The VISES of Garage Journal

[AndrewH]

Here's a pic I saved of someone's No. 79 for reference. Pretty similar!

And the plot thickens!

 

[drivesitfar]

B100 and Gateway: thanks for the quick look alike for my Wilton. those chains look mighty familiar so maybe he'll chime in if he is done looking for an Acorn table for his herd.

i'll start a new thread since it doesn't look like Columbian was the maker and i'll just say who made this huge Wilton 606 SJ swivel jaw 170 pounder?

anybody else out there have one of these Wiltons maybe not in chains?

i found a few other American look alikes to post pics of

 

[McBrownie]

And the plot thickens!

So, who made American Scale? Colombian?

 

[zkling]

Is this a good deal? I see that its USA made so I figure it's pretty decent, was going to offer $40.

http://jacksonville.craigslist.org/tls/4546949802.html

If you need a vise it will get the job done, for most home shop items. There is also that 4.5" wilton bullet listed, if money is not a problem for you. It would be more of an investment up front though.

I hear they're decent vises, obviously not meant for heavy duty work or pounding on objects that are clamped in it. If you need a decent Made in USA light-medium duty vise I think it would serve you well as long as it's not abused.

Technically aren't all bench vises not designed for pounding, only post vises due to the transfer leg? Tolerate and desinged for are two different things IMHO. Just think how many more vises would be out there if people didn't pound on them or used them for presses.
Example
http://louisville.craigslist.org/tls/4547005119.html

 

[AndrewH]

B100 and Gateway: thanks for the quick look alike for my Wilton. those chains look mighty familiar so maybe he'll chime in if he is done looking for an Acorn table for his herd.

i'll start a new thread since it doesn't look like Columbian was the maker and i'll just say who made this huge Wilton 606 SJ swivel jaw 170 pounder?

anybody else out there have one of these Wiltons maybe not in chains?

i found a few other American look alikes to post pics of

I've seen a few different numbers, have you actually weighed it as one piece or is 170 lbs a guesstimate? Just curious.

 

[oldldh]

And the plot thickens!

Thickening plots are this threads "raison d'etre"....

Who made what for who keeps the old catalog crowd alert, and keeps them from taking too many naps...

I, on the other hand, stay in permanent confusion mode...

And have been known to nap for several months at the drop of a "thickening"...

I go for American Scale...

I wouldn't care who made it, if I could find one...I'd be all over it, and give it a good home...

 

[drivesitfar]

Andrew: guestimate weight at 170 pounds. it's 100 degree inside my shop and its on a shelf about breast high so didn't want to have a heart attack just to weigh it. it's probably all of that because i also have 2 150's and 160 pounder on that shelf that didn't take half the energy to get them on and off it.

McB: American Vise Company was it's own brand until they lost a lawsuit with the casting union and went out of business in the early 60's. i was hearing it might have been made by Columbian by a couple of friends so it might not be the case. still waiting to hear from others before i close that door. Wilton is still in business so does anybody here work there or know somebody in the archives?

All: please feel free to post any information also on a thread i started about this vise because on all the internet i only found one other one. also i'll put more information that i find out about it over there too along with any other pictures of other ones as well as the restoration of this little guy.
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=253568

 

[autopts]

Happy 4th everyone.

I'm looking for a dynamic jaw for a 1983 Wilton 1740. I bought a decent conditoned Wilton 1740 for $25.00 but the previous owner really trashed the screws in the dynamic jaw and I don't think it is recoverable. I have two choices as I see it, replace the jaw or buy undrilled blank jaws and drill and tap new ones. If I had a machine shop I'd just drill the whole mess out, fill and retap using factory inserts, but as I don't...I thought I'd check on here.

PM me if you can help. Thanks.

I had 3 busted screws on a 1750 recently and my local machinist charge me $15 to drill and re tap to 1/4" $45 total. Are there any machine shops local? Its easy when they have the right equipment. I usually drill out the 5/16 screws but 1/4 can be rough with only a hand drill.

 

[joe.striper]

I had 3 busted screws on a 1750 recently and my local machinist charge me $15 to drill and re tap to 1/4" $45 total. Are there any machine shops local? Its easy when they have the right equipment. I usually drill out the 5/16 screws but 1/4 can be rough with only a hand drill.

Wow, where do you live??? I'm in the Springfield, MA area and they don't even want to talk to me with a job like that. Andrew offered to help. Over the next couple days I'll take your suggestion and call a couple of shops or better yet stop in and visit.

Thanks everyone!

 

[KMScott]

This is how I fix careless hack saw cuts in vises, I never tried the stuff in the tube. Took about 15 minutes. I like using Inconel as the filler with my TIG. Matches the color pretty good and the weld stays soft for a easy blend.

Welding up two horseshoe washer grooves in Wilton vises tonight and had some time while welds are cooling between weld passes. I'll finish this one tomorrow.

 

[AndrewH]

This is how I fix careless hack saw cuts in vises, I never tried the stuff in the tube. Took about 15 minutes. I like using Inconel as the filler with my TIG. Matches the color pretty good and the weld stays soft for a easy blend.

Welding up two horseshoe washer grooves in Wilton vises tonight and had some time while welds are cooling between weld passes. I'll finish this one tomorrow.

Wow, that handle was REALLY worn, I'm curious as to what the vise looks like lol. I had a pretty bad slop problem in my little Wilton HD but unfortunately i dont have the equipment to mill out a handle after welding, plus there was a ton of up and down slop due to the hole in the dynamic jaw being more than a 1/4" larger than it should, so I used a washer that i ground down and put behind the handle. Causes the handle to stick out a little bit, but cut down the backlash from an entire turn to absolutely none, and zero vertical / horizontal slop.

 

[va.grouseman]

Drivesit.----That's a rare find there. That's one of those rare ones like I was describing to Zoomie,----if you see it and don't jump on it, you will never see it again. There's very few like that.
I never knew that Wilton subbed out any work. I have to go along with b100 and Gateway. It does look like an A.S. #79, but the 79s are 190 lbs.. Would have been no problem for them to use the same pattern, reduce the weight, and slap on the raised letter Wilton logo.
You're generating a lot of vise envy. You may want to consider a chain.

 

[drivesitfar]

VA: it looked like there was an American vise company's #79 in chains in one picture i found. do you have one and if you do would you might unchaining when you get a chance or just pictures from all sides with it chained if easier and then posting some great pictures to my new thread on this Wilton 606 SJ? thank you for that and for the nice comments.

i'll really have to weigh my Wilton 606 SJ because she isn't very light and it may be 190 pounds like the American vise company's 79.

Don't need chains when you have a 600 pound Lyon cabinet. i'll post a picture or two of it maybe once i get it filled up if anybody really wants to see a few of my vises in one place.

 

[bigboost]

If you need a vise it will get the job done, for most home shop items. There is also that 4.5" wilton bullet listed, if money is not a problem for you. It would be more of an investment up front though.

Thank you, yes I saw the Wilton, it looks awesome, just don't really have $350 to blow on a vise at the moment, but the thought certainly crossed my mind haha.

 

[bigcaddy]

Dean, these tables are called Acorn Welding Tables. The square holes are for jigs to aid welders in welding assembly's.

I remember seeing one of those acorn tables on CL quite a while ago. It measured 10 x10 with a 6"+ American bench vise attached to it

It was located in Maine and was sitting on the side of the road near the owners property. He was asking 200.00

Needless to say, the weight prevented it from being stolen. Well, that and the fact that Maine is at the end of the earth

 

[KMScott]

Here is a Acorn table I picked up the night of the flood we had last year here in Colorado, The grey house in the last picture was wiped out hours later just below my home. Steve from Steves Welding in Estes Park a good friend of mine who purchased the acorn table from Golden, Macklin a member here purchased the bulk of the Golden vise pile and I got the rest. Note the square jigs for clamping, holding work for welding. It was a month before I could get my rigging back from Steve after being stranded. Steve got a great deal on the table since no one bought it in the week long Garage sale.
Another note, Steve has been the town welder for 35 + years and is a Vise collector, he has collected over 40 quality vises just from our small town by hitting garage sales. It is amazing what he has collected.

 

[ritzblitz]

My friends grandpa had a welding table like that. They sold it at auction for like $50. 3" thick top and probably 8x8 makes it hard to move.. I would have loved to have it.

D- your cabinet alone weighs 600lbs? That rules.

 

[autopts]

For any of you new members that are looking for a nice older USA made vise. Here's my recommendation and, for its condition, its reasonable



http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Pri...664?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item19efe4d0b8 .

 

[AndrewH]

Nevermind, just realized something.

Also, since I'm guessing that's your listing, what's up with the 'primitive' word being used for vintage stuff? I consider primitive to be back in the caveman era, unless the definition of the word is not actually how it's being used?

 

[drivesitfar]

Andrew: AutoPts is his handle for the auction site and i'm pretty sure I've never and will never see a vise in that condition reach his auctions.

some other creative person has the verbage issues. it is a good solid vise though and if you don't want to spend all your spare time scanning the local sales and auctions and such it is a decent buy.

KM: so are you in the pictures with that awesome Acorn table and is it currently in your shop or were you just involved in delivering it?

BC: shipping an Acorn across the country might cost a couple bucks, but at $50 plus shipping it still would have been a YS deal.

Ritz: i'll need a couple handles for the Wilton 606 SJ when the time comes and will keep you posted. thanks and yes my little cabinet weighs 559 pounds empty minus the weight of the pallet jack that was on the scale with it so maybe it's really only 450 pounds. it is a fairly stout 4 foot wide 6.5 foot tall and 2 foot deep cabinet and each shelf has had over 2000 pounds of weight plates on it without any bending or creaking so should hold a couple old US vises just fine. if i get a few other requests i might post a couple of pictures here when full soon or PM you one to gaze at.

 

[va.grouseman]

Drivesit,----I've got one coming that going to require chains, so I'll have to uncover the pile and get you some pics of the 79. If it cools down just one day between now and then, I'll get'em before it comes. Right now it's 85 and 100% humidity with a hurricane coming. You can't hardly breath outside.----Do you have a good story behind the 606?

Are those Acorn tables still made or did the company go out of business?

 

[KMScott]

KM: so are you in the pictures with that awesome Acorn table and is it currently in your shop or were you just involved in delivering it?

I am taking the picture, Steve the welder is in the the middle. The acorn table is in Steves Welding Shop.

 

[drivesitfar]

VA: i hope that the hurricane misses you, but just in case run a chain from the crew out to the foundation to keep the house on the property. i don't miss the humidity your area and others have in this part of the world because we have very little unless it's just raining. it was 94 here a couple days ago and set a state record for that day, but it's back to cloudy and 60 this AM.

I have a little more about the Wilton 606 SJ over on the thread i started and would appreciate your pictures of your American Scale 79 there too while you read more about it. also if you don't mind while you have the pile open see if you have one and post pictures of it too along with any and all 6 and 8 inch vises that have a swivel jaw. thanks in advance

not sure if anybody is making cast Acorn tables any longer and my guess not and i'm not sure if even the steel plate type ones are thicker than an inch any more if you want a new one. anybody know for sure please post.

KM: i read that you picked up that Acorn table and at the point of the talk about the Colorado vise purchase you and Macklin bought my mind went fuzzy. i remember seeing a pick up truck load of big vises in one of your pictures with a nice Reed 106 on the tailgate so how many vises were involved because i was only lurking and only had a few Wilton vises at the time you bought them?

 

[drivesitfar]

ALL: I'm not sure what model Wilton bullet vise I have here that is too small for a C series or is it and it just looks shorter without a swivel base? not pretty (yet) like most posted here, but it seems to work just fine and pretty heavy too.

this one is not going to stay in the cabinet in case anybody needs it.

 

[Outlawmws]

Wow, where do you live??? I'm in the Springfield, MA area and they don't even want to talk to me with a job like that. Andrew offered to help. Over the next couple days I'll take your suggestion and call a couple of shops or better yet stop in and visit.

Thanks everyone!

Joe, try to get hooked up with someone with a home hobby machine shop. Many are retired machinists, and will take on the odd job for pocket money. commercial machine shops will be too productions oriented, or their over head will kill the deal.

 

[FMC1959]

I picked up a vise on CL. It's an Erie Tool Works 4 3 1/2. I cleaned it with a wire wheel, primed and painted it in about an hour.

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Dan, these exposed screw type vises may be only light to medium duty, but I have always loved the look of this vise as well as the Littlestown and Dunlap.

Nice job on the restore.

 

[AndrewH]

ALL: I'm not sure what model Wilton bullet vise I have here that is too small for a C series or is it and it just looks shorter without a swivel base? not pretty (yet) like most posted here, but it seems to work just fine and pretty heavy too.

this one is not going to stay in the cabinet in case anybody needs it.

3.5" jaws? If so it's a C0 I believe. Looks decent to me, text me what you're looking to get for it.

 

[drivesitfar]

Andrew: it's actually 4.5 jaws and probably is a C1, but without the swivel on it i didn't think so. I'm not sure why Wilton quit putting C1 on it or i'll have to look closer. i'll get more specs like weight and pictures when i get a few minutes to stop by and check on my little cabinet.

 

[DanZ3]

Dan, these exposed screw type vises may be only light to medium duty, but I have always loved the look of this vise as well as the Littlestown and Dunlap.



Nice job on the restore.

Just needed a good quality "second" set of hands. Light duty on my folding garage work surface.

 

[sz0k30]

Just picked up a 4" Columbian in real nice condition for $60.00. The number isn't cast in, but rather stamped and looks like 504.

 

[AndrewH]

Just picked up a 4" Columbian in real nice condition for $60.00. The number isn't cast in, but rather stamped and looks like 504.

Nice looking Columbian, since it has a swivel base it is a 604, a 504 would be the fixed base version.

 

[va.grouseman]

Drivesit,-----I'll fix you up asap.

 

[Foose911]

Made in Japan. Cost me $10 on Kijiji

 

[nochina1966]

My 3 Littlestown beauties. The pipe vise needs a runaround in the sandblaster, but over the course of maybe a year in acquiring these, I'm out $25.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[rmsg0040]

Last week picked up York 100, just about finish stripping the paint, today got a York 150, it's huge in comparison

 

[KMScott]

Nice vise's rmsg0040, yours are a orange/red color. The little 100mm (3.93 inch) shined up pretty good, Love to see them when you get them done.

 

[rmsg0040]

I want to paint them some funky colours, maybe key lime, orange, yellow, john deere green or something else most people wont do

 

[balane]

I want to paint them some funky colours, maybe key lime, orange, yellow, john deere green or something else most people wont do

I like the way you think.

 

[Alexbn921]

406 REED on craigslist gone in 30 minutes damn! I hope one of you got it.

 

[AndrewH]

406 REED on craigslist gone in 30 minutes damn! I hope one of you got it.

lol, how much did they want? Did you snag any of the pictures? Sounds like the Parker 956 I picked up last weekend, the ad was taken down 36 min after posting! Gotta be quick!