalent model), you would get as good a quality as a 50 year old model of either.

Bottom line is price, you can find an old top quality 5" in the $50-$100 that needs a good restore. You can find the same thing already with a nice restoration job from many on this thread for $200-$400 and have a great vise that will last forever.

Of course GJ is full of all kinds of tool and car nuts, and just about everyone has spent big money on a certain tool or car part, so it comes down to you. If spending $800+ on a new vise is not a problem, go for it.

Otherwise try reaching out to some of the restorers on this site, you might be able to make a good deal on a really good vise, restored by someone who knows how to do it properly. (Balane instantly comes to mind, others also)

 

[FMC1959]

DX, just to add, when looking around for a vise, made in the USA is great. Something else to consider is the overall construction for your needs or what you are willing to pay for.

Look at Wilton's, very popular Tradesman 1765 and C3, both 6" (1765 is 6 1/2"), both are combo, swivel, made in the US, 60,000 PSI tensile ductile iron, many other common features between the 2 models. I don't have the exact specs in front of me, but the 1765 is about 70 lbs, the C3 is just over 200 lbs...heck, the 1780 8" Tradesman is right around 100 bs, half the 6" C3. The 1765 is about $600, if you shop around, maybe close to $500. The C3 is more than double.

Exact same thing with the Yost Tradesman versus Combo. Look at 33c vs 55c or 34c vs the 65c.

I am pretty sure the Tradesman vise are great and for most will last a lifetime, but the combo vise have some extra heft and quality. You get what you pay for.

Keep this mind when looking at old vises, there are good, better, and best in just about all of the MFR's.

 

[Silverhair]

Drivesitfar - the Independence was a carrier. And a great one, too!

 

[bigcaddy]

BC: Oldie found that swivel jaw vise on Tulsa Craigslist and here's the ad in case you want to plan your next trip. I know working off your phone on vacation is a PIA so hope this helps. asking $250 if still available.

http://tulsa.craigslist.org/tls/4503492213.html

DX: where are you located and somebody might have one ready to sell you?

Riven: nice story and any pictures to share or maybe get the next time you are there. remember the story about the hawk coming in and sitting on the Reed vise a few months ago.

ALL: I now own a vise from a battleship. This Morgan 50 was on the USS Independence and was rescued a few years ago by the prior owner just before the entire ship was scrapped. the pictures don't do it justice and i'll work on getting the white overspray off it, but it works great. can you guess the original color? it is a 5 inch wide jaw and might weigh around 70 pounds.

It was in the navy. Can you say grey

 

[Outlawmws]

It was in the navy. Can you say grey

Yep! "Battleship Grey"!

 

[joe.striper]

OK, sorry to bother you all again, but this time I'm stumped. I called on an old drill press I saw on CL and in the course of the conversation the older gentleman with whom I was speaking mentioned he had a couple of old vises in his shop that he really didn't want to sell. After a while he offered to send me a couple of pics. I asked him jaw width on the blue swivel jaw vise and he said 4" but he said he couldn't read the names on either. He offered them to me for $75 and $100 respectively.

Based on what I could make out, the little one is a parker 973 1/2. The larger one?? I poked around for a couple of hours but couldn't match it up. The swivel jaw vise has aluminum jaws, which I found interesting.

The seller said both the bases move freely, the Parker has the wrench attached and the swivel jaw moves freely as well. So, can you guys please give me a little help? Thanks so much. I posted one pic on its side so you could see the #'s better.

 

[Mk3Mike]

Those are some nice vises and I bet the prices will reflect that.

http://jerseyshore.craigslist.org/tls/4526384589.html

Not gonna argue with you there

 

[drivesitfar]

Joe: Hard saying what the grey vise is, but it might be identical to the Rock Island Oldie posted on Tulsa craigslist yesterday that is $250 and guys are trying to figure out how to buy it. i'm not sure if the aluminum jaws are original and my guess they are not, but two old vises and one with a swivel back jaw for $175 gets my vote and PM me with the sellers' information if you still are not sure you can use them.

Outlaw and BC: Bingo. Battleship grey is the color and it might be on there for another 100 years or more because it's like it was powder coated.

Silverhair: thank you for the correction and yes it was a carrier and not a battleship. i guess i had the color theme in my head. did you spend a little time on the USS Independence in WWII or know somebody that did? before they sank or scraped it she was docked about an hour from my house.

 

[Outlawmws]

Wellllll... for those prices, why aren't they in your shop or in your trunk on the way home?

Definitely a 973-1/2 Parker, sort the other one after its home.

 

[AndrewH]

Joe: Hard saying what the grey vise is, but it might be identical to the Rock Island Oldie posted on Tulsa craigslist yesterday that is $250 and guys are trying to figure out how to buy it. i'm not sure if the aluminum jaws are original and my guess they are not, but two old vises and one with a swivel back jaw for $175 gets my vote and PM me with the sellers' information if you still are not sure you can use them.

Outlaw and BC: Bingo. Battleship grey is the color and it might be on there for another 100 years or more because it's like it was powder coated.

Silverhair: thank you for the correction and yes it was a carrier and not a battleship. i guess i had the color theme in my head. did you spend a little time on the USS Independence in WWII or know somebody that did? before they sank or scraped it she was docked about an hour from my house.

I just read a bit about the USS Independence, it was actually used as a nuclear test target, then it was scuttled. Any way to verify it was actually on it?

 

[48RON54]

Well, I've been on the lookout for a vise since stumbling onto this topic some months ago. Last weekend I was at a buddies house and his tweaker FIL hd this sitting on the table in te garage. Any idea manufacturer/worth? I want to offer an hones price for it, but also didn't want to seem to excited. Him being a tweaker and all, he might think it's worth it's weight in gold if I show my hand at all. The reality is he will just use the money to buy drugs anyway, but it is a nice looking vise and I don't have one at home to use. Thanks for any help guys.

Sent from my SPH-D700 using Tapatalk 2

 

[ShadowRuleZ]

I just read a bit about the USS Independence, it was actually used as a nuclear test target, then it was scuttled. Any way to verify it was actually on it?

Geiger counter?

 

[FMC1959]

Well, I've been on the lookout for a vise since stumbling onto this topic some months ago. Last weekend I was at a buddies house and his tweaker FIL hd this sitting on the table in te garage. Any idea manufacturer/worth? I want to offer an hones price for it, but also didn't want to seem to excited. Him being a tweaker and all, he might think it's worth it's weight in gold if I show my hand at all. The reality is he will just use the money to buy drugs anyway, but it is a nice looking vise and I don't have one at home to use. Thanks for any help guys.

Sent from my SPH-D700 using Tapatalk 2

It does not look like any of the better known US vises, but there a lot of lesser known ones out there. Unless there is writing on the other side, like many on this thread have said, if they were not proud enough to put there name, probably not that good.

The jaws and the handle screw area look small in proportion to the rest of the vise. My guess is an Asian import

 

[48RON54]

It does not look like any of the better known US vises, but there a lot of lesser known ones out there. Unless there is writing on the other side, like many on this thread have said, if they were not proud enough to put there name, probably not that good.

The jaws and the handle screw area look small in proportion to the rest of the vise. My guess is an Asian import

Bah! Nothing but a huge 5 on the other side. Oh well.... we have some old wiltons here at work, I'll see if the boss is willing to part with one...they get little if any use nowadays. Thanks for your help!

 

[AndrewH]

Well, I've been on the lookout for a vise since stumbling onto this topic some months ago. Last weekend I was at a buddies house and his tweaker FIL hd this sitting on the table in te garage. Any idea manufacturer/worth? I want to offer an hones price for it, but also didn't want to seem to excited. Him being a tweaker and all, he might think it's worth it's weight in gold if I show my hand at all. The reality is he will just use the money to buy drugs anyway, but it is a nice looking vise and I don't have one at home to use. Thanks for any help guys.

Sent from my SPH-D700 using Tapatalk 2

Need a better picture of the symbol and the 3 letters underneath it that is on the side of the dynamic jaw. But if it does have a 5 on the other side, it's definitely an import lol