The VISES of Garage Journal

[GETRIDAONE]

I worry that some day I'll look at the TV at the gym and see I've been featured on a hoarders reality show or some such. But there is so much really INTERESTING tech in the world and so much of it is just thrown out by the typical consumer. There is also a variant of Murphy's which says that you will need the thing you throw out less than a week after you've thrown it out.
I'm doomed.

My wife has accused me of being an "organized hoarder"
I see on your Parker vise the main screw retaining plate has been replaced with a solid piece. I don't think many of the cast plates survived dragging that heavy dynamic jaw back out. I have noticed even on smaller Parker vises the screw that holds the plate on is often bent due to the stress on them.

 

[oldldh]

and just because every time oldldh posts that red 5196, I have to post mine.

Jason---Those be some mighty nice bolts you've got holding down that little jewel...

Technical data, please...

 

[McBrownie]

and just because every time oldldh posts that red 5196, I have to post mine. ]

Jason, Nice vise and a proper grinder in the background. You obviously have your priorities in the right order.

 

[McBrownie]

Here's my 19

72, Nice Prentiss and those jaws are in great shape. My jaws are getting replaced with a set born of Rocky Mountain spring water. I see it has USN stamps which is extra cool. Yours also has the swivel lock handle, but does not have the graffiti lettering. What do you think? Is the graffiti older or newer than your version? Or maybe, the Prentiss "seal" was a special run for the Navy?

 

[72CZ]

McBrownie

I would think the seal style would be the later.
Not certain of the year?

.

 

[joe.striper]

Hey OldH, I hope you're sitting down for this story.

A week ago I saw an ad on CG for an old bench vise. When I clicked on it it read "looking to swap my old craftsman vise for a smaller bench vise plus $20. This old Craftsman is just too big for my needs". Do I need to tell you what model Craftsman it was. Yep a Craftsman 5197 in all it's original naked patina.

I was in NH at the time and was going to pick it up the next day and trade it for a little Craftsman I had in my inventory but some ******** got there first.

The best/worst part of the story, the ad was 20 days old when I first found it. 20 freakin' days!!

To top it off the American Scale vise sale didn't materialize. I threw $800 at him but he said that he thought about it a lot and that the American Scale was a piece that handled all the heavy work he ever had and he couldn't part with it. I asked him to put it in his will to me.

Last Item. In the back of his VERY serious welding truck he had a 4.5" Wilton that he got brand new from a local factory. Some idiot took the Wilton and tried to bend a 12' piece of metal in it. It snapped off CLEAN at the very bottom of the static jaw tower. This guy rescued it, welded it and has used it for 30 years on the back of his welding truck. Did a nice job on it too. The break was HUGE it must have made a hell of a sound when it broke.

 

[JasonJ]

Jason---Those be some mighty nice bolts you've got holding down that little jewel...

Technical data, please...

12-Point Bolts from McMaster... The website states that they are stronger than Grade-8 steel with a minimum tensile strength of 180,000 psi. I did not think that flange was very wide on them though, so I got some black washers under the heads.

Jason, Nice vise and a proper grinder in the background. You obviously have your priorities in the right order.

To the right of the grinder (just out of picture) is a Model 1600 Boice Crane Drill Press done up in the same red as the vise which is the same color that the grinder will get eventually. All bought because of threads on this site.

 

[EOC_Jason]

12-Point Bolts from McMaster... The website states that they are stronger than Grade-8 steel with a minimum tensile strength of 180,000 psi. I did not think that flange was very wide on them though, so I got some black washers under the heads.

LOL... That vise might rip apart, but the feet will hold strong!

 

[va.grouseman]

Originally posted by Gtyler.

On another note why is there not much talk about Yost on here. It's always Parker and Reed and Wilton, but Yost is another american vise maker that still makes their product in the USA out of good quality ductile cast and from what I can tell they make some darn good vises. Am i wrong?
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I like Yost.---If you're wrong I'm wrong.

 

[taumac]

Came across another 5" Shop King. This one was a really light user, the nicest one I've seen yet. Flat aluminum enamel up top and hammered verde green below.

.

I like the color combo. I might have to 2 tone my now.

5 Stitches Garage
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=211899
Florida GJ Group
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/group.php?groupid=117

 

[KMScott]

VA, that 208 Yost is awesome. Is it yours? Has anyone seen a Holland #18, 8" jaws. One was found in Albuquerque. I was promised pictures.

 

[Gtyler]

Originally posted by Gtyler.

On another note why is there not much talk about Yost on here. It's always Parker and Reed and Wilton, but Yost is another american vise maker that still makes their product in the USA out of good quality ductile cast and from what I can tell they make some darn good vises. Am i wrong?
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I like Yost.---If you're wrong I'm wrong.

Is that an optical illusion? If not that is the mother of all vises!!! How much does that beast weigh? By the looks of things I think you should add that to this thread http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=79320

 

[Fretters]

A camel back drill press is defiantly on the list.

Get ready to suffer a hunchback if you try moving it around. I've had to shift mine around to rearrange the shed, (it's laid horizontally until I get it freed and restored), and even though pretty much everything has been stripped from the column, that ****** has practically killed me.

I've also found out that I can actually lift a dual height bed on my todd too, which is something I'd thought I might not be upto before yesterday. Again, half killed me though.

 

[bl00]

VA, that 208 Yost is awesome. Is it yours? Has anyone seen a Holland #18, 8" jaws. One was found in Albuquerque. I was promised pictures.

Gregthor has one on a great stand.
link

Demoman has a 19, too.

They also made a 48 with a swivel jaw and swivel base. Ken has one according to Dayid's site. I don't know who Ken is though.

 

[KMScott]

Here is a Holland # 18 on a large stand Bl00, a GJ member sandman54 is trying to pick this big guy up this week and this is after picking up a Prentiss # 58 with a stand too. Some guys get all the luck. When he sends the pictures of the finished # 58 I'll post his work.

 

[72CZ]

Here is a Holland # 18 on a large stand Bl00, a GJ member sandman54 is trying to pick this big guy up this week and this is after picking up a Prentiss # 58 with a stand too. Some guys get all the luck. When he sends the pictures of the finished # 58 I'll post his work.

THAT is ONE Serious stand !!!

.

 

[Verg]

Fretters,

Note of caution heard! Naturally, one needs to procure all manner of drill press vises before any actual drill press acquisition takes place.

VA,
I just spent about 2 hours looking at yost vices after your post....

 

[bl00]

Here is a Holland # 18 on a large stand Bl00, a GJ member sandman54 is trying to pick this big guy up this week and this is after picking up a Prentiss # 58 with a stand too. Some guys get all the luck. When he sends the pictures of the finished # 58 I'll post his work.

I love those stands.

 

[72CZ]

Emmert Vise on eBay # 151423654736

.

 

[Outlawmws]

Here is a Holland # 18 on a large stand Bl00, a GJ member sandman54 is trying to pick this big guy up this week and this is after picking up a Prentiss # 58 with a stand too. Some guys get all the luck. When he sends the pictures of the finished # 58 I'll post his work.

I love those stands.

me too, I want something on that scale for the 386. there is a Caterpillar dealer not far from where I live; I keep telling myself to stop in and see if they have a worn out drive wheel laying about to start a stand with...

 

[KMScott]

me too, I want something on that scale for the 386. there is a Caterpillar dealer not far from where I live; I keep telling myself to stop in and see if they have a worn out drive wheel laying about to start a stand with...

Like this one. I use it for my 1 x 42" sander. I use it everyday. The sprocket is very heavy. That is a 4" post welded to it.

 

[oldldh]

joe.striper---

That story sounds TOO familiar...

I was two days late for a pristine 5197...because of the Shingles, and, it went for $ 50.00!!!

5196's and 5197's turn up fairly often...

Keep looking, and you'll find one...

Jason---

Thanks for the bolt info...

 

[Outlawmws]

Like this one. I use it for my 1 x 42" sander. I use it everyday. The sprocket is very heavy. That is a 4" post welded to it.

EXACTLY! Something with a little character! How did you get yours?

 

[va.grouseman]

KMScott ---Yea the 208 is mine.---Bought it off E-bay, if you can believe that.---The guy had just put it up for a buy it now, and I had just started looking at the days new listings.

Gtyler---It's no illusion.---Weighs 291 lbs., 8'' jaws.---What's odd, Yost still makes the 208 but reduced it to 180 lbs.---That's what made me pm the guy and tell him that there must be some mistake.---He assured me it was well over 200 lbs.---I said can you send pics.---He did and the negotiating began.---Talked him down and he relisted it for a lower price and emailed me immediately and I pulled the trigger.
There's several vises that easily outweigh the 208.---I have a Hollands 28 that outweighs it by 34 lbs.---Demoman has a dozen that outweighs it.---page 155
Oh I forgot to mention, it's a little S10 pickup.---That's what makes the vise look big.

b100---recon how much that 48 weighs.---I know the Reed 408 swivel jaw weighs 300 lbs..---I wonder if these major players monitored each other and upsized accordingly so's not to be outdone.

Boy I sure would like to have one of those railroad stands.---Demo has a couple of those also.

 

[Outlawmws]

KMScott ---Yea the 208 is mine.---Bought it off E-bay, if you can believe that.---The guy had just put it up for a buy it now, and I had just started looking at the days new listings.

Gtyler---It's no illusion.---Weighs 291 lbs., 8'' jaws.---What's odd, Yost still makes the 208 but reduced it to 180 lbs.---That's what made me pm the guy and tell him that there must be some mistake.---He assured me it was well over 200 lbs.---I said can you send pics.---He did and the negotiating began.---Talked him down and he relisted it for a lower price and emailed me immediately and I pulled the trigger.
There's several vises that easily outweigh the 208.---I have a Hollands 28 that outweighs it by 34 lbs.---Demoman has a dozen that outweighs it.---page 155
Oh I forgot to mention, it's a little S10 pickup.---That's what makes the vise look big.

b100---recon how much that that 48 weighs.---I know the Reed 408 swivel jaw weighs 300 lbs..---I wonder if these major players monitored each other and upsized accordingly so's not to be outdone.

Boy I sure would like to have one of those railroad stands.---Demo has a couple of those also.

Carla has proof at least one U.S. vise Co. monitored the competition closely. she has decades worth of their scrapbooks, full of clipped out ads, letters, and whatnot. A Vise historian's dream!

 

[bigcaddy]

I forgot to add this on here last night but here is a mini Ridgid 4" from the monthly flea market

Since it was missing the lockdown assembly, the guy was asking 5.00. Good thing I bought a lockdown at another booth earlier so all I need to do is make the bolt and it will be complete

 

[bigcaddy]

Here is the other side of the vise. This one, along with my other 5", is in great shape with little use to it

 

[KMScott]

EXACTLY! Something with a little character! How did you get yours?

I picked it up from a local farmer that I was doing a weld job for, he gave it to me. It is serious heavy.

Remember this picture of the Rail-yard plant in Albuquerque NM. Well I have a friend working down there and he has found and purchased one of those stands. It was for his Prentiss # 58 that he also purchased and the vise came from Cheyenne WY Rail-Yard repair/build shop. I hope I am correct on this but it could have came from Laramie since there is a big Rail Yard present there too. The stand has a 4" thick plate and is heavy. I helped Tom (sandman54) a GJ member build a couple parts for his vise. I am waiting for more pictures to share.

 

[joe.striper]

Emmert Vise on eBay # 151423654736

.

Hey thanks for the heads up! Wow that thing *****. I'm restoring one now, almost done, and here is what's wrong with that one:

1.) They welded it together It will no longer function as anything but a stationary vise
2.) Bench Swivel handle is snapped off...which is just as well because...
3.) Mounting base is broken
4.) Jaws beat to hell
5.) Dynamic Jaw beat to hell

Only thing good off of that vise is the side swivel lockdown. Maybe I should offer him 50 bucks for it, He doesn't need it anymore since they welded it!

KM Scott made me a main spindle handle that matches exactly the original. He is a vise GOD!

I also learned about the little screw which is snapped off of the top of mine and I now know what Emmert intended and I now know what I need to do to fix it. 72CZ YOU DA MAN.

 

[95riosnake]

I didn't fully realize the massive scale of that Prentiss until I noticed the mini can of WD-40 was in fact not a mini can... holy **** lol

 

[taumac]

Here's my 19

Nice.... That's is great shape. I like those jaws. I got mine with smooth ones.

5 Stitches Garage
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=211899
Florida GJ Group
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/group.php?groupid=117

 

[GETRIDAONE]

I struck out on vises at last weeks estate sales but I did find a stand similar to the one above. It would match up more with the mini can of WD40. Not pictured but it has a 1" solid bar bent at a 90 angle that goes in the top and adjustable up about 12". I would guess about 120 lbs. Now what to mount on top of it Oh I almost forgot $12.00 was what I paid

 

[JeremyBurke]

I wanted to show this interesting picture of my latest restore. This is the static jaw of a Holland 15. If you can see on the side there is an outline of a patch plate that is part of the tool used to form the sand prior to pouring in molten iron. It shows a rough edge cut and 4 flat head screws. I am including a large format picture for easier viewing.

 

[drivesitfar]

ALL: here's the bottom half of the Avitar i was using for almost a year. it's off of an old car or maybe a tractor and not sure because the grandson of the 95 year old prior owner couldn't remember. it's not light so would maybe work great for a vise or a grinder. it works great for my tin-knocker's artsy anvil so probably going to stay that way until it finds a new home after i leave this world.

i'm guessing a lot of axles attached to a wheel might work for a nice looking heavy duty stand.

KM: always love seeing that old Railroad picture and I think there was a Holland's 18 on each of those awesome stands. by the way kudos to you for making all those parts and repairs on other vises of the members along with trying to restore all of yours and working a full time job too. i'm not sure you get any time to sleep so remember to take a day off now and then for Kevin.

VA: Damn i don't care if that is a S-10 pickup that Yost is ridiculously huge and i like that older design better than the newer ones which have a lot more height. thanks for sharing one of you biguns again.

 

[zkling]

I didn't fully realize the massive scale of that Prentiss until I noticed the mini can of WD-40 was in fact not a mini can... holy **** lol

Are we sure that is not a mini can?

 

[drivesitfar]

Jeremy: nice looking Holland's and it looks sort of familiar. interesting you pointed out the screw heads in the part that forms the sand for casting. I've been trying to figure out why there are 2 screw holes on my Prentiss "Coachmaker's" vise's static swivel jaw for a while now and wonder if that might be the answer. it's hard to see screw heads in picture and wish i had that fancy circle line pointing program, but maybe you can see it.

nice job so far on the Holland's and that should look awesome on that bench you built out of old 4 inch beams.

 

[JeremyBurke]

Drives: thanks for including your pictures. I have done a little casting design work in my day job and I think while the screw head indents in our vises our similar but they may also have slightly different purposes. Mine seem to be either a patch for a bad section of the mold tool or perhaps to swap out a section with lettering (think out of date patents, etc.). I think your's, given their uniformity and location on both jaws, may have been so that the casters could swap jaw patterns and use the base of the jaws for multiple vises coachmachers, machinists, swivel jaw. It is just a guess but a little better than a WAG, call it a EWAG.

 

[drivesitfar]

ZK and 95: the Prentiss 58 is close to 300 pounds as B100 can confirm because he shipped his to a lucky buyer last year. Wrenchguy has had one sitting on his outside bench for a while and some day we'll see it after he finishes restoring it. i had his picture of the 58 next to a Rock Island 577 as a screensaver because the 577 weighs 150 pounds and as you can see it is dwarfed by the 58.

i'm betting the stand and that 58 weigh close to 600 pounds so that can of WD 40 should have a pretty sturdy base.

Jeremy: thanks for the thoughts.

 

[BigEarn86]

My first vise.

Thanks for all the great info. I love this website! I needed something made in the US that would last me. How do you think I did? $271. I wish it was stamped USA somewhere. I think I will be buying at least a 120lbs class down the road.

 

[drivesitfar]

sorry forgot to attach Wrenchguy's picture of his Prentiss 58 next to his little 150 pound Rock Island 577 so here it is.

Big Earn: welcome to the forum and nice Yost. here's a few pictures of some options for your next "big" vise.