Is this old vise worth restoring??

[luvmyglockfou]

I can get this old Vise from the neighbor for free. It's been outside for years but with some disassembly and my bead blasting/powder coating I think it could really end up nice. I own a PC business so the refurb is free; the question is "is it worth my time?". I know very little about vices..just that my current 2 year old craftsman has already failed.

 

[drivesitfar]

you know its probably an import, but i know so many guys that use the heck out of the ones they own. don't spend much more than $50 restoring or you can maybe get a new one, but at Free i would dump it in an electrolysis or evaporust, paint it, grease it up and mount it on a bench either inside or even outside. if you do leave it outside shoot some oil on it every now and then or WD40 and maybe even an oil pan for a cover.

 

[luvmyglockfou]

Yeah I don't know anything about bessey vices. I don't have electrolysis but I do have a bead blaster and powder coating equipment and about 40 different powder colors on hand that cost me nothing to use..

 

[softailgarage]

Hell yeah its worth it. I dont know what being in the PC business has to do with restoring it for free, but yeah, I'd be all over it.

I believe Bessey is Canadian

 

[luvmyglockfou]

Then why the question?
if you broke that craftsman you'll break this one also.

Softail,
It's related because I own a powder coating business and have all the equipment to bead blast and powder coat it for free.

Ducksface,
The craftsman is a new model, and is considerably less "robust" than this vise. What makes you say I'll break this one?

 

[softailgarage]

Ahh, I was thinking PC = Personal Computers, not PC = Powder Coating, thats what I get for thinking.

 

[rsanter]

The way that vise rotates is very handy. I have one like that ( made in China) and usage used the hell out of it for years. If you can get it for free and it will cost very little to nothing to fix it up that is what I would do.
I'm not sure it needs blasted I think you could wire wheel it and be just fine. Also I would not spend the money on powder coat but in your sacs if you have any left over stuff then go for it

Bob

 

[ZRX61]

you know its probably an import,

Yes it is, & it's far superior to a lot of US made vises. Bessey are usually horrendously expensive, some of their welding clamps are $100 each

 

[Stuart in MN]

It appears they still sell that vise, or one nearly like it.
http://besseytools.com/en/product_details.php?ASIMOID=000000010000253700030023

edit: Woodcraft sells them for $100.
http://www.woodcraft.com/Product/2086040/45528/Bessey-Multi-Purpose-Vise.aspx

 

[BikerDad]

It's almost certainly an import, given that Bessey is a German brand/company. The question that matters though is this:

Is it a German made Bessey, or a Chinese made one?

 

[toomanytoyzz]

Yes it is, & it's far superior to a lot of US made vises. Bessey are usually horrendously expensive, some of their welding clamps are $100 each

I'd take the Pepsi Challenge on comparing that vise on any American made vise of the same size from the same era.

That vise had every cheap/import alarm sounding off the second I looked at it.

Bessey might have an expensive line, but this thing was made offshores under the name and may get the job done, but is NO way better than a US made vise.

 

[Outlawmws]

I vote rebranded Asian (as usual with that style)

Most I see at FMs and Yardsales are busted...

 

[Lump]

Interesting vise, and interesting post. Guys, let's NOT get started on US-made versus import quality. Just drop that subject line, and stick to the OP's original question.

Thanks.

 

[houstonch73]

its a project. who cares where it was made. if its free and you can use it, restore it for pennies then I don't see why NOT to

 

[davesnothere]

It might be worth using, but not worth restoring.

 

[Outlawmws]

Interesting vise, and interesting post. Guys, let's NOT get started on US-made versus import quality. Just drop that subject line, and stick to the OP's original question.

Thanks.

Unfortunately, in this case with his question, COO is part of the equation: Here is why:

(under all the thick paint and bondo is...)

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?p=3553473#post3553473

 

[Mohawk Dave]

Its an import. Do a fast and dirty once over on it. Wire wheel the slide and other parts that move, then spray with any type of oil and grease, put outside, use it to paint and weld on and get ugly, and no worries.

 

[luvmyglockfou]

well guys, I ended up picking up the vise for nothing, and restoring it with leftover powder from a project I did this week (in a color I happen to like). The color is "city lights" from Prismatic. It's a gloss black that has all colors of metallic flake in it when the light hits it. I know it's probably too much work for the vise, but everything was free and it looks a lot better now. Besides, I've got a 55 gallon drum of B-17 from Benco, and so soaking it and bead blasting it was an affair that took just about an hour. The rust was all superficial! Here's the before and afters...

 

[Wamerjamer]

I,for one think ya' dun good.
It looks good,free deal all around,what's not to like?
Now use or beat the hell out of it.

Randy

 

[Kevin54]

For a freebie, that looks fantastic. Whether it was foreign, cheap or not, it's still one that was saved for just some time in it.

 

[luvmyglockfou]

For a freebie, that looks fantastic. Whether it was foreign, cheap or not, it's still one that was saved for just some time in it.

Saved is right..the guy was going to take it to the scrap yard for scrap weight..

 

[AndrewH]

I have a ton (well actually over a ton) of vises and import or not you did a fantastic job on that vise. I have no doubt that as long as you don't abuse it it will last a long time. Good job!

 

[luvmyglockfou]

I have a ton (well actually over a ton) of vises and import or not you did a fantastic job on that vise. I have no doubt that as long as you don't abuse it it will last a long time. Good job!

Thanks!!

 

[ZRX61]

I'd take the Pepsi Challenge on comparing that vise on any American made vise of the same size from the same era.

That vise had every cheap/import alarm sounding off the second I looked at it.

Bessey might have an expensive line, but this thing was made offshores under the name and may get the job done, but is NO way better than a US made vise.

ok, GERMAN made Bessey stuff is superior to a lot of US stuff.... better?

 

[Outlawmws]

I'm amazed it cleaned up that nice, Bessy must have one heck of a QC control system on their supplier.

Well done.

 

[A5Gunner]

Oh yeah, that price makes it a no brainer. Great Job!

 

[davesnothere]

Looks killer

 

[walz]

I have USA made vices and they are the best, the large fixed one was purchased by my father in law in WWII new. Mine is a huge rotating machinist vice that is about 50 years old, it was in a large factory with machine shops, the other vice I own is a medium one the size for a small workshop. All of them have the factory finish, and I just service them.

 

[drivesitfar]

so now we all know you know how to make a diamond in the rough vise turn into a diamond how much would you charge to make one of our vises make that transformation?

nice work and it looks great now. Enjoy

 

[toomanytoyzz]

ok, GERMAN made Bessey stuff is superior to a lot of US stuff.... better?

 

[ev88f]

Wow. That came out great. Almost too nice to beat on

 

[3baygarage]

Looks better than new. You do good work.