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The VISES of Garage Journal

Fretters

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where have I (we) heard that "i'm not going to buy another vise" before?

:D


ALL: i haven't bought a vise in a couple weeks and sold a couple so i think at this rate i'll be viseless in Seattle soon. i really think i'm starting to get the shakes.

I think there's more chance of Hell freezing over than there is of you becoming viceless. :D


Each vice cost less than the cost of the diesel for the trip!

One of lifes little ironies, isn't it. Vices tend to be vastly under appreciated and priced over here, so theoretically plenty of choice. The travelling cost is almost always a killer though. Like having a carrot dangled it is. :D


Any advice on buying a new one?

Size, type you're after?
 
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454ragtop

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Carver, MA
While we are on the topic of smaller vises, here is one that came out of a "misc" box of stuff at an online auction. It is (obviously) the smallest vise I own. I like how the jaws are shaped like "real" vise jaws.

IMG_0531 (Small).JPG IMG_0532 (Small).JPG

IMG_0535 (Small).JPG IMG_0536 (Small).JPG

Now I need to decide if I should include it in the reply to the "How many vises do you own, anyway?" question. I dunno. I think I need a ruling from the Official Vise Count Committee. :dunno:

Cool little hand vise, similar to my Colton patent hand vise I posted here probably about 500 pages ago. I'm not a member of the OVCC, but I think it should be counted, it is a vise.
Jim
 

CwazyWabbit

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....
I'd say that's a Marples, judging from the few examples I've seen.
.....

Any markings to look out for if it is a Marples? unless of course it has it written across it ;)

....
If they are a more robust version, they must be absolute beasts. :D If you manage to drop on one before me, be sure to post plenty of photo's. :)

There's a 38A about 60 miles from me but I'm resisting at the moment as I've got enough 6" vices ...... maybe once the bootsale season starts up again I'll have more luck
 

Fretters

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There's a good chance it may be written on there. Can't remember what the Marples logo was, but a quick search should find that out. Seem to have some vague recollection of a three leaf clover with regards to those too, for some reason which I honestly can't place, so that may be a logo on them.
 

joe.striper

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agawam, ma
ALL: i haven't bought a vise in a couple weeks and sold a couple so i think at this rate i'll be viseless in Seattle soon. i really think i'm starting to get the shakes. not to mention the end of the Super Bowl wasn't quite the ending i was hoping for.

I'm painting my next vise Patriot Blue!! :beer:

I'll buy you a beer..oh never mind, I'll drink a beer for you and toast the Hawks. We've lost games like that too in Pats land.....
 

balane

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Sorry to derail but I love rooting for the Hawks and I'll say this; Even though the outcome of the game obviously wasn't desirable to me, I enjoyed watching this game more than last year's against Denver. This was a much, much better football game and matchup. I even understand why he passed. :)
 

Fretters

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Just uploading these photo's, (taken from a current Ebay listing), for future reference with regards to what is taken to be the origin vice of the current rotating head import vices. With how infrequently they appear, seems a shame not to archive some decent photo's of the original American vices design when they appear.
 

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dutchgray

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There's a 38A about 60 miles from me but I'm resisting at the moment as I've got enough 6" vices ...... maybe once the bootsale season starts up again I'll have more luck

A 6" is one size I still do not own, down here bootsales seem devoid of vices or many decent industrial tools, although I don't get to too many. I have been lucky on ebay recently for small vices, 3 Paramo, No0 with swivel base, No1, No4 and a small Woden, all cheap. Photos at weekend when I'm home during daylight hours.
 

drivesitfar

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225: for one of the best all purpose vises any shop needs a Wilton C2 has 5 inch wide jaws, pipe jaws and over 100 pounds to keep it on your bench. it's a spendy vise, but you didn't say your budget did you? there are a ton of vise choices and may i invite you to read the vise thread and find your favorite because there really isn't only one vise that will land on top for everybody.

now a 4 inch 50 pound 60+ year old vise will work for anybody's shop or garage except on owned by a GJ member or especially one on this vise thread.

PM me if you might want a few choices because I've helped several members find a good vise for their bench or check your local Craigslist or Ebay and see if you can find one without any cracks, breaks or welds and buy it. if you notice there are not many guys that visit this thread that only own one vise and there might be a reason for that.

Balane: i agree it was a fun game to watch and especially two plays before the interception when our player caught a 40 yard pass laying on his back. :thumbup:

Joe: no offense, but your QB is retiring and ours almost won his first two super bowls and is only 24. we'll see who's laughing next year and the year after and so on. i know you guys made a deal with devil because look at your weather and ours is 60 degrees and sunny this weekend. should we bring up pass interference??
 

Nele

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Got this Wilton last week, debating on refinishing it, or just cleaning up
 

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Fretters

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Here are a few of a similar sawyer all shined up. To be clear this is not my vise just one listed near me on Craigslist.

Amazing how things work out, isn't it. I've probably only seen photo's of a handful of these that I can recall, and then two appear for sale within a week of each other. :D

What's the chap over your side asking for his? The seller over here is asking £200. I think optimistic on price would be putting it mildly.
 

JeremyBurke

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Near Portland, OR
...

What's the chap over your side asking for his? The seller over here is asking £200. I think optimistic on price would be putting it mildly.

The Seller near me is asking $200 (or £131 per Google). It has been listed for at least 1-2 months now so he may take less. It is also missing one of the pipe jaws I believe.
 

Outlawmws

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Aug 9, 2011
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The Badlands
While we are on the topic of smaller vises, here is one that came out of a "misc" box of stuff at an online auction. It is (obviously) the smallest vise I own. I like how the jaws are shaped like "real" vise jaws.

IMG_0531 (Small).JPG IMG_0532 (Small).JPG

IMG_0535 (Small).JPG IMG_0536 (Small).JPG

Now I need to decide if I should include it in the reply to the "How many vises do you own, anyway?" question. I dunno. I think I need a ruling from the Official Vise Count Committee. :dunno:

Jreb. That IS a "real vise! its just a jewelers/watchmakers hand vise. (possibly missing the handle...) VERY cool!
 
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zkling

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Jan 23, 2007
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The Seller near me is asking $200 (or £131 per Google). It has been listed for at least 1-2 months now so he may take less. It is also missing one of the pipe jaws I believe.

Also looks like a large chunk of the dynamic jaw is missing. At least he did what appears to be a proper job of painting it.
 

joe.striper

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agawam, ma
Joe: no offense, but your QB is retiring and ours almost won his first two super bowls and is only 24. we'll see who's laughing next year and the year after and so on. i know you guys made a deal with devil because look at your weather and ours is 60 degrees and sunny this weekend. should we bring up pass interference??

Divesit, this is a Vise site so I'll keep it simple: If Manning retires you will lose Wilson to Denver. He should have already been locked up but your owner is cheap. Brady has 4, count 'em, 4 super bowl rings thank you very much. And lastly there was no pass interference on the interception because both players were making a play on the ball.:lol_hitti Seattle never should have given up 14 points so easily in the 2nd half to an old guy like Brady.

And yes we did make a deal with the devil but not for the football team, rather for all the vises. I'm constantly tripping over, every day, in every town I visit, beautiful old vises that are dirt cheap. I wont even look at small 3-4" stuff that I've seen before because what am I going to do with it? I only look for BIG and/or unique vises now, unless someone give it to me. And don't tell me about your pallet thing again because I burned that damned pallet after your Patriots comment a couple of posts ago!!!!:thumbup::lol::evil:
 

joe.striper

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Just uploading these photo's, (taken from a current Ebay listing), for future reference with regards to what is taken to be the origin vice of the current rotating head import vices. With how infrequently they appear, seems a shame not to archive some decent photo's of the original American vices design when they appear.

Fretters, thanks for posting. I am looking hard for one of these around here. I bought a chinese version of this last year and felt so bad about it I gave it to a guy who bought one of my $$ vises.

Grat Pics
 

va.grouseman

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Fretters,---Check out Zoomies collection of rotating vises.---One is a 6 inch Sawyer Oswego.---Page 445,---Post 8900




225,---Drives is right about the C2 as an all around, any situation vise.---But you are looking at retail prices.---Use a little diligence and patience and you can get a good used one for 3 or 4 hundred dollars, maybe less if you catch the right situation, at the right time.---Timing is everything.---Drivesit is a frugal man and I'm sure he wasn't suggesting paying retail prices.---That's just my take.
 
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joe.striper

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Here is an interesting vise. I've never seen one before? Any ideas? I'm trying to get more pics. Look pretty beefy! It looks like the chain causes the bottom to close at the same rate as the top. If you clamp something in this it AIN'T getting out!!:wtf:

Seller is offering it at $265.00 which MAY be a good price
 

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zkling

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Looks like a fisher twin screw chain vise. The idea is to keep the jaws parallel at all times verses having a pivot point of the traditional post vise which causes the dynamic jaw to travel in an arc. They also open quite a bit further than a common post vise. Basically a standard bench vise meets a post vise. For what it is, if not broken that is actually not bad.
 

joe.striper

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OK, I promise this is the last one. First, can you please come up with an appropriate subtitle for this antique vise? Do I have an issue or is this just wrong?

Second, here is a listing near me. Anyone interested in this? I don't collect these.
 

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zoomieport

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Fretters,---Check out Zoomies collection of rotating vises.---One is a 6 inch Sawyer Oswego.---Page 445,---Post 8900

It isn't a 6"... It's only a 3-1/2".

Here is an interesting vise. I've never seen one before? Any ideas? I'm trying to get more pics. Look pretty beefy! It looks like the chain causes the bottom to close at the same rate as the top. If you clamp something in this it AIN'T getting out!!:wtf:

Seller is offering it at $265.00 which MAY be a good price

That is the "HE HAS NO IDEA WHAT HE HAS PRICE"!
GO BUY IT NOW!!!
 

va.grouseman

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Joe,---It's a Fisher Norris Eagle, chain drive, double screw, blacksmith vise.---And that is an excellent price, and if you don't jump on it, send it my way.
 
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va.grouseman

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Originally posted by Zoomie.

Quote:
Originally Posted by va.grouseman View Post
Fretters,---Check out Zoomies collection of rotating vises.---One is a 6 inch Sawyer Oswego.---Page 445,---Post 8900

It isn't a 6"... It's only a 3-1/2".
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------



Sorry Zoomie,---My mistake.---I don't know where I got the idea it was a 6 inch then.--- Way back in the pages I thought it was.---Anyway, that is one impressive collection of rotators.---Most I've seen.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Edit---Zoom I just realize I'm looking at different angles of the Craftsman and the Sawyer.---Saw one of those Craftsman octagon slide rotators go for $455.00 plus shipping last year on E-bay.---But the real collection is on the next page. Page 446, post 8905, and 8909.---Do you still have most of what I can see there?---Unbelievable.
 
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zoomieport

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Originally posted by Zoomie.

Quote:
Originally Posted by va.grouseman View Post
Fretters,---Check out Zoomies collection of rotating vises.---One is a 6 inch Sawyer Oswego.---Page 445,---Post 8900

It isn't a 6"... It's only a 3-1/2".
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------



Sorry Zoomie,---My mistake.---I don't know where I got the idea it was a 6 inch then.--- Way back in the pages I thought it was.---Anyway, that is one impressive collection of rotators.---Most I've seen.

Thank you and no problem!
I've actually got 9 "rotating jaw" vises...
I'll try to get a pic up soon, I'm out of town for work.

Take care!
ZOOM
 

balane

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I wanted to toss up a few finished photos of the baby Prentiss with better lighting.

.
 

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joe.striper

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Joe,---It's a Fisher Norris Eagle, chain drive, double screw, blacksmith vise.---And that is an excellent price, and if you don't jump on it, send it my way.

VA, it is out of my budget, unless once i see it live I REALLY, REALLY, NEED IT!:willy_nil

Having said that, i will pick it up for you if you are serious. I'd just like to see it in person.:thumbup:
 
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