The VISES of Garage Journal

[CwazyWabbit]

Now if we were to loosen it to include clamps/cramps I'd be there and back in my sleep!

 

[CwazyWabbit]

I don't know about you but when I sell one it's like a part of me goes with it. That's why I try to sell local.... maybe I can go visit...

Whilst this one isn't going local it is going to another forum member Although I'm kind of on tenterhooks till its arrived at his in one piece :/ This one hasn't been restored, just cleaned all the muck off and a minor repair, I've not sold a restored one yet ..... that'll be like selling a child. ....

 

[KMScott]

I use AC, I did repairs to the last Record 36 I cleaned up (this is a cast steel vice) and it worked well. You can get some rubbish come out of the casting that you may have to stop and grind out but you can get that with welding it as well.

I think it was one of Jody's youtube videos that I first saw it used on cast iron.
http://www.weldingtipsandtricks.com/welding-cast-iron.html

EDIT: Just to add this page of his gives a bit more detail on why he uses AC http://www.weldingtipsandtricks.com/tig-welding-cast-iron-409.html

Thanks for the links CwazyWabbit, good informative read. I have never tried the copper based rods on Cast Steel and will experiment on a few scraped vises.

I keep both on hand, both are Harris rods designed for TIG, which have a different composition than their gas rods. I always run the Si rod on DC and usually run the Al rod on AC. There are a few different alloy compositions of the Aluminum bronze rod, off the top of my head #2 is the one to use for buildup and joining. There is a company out of Michigan or Wisconsion that specializes in copper based fillers for the MIG and TIG world that had a good rundown sheet on them. :

I always used AC for the copper based rods even adding the Si/Bronze to steel. I have not used any Al Bronze rod and thanks for the Harris tip, they have what I want but 10 lbs is to much for a minimum order. I liked to add Al/Bronze to steel wear plates like the Parker collars I am making, maybe later. Thanks guys for the info.

 

[Bill Ramsey]

Re: Anyone in Tulsa / OKC?

A friend sent me this link and said, "Hey, it says Wilton vise..."I clicked through the photos and didn't see anything but it does say, "160 pound Wilton vice, $350"...I emailed the guy asking for more photos. He sent me this.

Looks like a 600 in good shape. It isn't a great price, but it is a rare-ish Wilton if someone in the area wants to try to make a deal on it. It's too far for me...

Would this vise originally been equipped with a swivel base? Or were some sold with and some without a swivel base? How does either configuration affect value? (Please, someone talk me into not making an offer on this vise. )

 

[zkling]

Thanks for the links CwazyWabbit, good informative read. I have never tried the copper based rods on Cast Steel and will experiment on a few scraped vises.



I always used AC for the copper based rods even adding the Si/Bronze to steel. I have not used any Al Bronze rod and thanks for the Harris tip, they have what I want but 10 lbs is to much for a minimum order. I liked to add Al/Bronze to steel wear plates like the Parker collars I am making, maybe later. Thanks guys for the info.

Yea, thankfully my weld shop will sell per pound. If you have a Airgas locally I'm pretty sure they also sell it by the pound under their Radnor brand.

Would this vise originally been equipped with a swivel base? Or were some sold with and some without a swivel base? How does either configuration affect value? (Please, someone talk me into not making an offer on this vise. )

Swivel base was optional. 600N was the model without swivel base 600S is with swivel base. Wilton used a clever design allowing the same main casting to be used with or without a swivel base.

 

[Bill Ramsey]

Swivel base was optional. 600N was the model without swivel base 600S is with swivel base. Wilton used a clever design allowing the same main casting to be used with or without a swivel base.

Thanks for the response, zkling. So I'm assuming that if they used the same housing, "600" is all I'm going to find cast into the housing, with no way to know if it originally was a swivel model?

 

[BJ42LX]

Re: Anyone in Tulsa / OKC?

Would this vise originally been equipped with a swivel base? Or were some sold with and some without a swivel base? How does either configuration affect value? (Please, someone talk me into not making an offer on this vise. )

Bill, you could easily add a base to this vise by buying replacement parts for the 600S ($$$) or finding some spares from someone here or on eBay.

Since you're from Tulsa and not several hundred miles away you're obligated to check it out and make an offer. Personally I'd only go $200 without the swivel base. But if I saw it in person and it's smooth and tight I might pry some more cash out of my wallet.

 

[Trey T]

Bill,

A swivel base for a large vise like that can be very rare to get it used. A new swivel base will cost you about $100. Those 600 vise design is an older design, a more desirable design, IMO, bc of the way the jaws are mounted.

If you get the 600 vise, you have to find the base from alternative vise such as 1780, C2, or C3.

 

[CwazyWabbit]

.......

...

Never seen a bar worn like that, was it rattling around mounted to a truck?

 

[drivesitfar]

Bill: on those big Wilton vises their swivel bases weren't engineered or built stout enough and a lot of them broke. Wilton also sold vises without the swivel and if i owned that vise i wouldn't spend the time looking for a used replacement swivel or the $200+ for a new swivel and i'd make a nice stand for it. that way you wouldn't have that huge vise taking up bench space and you'd have 360 degree access. with all that black paint check closely for cracks or welds and if there isn't any that is a good vise to own. of course the question is do you really need one so your call.

B100: do you have a catalog page for the Vanderman vises that might be different than FMC's because i thought i saw that the #3 was heavier?

Wed: so welcome to the vise thread and sounds like you've been following along for a while now. any chance you want to throw up a family photo of your crew restored if you have any or unrestored and farm fresh like the ones i usually post?

CW and TP: I totally agree it's like family when you sell a nice vise and i usually ask for first right of refusal to buy them back or at least visitation rights so not real happy about shipping them off. i guess i could start shipping them to Hawaii and the Caribbean so i can have a better reason to go there in person.

cheers

 

[drivesitfar]

TM: so just want to give you a warning like we tell the guys visiting the Craftsman block thread. BEEEEEE CAREFUL because these guys get bigger and they all want to follow you home. have you found that lot yet to build your 40 x 120 garage/shop yet in case Mrs. T doesn't agree with your love for great old tools?

cheers and nice solid Holland's vise. that handle is a bit different and looks a little like some of my dumbbell handles.

 

[littleponderosa]

Reed vise in the daylight. I cannot see any model number.

Plan is to get the pressure washer out, give it a serious bath and start my learning on how to prepare for painting and lube.
Local machine shop has a 4' chunk of 6" sch 40 that should work for the stand after I weld up some spokes on it and pour a concrete base. Or can I simply use an old bigass rim? This is damn heavy.
Any other options you fellas have for this, please give me a lesson.
Thanks
Bill

 

[zkling]

Does it have to be mobile? If not I'd weld it to a ~3/8" thick piece of plate and lag that to the floor. Otherwise you are going to need quite a bit of weight down low to or off set to make sure that is stable. What model is that again?

 

[torqueman2002]

Never seen a bar worn like that, was it rattling around mounted to a truck?

But that could be an explanation.

 

[torqueman2002]

TM: so just want to give you a warning like we tell the guys visiting the Craftsman block thread. BEEEEEE CAREFUL because these guys get bigger and they all want to follow you home. have you found that lot yet to build your 40 x 120 garage/shop yet in case Mrs. T doesn't agree with your love for great old tools?

cheers and nice solid Holland's vise. that handle is a bit different and looks a little like some of my dumbbell handles.

Funny, people keep saying things like that, or have her call before they hold my estate sale!

 

[FMC1959]

Reed vise in the daylight. I cannot see any model number.

Plan is to get the pressure washer out, give it a serious bath and start my learning on how to prepare for painting and lube.
Local machine shop has a 4' chunk of 6" sch 40 that should work for the stand after I weld up some spokes on it and pour a concrete base. Or can I simply use an old bigass rim? This is damn heavy.
Any other options you fellas have for this, please give me a lesson.
Thanks
Bill

If I recall, the ad said it was 6" jaws? Your pictures are at an odd angle, but is it an older combination vise (pre"C" Series)? If yes to the previous 2 questions, it could be a Reed 34. Your 2nd pic, shows the opposite side of the side that has the Reed writing, and it looks like it could be a 2 digit number, maybe 34?

 

[bl00]

B100: do you have a catalog page for the Vanderman vises that might be different than FMC's because i thought i saw that the #3 was heavier?

Here's another from 1902 and the weights are pretty similar.

 

[bigcaddy]

Thanks for the response, zkling. So I'm assuming that if they used the same housing, "600" is all I'm going to find cast into the housing, with no way to know if it originally was a swivel model?

I've got a few Wilton's with original stickers and that was how they identified swivel/non-swivel models. Stickers were cheaper then casting molds.


The cheapest I've seen a complete base from wilton was about 375.00. It was more then the 600 I was buying so I declined in making it a swivel

You could originally buy them w/o a base and they didn't make any special markings to say otherwise. Some companies did but Wilton's have the same base flange, no matter the style.

It allowed you to spend less, have more options and upgrade in the future if you wanted to swivel instead of being stuck with a "non-swiveling *******"

 

[drivesitfar]

B100: thanks for the catalog page. i did make a mistake in my original post mentioning the weights as 100, 200 and 300 because i remember i should have said #1 100 (at least because I've had to move mine a few times), #2 150 and #3 200 pounds. i'll try to do some more searching and see where i saw that because i remember doing some research before buying mine.

that is also interesting that the Vanderman #3 in your ad was $30 in 1902 and replacement brass pipe jaws were $2.50 more. I think new my Rock Island 577that weighs all of 150 pounds was $9.95 in 1935 so Vanderman vises much have been the Ferrari of vises in their day.

 

[oldldh]

Bill Ramsey--

There ain't a damn thing wrong with a Wilton 600...

A big "Non-Swivelin' B@#tard" is just about as good as it gets, for rigidity and holding power...

The X00 series from Wilton are big dudes...

The photo is the difference between a Wilton 500N machinist vise and the 1755 "Tradesman" series...

The "Tradesman" series are fairly good sized, but the X00 series are much bigger for the same jaw width...

Check it closely for cracks and "problems"...

A "New" Wilton 600N is over $ 1,250.00, so it's an expensive piece of equipment...

 

[dutchgray]

Come to think of it the only one I'd consider splitting due to weight isn't a quick release I bet you'd travel for a really big vice at the right price

One of the problems with lifting the 48 is finding a decent place to get hold of it, it's quite curvy and if you grab it low down it gets a bit unstable when lifting it.

The Samsonia was a 2 1/2 hour round trip and that was only 30 miles away, the roads are terrible in Dorset, I wouldn't want to go much further than that unless it was mostly on the 303.

 

[Trey T]

Guys,

A base for a C3, 1780, or 600 is only $100. For the whole base kit, yes $200 but that 600 already have half the kit

 

[Bill Ramsey]

zkling, BJ42LX, Trey, drives, bigcaddy, oldldh - thank you all for the replies and the 600 education. As usual, I can learn more in an hour on GJ than I can in a week by any other method.

I'm on the fence whether to go look at it. I just bought a 120 lb 5" Morgan earlier this week, I'm probably too far apart from this gentleman on price, and it's 70+ miles round-trip just to take a look. All pretty weak reasons by GJ standards I realize, so I know I may get my GJ membership revoked. But I'll definitely keep an eye on it (if he's firm at that price, I don't think it will sell easily in this market).

 

[Bill Ramsey]

...The photo is the difference between a Wilton 500N machinist vise and the 1755 "Tradesman" series...

That's a fabulous bench and vise mounting system. The quality on that looks top-shelf.

 

[balane]

Here's a 1965 Wilton 9400 bullet with 4" jaws. 52 Lbs. I gave Hammerite brand paint a try for the first time, instead of the usual Rustoleum Verde Green hammered. I like the color and the texture better on the Hammerite however it was a little trickier to apply and I'm not sure it's worth double the cost which is what I had to pay for it. Still, it made for a nice finish imho. There's an indoor shot to show it in different lighting. This 50 year old Wilton is really smooth in and out, obviously a well taken care of vise even if the handle is a little more beat up than I like to see.

.

 

[oldldh]

That's a fabulous bench and vise mounting system. The quality on that looks top-shelf.

It's not mine...

I don't remember where I "saved" that photo from...

That 1755 is mounted on a "Trailer" hitch receiver...

Clever that...

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Balane---I envy you your stump...

That's a nice Wilton, I like the paint job...

Ya Dun Gud, Bubba!!!

 

[wed4life]

outlawmws,
I think they all count. Three figures is impressive!
David

 

[wed4life]

Torque,
Nice beefy vise for $45. You did well!
David

 

[wed4life]

littleponderosa,
That is a nice adjustable mount you found. Very handy.
David

 

[oldldh]

Just when you think you've seen it all...

Look what comes along...

Available on Ebay as "Antique Combination Vise/Anvil 1895"...

BIN of $ 225.95...

We've had vises that swivel, vises that don't swivel, vises that go one way, vises that go both ways, and vises that go all the way...

But...

Now...

We've got one that goes SIDEWAYS!!!

 

[Trey T]

Balane: Very nice. How many bullet vise have you restored? You should be called the "Bullet Vise Master".

 

[balane]

Thank you.

That title most definitely belongs to Autopts. I've done quite a few but a pile of my refinished Wiltons would be nothing more than a speck sitting in the shadow of his mountain. I picture his garage as being waist deep in bullets and you have to wade through them all to get anywhere. To answer your question though, I have photos of 92 Wiltons that I've personally redone and I'm sure I missed saving several of them on my hard drive. (Not all of these Wiltons are the classic bullet though.)

 

[zkling]

Balane, how many years have you been restoring vises?

 

[balane]

Balane, how many years have you been restoring vises?

I did my first vise, a 4" Columbian, late in the summer of 2011 so this summer will mark four years. Here's before and after shots of that first vise and then an identical Columbian I did just a month or so ago. I hope they got a little better over time.

Edit: Adding a photo of the first Wilton I had. Like a lot of people I just had to have a Wilton bullet and picked up this 1957 Chicago 4.5" off of eBay and refinished it. It had a big chip below the rear jaw insert. I eventually sold this one and have had Parker vises for personal use since.

.

 

[FMC1959]

Balane, how many years have you been restoring vises?

I am curious about this also. I think you do fantastic work, but most of all is your proficiency. You find and restore, then sell them at a very fast pace. You 100% eBay rating would confirm that you are not just putting lipstick on these vises, but do expert quality work.

 

[zkling]

92+ wiltons, how many vises total would you estimate in the 4 years? How do you find SO many vises in such a short amount of time?

 

[bagged89s10]

Traffic is insane driving home from work so I took the backroads and stopped at a habitat restore.

Look at the nice little craftsman vise mounted on a workbench with a craftsman planer. The manager is off so the staff wouldn't let me buy just the vise. They only want $100 for it all but i don't need it, and not looking to try to flip it. I have to wait until Tuesday to see if they will sell just the vise, if it doesn't sell tomorrow. Also a nice craftsman bandsaw for $80 but I don't need it. I'm guessing it's from the 1950s?






~Veeps

 

[balane]

Thanks guys. Nice of you to say. I added a photo of my first Wilton to the previous post. That averages out to about one Wilton every two weeks which seems close. Keep in mind that several of the Wiltons weren't bullets but most were I think. I find them anywhere I can; Craig's List, eBay, Estate & Garage sales, auctions, etc.

 

[wed4life]

Friday Vise pictures from the collection

OK, here are some pictures.
David

 

[zkling]

Minnesota golden pile.