The VISES of Garage Journal

[Fretters]

KMScott I totally agree, the only reason reason I painted them was because I sanded them to a mirror finish and it's going to be a couple weeks before I can get new jaw pads so I don't want it to rust after all my hard work! I'm hoping a few taps with a deadblow will seat the new ones on there without too much trouble!

With bits like that, I've found that coating parts with Linseed oil is a good way of keeping parts protected without painting them, and is easier to remove than paint when necessary. It's akin to applying oil based paint without any paint being involved.

 

[Fretters]

thanks for your helpful comment,i did image search"blacksmith leg vices" and find this ! its almost the same as what i have...

Aye, that's a very similar example of the type. There was one recently on Ebay UK very similar to that one too. I would have bought that one on Ebay if it had not been so far away from me. I do like the styling of those vices. You did well getting hold of that one of yours. They don't seem to crop up often. Searching for "blacksmith post vise", (using the American terms/words), may find other examples too.

Age wise, judging from the fact that the modern day bench top vice style seems to have started around the late 1800's, I'm guessing those vices pre-date that, so probably early to late 1800's.

 

[bortez]

Aye, that's a very similar example of the type. There was one recently on Ebay UK very similar to that one too. I would have bought that one on Ebay if it had not been so far away from me. I do like the styling of those vices. You did well getting hold of that one of yours. They don't seem to crop up often. Searching for "blacksmith post vise", (using the American terms/words), may find other examples too.

Age wise, judging from the fact that the modern day bench top vice style seems to have started around the late 1800's, I'm guessing those vices pre-date that, so probably early to late 1800's.

you are right...i find another one here.

i paid its iron scrap price...and it was cheap for me

i hope you find a good one so, unfortunately our distance is more than 10000 km and it's not applicable to send,if it was not far i would be to give it to you or other one who wanted it...because now i see its weight is a little heavy for my table and will drop it ...so i have to do another action to install it in garage...

interesting! i didn't think it might be for that age...

thank you so much

 

[joe.striper]

Aaarrrggghhh! Cleaning up my recently acquired Wiltom 8300 and I find this under the tail. Last owner jammed the tail on with the old pin jammed underneath. Will flowing some braze in there do the job? It is a non critical point on the vise.

Free advice gladly and gleefully accepted!

 

[McBrownie]

I was thinking the same thing, I could make them look the same and all shiney and new, but they already look the same.

Copper jaws for one of them, maybe the little one.

I second that vote both on the paint and the copper jaws.

 

[Youngwing]

My 800s wilton

 

[nine4gmc]

That's comically HUGE!! Do want!!!

 

[Youngwing]

Y yes yes it is all 235 pounds of it

 

[joe.striper]

My 800s wilton

Oooh, pretty! Pretty big that is. Nice swiveler!

 

[joe.striper]

Y yes yes it is all 235 pounds of it

Don't let Andrew know what state your in, he will TRACK YOU DOWN!

Now this is what, your second post here ever? What are you going to do for an encore?

 

[drivesitfar]

Youngwing: so you are a new member and you post an 8 inch Wilton. First of all welcome to the Forum and glad to have you, but for a vise that big you need a lot more pictures and some words on how you ended up with it if you don't mind sharing.

it has enough grease on the slide for several vises so what's the story about it's history and how did you end up with it? first vise and if so you got one of the biggest and the best ones. since it's so heavy make sure the bench is either 1000 pounds or bolted to a wall. also if you do pull out the dynamic slide to take the jaw out all the way to clean, inspect or just move it be careful not to drop it. i might be preaching to the choir here because you might own 10 of these, but didn't want to have you break the vise or your toe if it's your first one.

again thanks for posting and please post a few more pictures with a little story if you are able.

Balane: new jaws or did you find that almost 70 year old vise with those in it? another great job and you might want to put a little varnish on the stump while we have a bit of good weather for the next few days. except for this AM when it's 60 and cloudy. or leave it as it is and it makes those shiny vises look all the better.

Z: where do you find these gems? same sale as the $10 Baldor grinder? I loved the way the previous owner figured out how to keep that functioning. it wasn't easy for my old eyes to see the welds in your pictures so if you say they are there i'll believe you. good luck

 

[McBrownie]

Here is a real sad one I got the other day. Parker 271.5 I figured by the U clamp it had seen better days but for $5 it clamped and I needed something ASAP. I've done quite a bit of vise welding but this one looks like it will be a challenge. I'd venture to guess that someone tried to bend something in the vise and swivel jaw as well as the dynamic jaw both let go (dynamic jaw has been brazed to the slide). About the only 100% parts are the swivel base and screw.

Anyone repair a swivel jaw like this before? Tips or suggestions would be appreicated. It will be a while before I get to work on it, but till then...

Glad you are going to try to save that vise. What is the jaw width of the 271 1/2? I have seen what looks like a 270 and can't find any information about it. I would assume that the 270 would be 1.5" smaller than a 271.5

Keep us posted on the status.

 

[balane]

Balane: new jaws or did you find that almost 70 year old vise with those in it?

These were on the vise when I received it. I can't state for certain they're original but I have no reason to believe otherwise, the entire vise was in good condition. The serrations on the faces were crisp but I did have to smooth out the squared-off sides a little bit.

 

[AndrewH]

My 800s wilton

Very nice Wilton 800S! I just recently bought a 600S, can't wait to get my paws on an 800S!

 

[joe.striper]

I found this vise the next town over. Parker #2. Spent a while searching the interweb and cannot find a thing on it. This one looks to be in phenomenal original condition.

Anyone can point me in the right direction?

 

[AndrewH]

I found this vise the next town over. Parker #2. Spent a while searching the interweb and cannot find a thing on it. This one looks to be in phenomenal original condition.

Anyone can point me in the right direction?

No information on it, however I can tell you that it's one of the earliest models that Parker made. If it's cheap enough go pick it up, for being 120+ years old it looks great.

 

[Outlawmws]

Here is a real sad one I got the other day. Parker 271.5 I figured by the U clamp it had seen better days but for $5 it clamped and I needed something ASAP. I've done quite a bit of vise welding but this one looks like it will be a challenge. I'd venture to guess that someone tried to bend something in the vise and swivel jaw as well as the dynamic jaw both let go (dynamic jaw has been brazed to the slide). About the only 100% parts are the swivel base and screw.

Anyone repair a swivel jaw like this before? Tips or suggestions would be appreicated. It will be a while before I get to work on it, but till then...

ZK, do you have the broken off part of the swivel jaw? If so there are options, short of a machine shop...

 

[joe.striper]

No information on it, however I can tell you that it's one of the earliest models that Parker made. If it's cheap enough go pick it up, for being 120+ years old it looks great.

Andrew I'd like to but only if i can get it for $50. I'm just not a huge fan of a fixed base vise...and the guy that sold me those 5 bullets Monday just called me back. He wants to sell me a Baldor 3/4 HP buffer, a 3/4 HP Dayton grinder and two Baldor stands for $500. I know that's a great deal but damn I've spent a lot of $$ this week. My wife's going to KILL me.

sorry the pics are off topic

 

[AndrewH]

Andrew I'd like to but only if i can get it for $50. I'm just not a huge fan of a fixed base vise...and the guy that sold me those 5 bullets Monday just called me back. He wants to sell me a Baldor 3/4 HP buffer, a 3/4 HP Dayton grinder and two Baldor stands for $500. I know that's a great deal but damn I've spent a lot of $$ this week. My wife's going to KILL me.

sorry the pics are off topic

I hear ya, I prefer swivel base vises, I only have a couple fixed base vises and that's only because they're exceptionally large. I do have one 4.5" fixed base Parker that I bought but I'm planning on restoring that and selling it. There's going to be a few restored vises of mine going up on CL as I make room for the bigger ones.

 

[Outlawmws]

Andrew"s using the "s" word!

 

[AndrewH]

Andrew"s using the "s" word!

Yes, I've gotta start being realistic, I'm running out of room. I'll be selling at least these ones:

Wilton HD (4" swivel base)
Wilton 450N (4.5" non swivel)
Parker 88 (4.5" swivel w/ wrench but missing pipe jaws)
Parker 105 (4.5" non swivel)

Selling those 4 should fund some larger purchases!

 

[va.grouseman]

Previously posted by Andrew[/B].

I've gotta start being realistic, I'm running out of room.
----------------------------------------------------



If you make room, you'll just fill it up again. Seems pointless.

 

[Outlawmws]

If you make room, you'll just fill it up again. Seems pointless.

This ^^^

Andrew, I thought you were shooting for a complete Parker collection?

 

[McBrownie]

This ^^^

Andrew, I thought you were shooting for a complete Parker collection?

I have two Parker's and Andrew can't have them.

 

[AndrewH]

Previously posted by Andrew[/B].

I've gotta start being realistic, I'm running out of room.
----------------------------------------------------



If you make room, you'll just fill it up again. Seems pointless.

You're absolutely right! But I want to make room for the 150+ lb vises, those ones are so much more interesting than the smaller ones.

This ^^^

Andrew, I thought you were shooting for a complete Parker collection?

Haha, yeah, if only that was an option. I am however collecting the 97x series and possibly the 95x series.

I have two Parker's and Andrew can't have them.

That's okay, I'm willing to bet they made more than one of them!

 

[06'lectra-glide]

Hello, this is my second post, new member here.

These are some pics of my Chas Parker No. 59.

I'm from NH originally, did some work for a woman in MA, one day we settled up via barter, I got the vise, a radio, some other stuff and a little $.

It spent a few years in storage in TN (took me a little while to land here (SC)), recently started to clean it up. So far I've cleaned up some pieces with a wire cup & Acetone. I've begun painting it red, the handle shaft and table will be painted a stainless color, the ends of the handle and the end of the lead screw will be red. I'm debating painting a couple of 'panels' an antique white color, not sure if I can make it look good though, not sure if the tape will pull off the new paint. Panels could be an excuse to put some pinstripes on it also.

I don't have an assembled 'before' pic, I haven't finished cleaning & painting, so no 'after' assembled pics either.

My entire life I've appreciated old tools, old pickups, ford 8N's, old houses, etc. For the longest time I've wondered if I didn't have an illness. I've stumbled on Garage Journal and I'm still not sure if I have an illness, but it's comforting to know that there are others out there.

<a href="http://s1377.photobucket.com/user/mike_emery1/media/IMG_20140710_122146_zps45b6d426.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1377.photobucket.com/albums/ah58/mike_emery1/IMG_20140710_122146_zps45b6d426.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo IMG_20140710_122146_zps45b6d426.jpg"/></a>

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[beakie]

That Beach is actually a mastercraft from Canadian Tire. Looks exactly like a beach and is a great box IMO. Got it with a beach topper for $60.

I'd guess that Mastercraft was made by Beach tho.
Same as my Craftsman was.

Beach made boxes for both way back when.

 

[beakie]

picked up this 5" RAE, Made in Canada vise today.
$50, not too bad, nothing special.
bit of side-side slop in the dynamic jaw, and while extending, there are some "tough" spots, but it does go out 6 1/2"
will just add it to the collection, for future plans...









not sure what this says, or means, but it kinda looks like
1048... I dunno...

 

[McBrownie]

Hello, this is my second post, new member here.

These are some pics of my Chas Parker No. 59.

I'm from NH originally, did some work for a woman in MA, one day we settled up via barter, I got the vise, a radio, some other stuff and a little $.

It spent a few years in storage in TN (took me a little while to land here (SC)), recently started to clean it up. So far I've cleaned up some pieces with a wire cup & Acetone. I've begun painting it red, the handle shaft and table will be painted a stainless color, the ends of the handle and the end of the lead screw will be red. I'm debating painting a couple of 'panels' an antique white color, not sure if I can make it look good though, not sure if the tape will pull off the new paint. Panels could be an excuse to put some pinstripes on it also.

I don't have an assembled 'before' pic, I haven't finished cleaning & painting, so no 'after' assembled pics either.

My entire life I've appreciated old tools, old pickups, ford 8N's, old houses, etc. For the longest time I've wondered if I didn't have an illness. I've stumbled on Garage Journal and I'm still not sure if I have an illness, but it's comforting to know that there are others out there.

Welcome to GJ! Looks like you'll fit right in. Here is proof that your vise was only $22 when it was new.

http://scuttle.dayid.org/wiki/images/9/9c/1926ParkerStanleyAd.jpg

Now that it is used, I'll give you $20 for it - AFTER you get done cleaning it up of course. . Nice old Parker!

 

[72CZ]

Wilton 9400
Slide dated 9/51
Thanks to KMScott for the new jaws !!
And "Balane" for the paint info !

 

[oldldh]

Andrew"s using the "s" word!

You mean he's another one of those---


"SWIVELIN' B@$TARDS"!!!


The boy just won't learn---


Or did you mean---


SELL!!!


The boy just won't learn---

 

[zkling]

That's comically HUGE!! Do want!!!

Z: where do you find these gems? same sale as the $10 Baldor grinder? I loved the way the previous owner figured out how to keep that functioning. it wasn't easy for my old eyes to see the welds in your pictures so if you say they are there i'll believe you. good luck

"Gems", I think you mean worn out junk No it was a few days apart. The slide was brazed back together, I didn't realize it till I started scraping the paint off. Then someone tried to weld (lots of porosity) the swivel jaw in place and when that didn't work they put a U clamp around it.

At least it will be a learning experience/skill builder. Aka time sink hole.

Glad you are going to try to save that vise. What is the jaw width of the 271 1/2? I have seen what looks like a 270 and can't find any information about it. I would assume that the 270 would be 1.5" smaller than a 271.5
Keep us posted on the status.

Just measured 4" dead on. The swivel base seems large in diameter for the rest of the vise size. It will be a fun project I think. I don't have a parker or a swivel jaw so Really though I'm currently a few hundred miles from my shop and needed a vise for farm repairs. It clamps just fine with the U bracket, but without it won't hold at 90 degrees and the swivel jaw wants to lift up. At any angle it clamps solid. Due to a fractured retaining surface... pics below.

ZK, do you have the broken off part of the swivel jaw? If so there are options, short of a machine shop...

Uhm, not really? My plan is to weld it up solid and then remachine the groove, IF I can get it attached to a face plate somehow and spin it. What I'm worried about is the weldment in use, that is a pretty high stress location to be filled up with weld, especially a nickle based filler. I've welded up a good bit of cast iron, even vises, but not that much build up for a high stress area. O well at least it will be a learning expereince. I'm going to try and also build up the half broken Parker retainer as well.

Then there is the half fractured taper pin. : on that one. But in the mean time it does what I need it to do to get the equiptment up and running.

 

[Fretters]

That weld wouldn't be of concern to me personally. Looks well enough done, and worst case scenario is that it will crack again. Just use it and then it has two choices. Regarding that metal swivel portion, I'd be half tempted to take that broken section off to below the break and bolt/weld a circular disc on there to make it back up. The knacked taper pin is an owt and nowt job.

Personally, I like items like that, where they've had a beasting and need some work. It's a good excuse for testing out new methods and honing existing techniques, without worrying about destroying something in existing good condition. Worst case scenario is that you can end up with something which still isn't perfect.

 

[Youngwing]

Youngwing: so you are a new member and you post an 8 inch Wilton. First of all welcome to the Forum and glad to have you, but for a vise that big you need a lot more pictures and some words on how you ended up with it if you don't mind sharing.

it has enough grease on the slide for several vises so what's the story about it's history and how did you end up with it? first vise and if so you got one of the biggest and the best ones. since it's so heavy make sure the bench is either 1000 pounds or bolted to a wall. also if you do pull out the dynamic slide to take the jaw out all the way to clean, inspect or just move it be careful not to drop it. i might be preaching to the choir here because you might own 10 of these, but didn't want to have you break the vise or your toe if it's your first one.

again thanks for posting and please post a few more pictures with a little story if you are able.

Balane: new jaws or did you find that almost 70 year old vise with those in it? another great job and you might want to put a little varnish on the stump while we have a bit of good weather for the next few days. except for this AM when it's 60 and cloudy. or leave it as it is and it makes those shiny vises look all the better.

Z: where do you find these gems? same sale as the $10 Baldor grinder? I loved the way the previous owner figured out how to keep that functioning. it wasn't easy for my old eyes to see the welds in your pictures so if you say they are there i'll believe you. good luck

Well thanks for having me i came about owning that giant when a co worker needed gas money beins that I weld for a living he offered to sell me a big vise is all he said so sight un seen I gave him 50 bucks for gas and the next day he pulls up with vise in his bed I was more than happy to take it off his hands I can't imagine he had much in it he does a lot of scrap yard picking so I'm not going to loose any sleep on this deal as for the grease it had to sit out side for a couple weeks before I could get it home so I over greased everything just in case it rained

 

[McBrownie]

Well thanks for having me i came about owning that giant when a co worker needed gas money beins that I weld for a living he offered to sell me a big vise is all he said so sight un seen I gave him 50 bucks for gas and the next day he pulls up with vise in his bed I was more than happy to take it off his hands I can't imagine he had much in it he does a lot of scrap yard picking so I'm not going to loose any sleep on this deal as for the grease it had to sit out side for a couple weeks before I could get it home so I over greased everything just in case it rained

WHAT!?!?!?!?!?!?!?! $50!?!?!?!?!?!?!?

New, that vise is over $3,000! Three THOUSAND!!!

That may get you the "You **** of the Year" award.

 

[PMD6]

Picked up a Woden 7" carpenters vise today. For £1 off ebay and only 4 miles off the daily route who wouldn't

 

[Outlawmws]

ZK, I think I'd take a different tack on the swivel jaw repair:

grind or mill the section that is broken off flat, close to the groove lip (leave enough to align it), and cut a new "slug' that height and Dia.

line it up, clamp well and match drill and counter sink three holes the tap side of the best size counter sunk allen head scores you can get in there.

Then clearance drill the slug and tap the jaw.

Make a preform shim for either braising, or in this case you might consider silver solder.
clean and assemble (preheated as hot as you can manage) and then apply heat and gradually tighten the screws snugly. Cool slowly (hot sand as usual) and you should be good to go.

The screws by themselves are probably not strong enough, the solder or braise is probably not strong enough, but that is strength in unity... The solder/braise material will probably lock in the screws, so no danger of them loosening...

 

[sz0k30]

Same thing happened to me ............photos of it on here.

I think that is the longest sentence without punctuation I have ever read.

 

[jakemac]

I think that is the longest sentence without punctuation I have ever read.

And we never got the pay-off of seeing the pictures.

 

[nine4gmc]

I've seen bigger, hang around a while