The VISES of Garage Journal

[drivesitfar]

NRO: nice group shot and it looks like all your big vises are sitting there watching TV.

not sure I've ever felt guilty when driving away with a big vise, but maybe a bit sad that the son or grandson had no desire to keep their family's history and learn how to use it.

thanks for sharing

VA: OMG you made your 180 pound vise more stout? i'm just wondering how you keep two flames going at the same time or do you have a vise factory and little elves in the garage like Autopts, Balane and KMScott do?

nice work BTW

 

[wrenchguy]

Whats with the swivel bolt on this Parker? I assumed my 433 1/2 had the wrong bolt, it is like this one, a bolt with a hole in the top and roll pin in the hole (I pulled the roll pin out and tossed it because it was damaged). Anyone?[/QUOTE]


i believe it had a wrench keeper disc fastened to it. i guess it would resemble the top of the swivel bolt we are familiar with on other parker swivelers.

look here for more info when i got it.
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showpost.php?p=3109484&postcount=8396

 

[jrobb316]

VA: have you had you 8 inch Columbian apart and did it just unscrew or was it like Wrench's where you had to loosen the vise nut to get the dynamic out of the static? I've got a L. M. & V 6 inch vise that needs to have the vise nut loosened to remove the dynamic and i think some Record vices have that same design.

JRobb: here's my Morgan 50 that came off the USS Independence that was originally launched in 1956 and saved from the ship 50 years later just before they scrapped it. it ain't no little thing. if you end up going back to the Morgan vise company to pick up a swivel base for yours please take pictures if they allow it. i remember one of our members taking some pictures of the Yost factory and seeing all those new US vises lined up to go on the market was pretty cool.

Very cool. And of course it's battleship grey. I just have not had any luck finding a 5" so I went and purchased one and I'm surprised how stout it really is over a 4-4.5". Will do me very well. After 5" the price basically doubles to 6" and doubles again to a 8". I exchanged messages, I'll be heading back down probably in a month (due to their strange hours) to get a swivel base and I'll ask to take some pics.

 

[zkling]

It was actually a non-plated milled V-blocked made by Starrett that sold for very little. They just photographed it upside down and it sold for very little.

I believe the vise was shop made and finely milled and not plated. It looks like it was part of a nice group of machinist tools the seller had and most of it went cheap.

I would love a nice small vise like that.

Where you quoted me, I was talking about the vise pictured being shop made. Not sure what you were referencing. I wish they would have taken more detailed pics, I can't see if there is a key on the slide or how they prevent rotation of the dynamic jaw.

 

[balane]

Here is an interesting Wilton Cadet. It has 4" jaws. You'll notice easily that it has no Wilton branding on it and was sold by Wards as one of their own. I'm going to attempt to recreate it as it was when it sold new. I drew up a label image (Probably spent more time on that than I will refinishing the vise!) and it will be printed on silver foil adhesive backed label paper. The paint I'm using on it is hopefully going to be a close match to the original gray. I won't have the vise in my hands until tomorrow and I'm looking forward to seeing how this one turns out.

.

 

[wrenchguy]

How much does your Ridged weigh Wrench?

Answer info here. NOTE the size of that ridgid leadscrew nut!

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showpost.php?p=3352735&postcount=10236

and here, you posted what i came up with my scale too.

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showpost.php?p=3353298&postcount=10244

 

[zoomieport]

Does anyone have $3,200 I can borrow?

http://pages.ebay.com/link/?nav=item.view&alt=web&id=121610072951

 

[bagged89s10]

Does anyone have $3,200 I can borrow?

http://pages.ebay.com/link/?nav=item.view&alt=web&id=121610072951

That's it! HAhahhahahha


~Veeps

 

[WhoWhatNow]

Does anyone have $3,200 I can borrow?

http://pages.ebay.com/link/?nav=item.view&alt=web&id=121610072951

That's some good crack they have out in Chula Vista. Do you think the vise comes with a pound or two?

 

[oldldh]

Does anyone have $3,200 I can borrow???

Holy Sheep Dip!!!

Somebody, Stop Me!!!

 

[crankshaftdan II]

Ouch! Pinch me is this for real?????

 

[joe.striper]

i posted craftsman and wilton parts on the parts thread in case you need anything.

 

[bluebolt]

Here is an interesting Wilton Cadet. It has 4" jaws. You'll notice easily that it has no Wilton branding on it and was sold by Wards as one of their own. I'm going to attempt to recreate it as it was when it sold new. I drew up a label image (Probably spent more time on that than I will refinishing the vise!) and it will be printed on silver foil adhesive backed label paper. The paint I'm using on it is hopefully going to be a close match to the original gray. I won't have the vise in my hands until tomorrow and I'm looking forward to seeing how this one turns out.

.

Hey Balane does that have a date stamp on the keyway? And if so GUAR EXP stamp as well?

 

[balane]

I'll post that info up when I get the vise.

 

[topop101]

I'm in need one of these for a customer that has bought a half dozen of vise's from me in the past. He can't be without it or I'd rebuild the one he has. Any one have one or know where one can be located?

 

[FMC1959]

I'm in need one of these for a customer that has bought a half dozen of vise's from me in the past. He can't be without it or I'd rebuild the one he has. Any one have one or know where one can be located?

Wilton brand? If any brand will do, CL and local classifieds are usually full of these. If you need it to be a Wilton, that will be more of a problem.

 

[zkling]

Zoro and Northern Tool sell those IIRC>

 

[FMC1959]

Wilton brand? If any brand will do, CL and local classifieds are usually full of these. If you need it to be a Wilton, that will be more of a problem.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Wilton-6999...hash=item19fdab5e32&item=111630048818&vxp=mtr

 

[topop101]

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Wilton-6999...hash=item19fdab5e32&item=111630048818&vxp=mtr

I found that , thanks. Looks like the best deal. I'm not sure why they customer wants to go through me to buy new but hey if I can add a lil and make a few cents to keep'em coming back seems ok to me.

 

[topop101]

Wilton brand? If any brand will do, CL and local classifieds are usually full of these. If you need it to be a Wilton, that will be more of a problem.

Yeah they want wilton.

 

[bagged89s10]

I'm in need one of these for a customer that has bought a half dozen of vise's from me in the past. He can't be without it or I'd rebuild the one he has. Any one have one or know where one can be located?

I had one I bought at lowes like 10-15 years ago. I just sold mine. They sell them on Amazon and eBay.


~Veeps

 

[jakemac]

I'm in need one of these for a customer that has bought a half dozen of vise's from me in the past. He can't be without it or I'd rebuild the one he has. Any one have one or know where one can be located?

I know that he wants a Wilton, but he can save a lot of money for a temp vise by picking up the HF version for $70. It can be a place holder until you can fix his Wilton and get it back into service. After that, he can sell it and get some of his money back, without having to shell out top dollar for what will end up being a spare vise clogging up the shop.

It's only temporary, right ?

http://www.harborfreight.com/5-in-multi-purpose-vise-61163.html

 

[bagged89s10]

My Oswego No. 88 is disassembled and wire wheeled clean. The vise is in excellent shape other than one of the pipe jaws being broken. The double pipe jaw side is broken. Should I just cut some out of steel and weld up a set? I think these are very rare and hard to find. I also need to get or make new jaw pins for static jaw as they were just held in with a screw and a nail. I measured with a drill bit and they are 13/64". The pins in the static jaw are solid and didn't budge so I'm not going to bother taking them out. The pin size for the pipe jaws is between 5/16 and 21/64. I might have to just turn some pins on the lathe to fit. Have to decide on color. I actually just bought hammered black for it.







Here is the broken pipe jaw


Also where do I find these button head pins?



~Veeps

 

[topop101]

I know that he wants a Wilton, but he can save a lot of money for a temp vise by picking up the HF version for $70. It can be a place holder until you can fix his Wilton and get it back into service. After that, he can sell it and get some of his money back, without having to shell out top dollar for what will end up being a spare vise clogging up the shop.

It's only temporary, right ?

http://www.harborfreight.com/5-in-multi-purpose-vise-61163.html

I got it worked out. bought the one off ebay for 145 added 20 to it plus the old one in trade. They are also wanting the 5195 craftsman I picked this weekend with in a week. 165 for both so a nice flip. Thanks for the help

 

[bigcaddy]

This picture is for you, joe.striper. I bet it makes your back sore just looking at it. That Vanderman you picked up a few weeks ago is pretty rare. I've only seen a few up for sale in the past 5-6 years and only one of those was a no1.

For those that does see what it is, it's a pile of Vanderman No.1 vises and a Ridge 4.5" combo vise I have in the back of the tool crib

 

[XCMTB83]

Guys, I jumped in with both feet thanks to this thread...

Today I picked up my first vise, or three. I was only after the 4 inchers but he threw the 3 incher in for free after I committed to the 4 inchers. It is too bad the 3 incher is broken in multiple locations. I wasn't sure if the parts are worth anything or if nothing else I will do some machining on it, make jaws and do my best to repair it for light duty use. I don't think I will do much to the Sawyer in terms of paint. I think I will disassemble, lube and use. The Wilton I will probably make pretty again. I need to decide on grey, olive or hammer paint. I was told the Chicago era ones were either grey or olive so to be period correct I doubt I do a hammer unless I hear otherwise. I am wondering if it should have two swivel lock handles or was it common for them to only have one? I looked for a date stamp on the key but nothing to be found.

After tax I walked out 160 bucks poorer but this should be a fun process!


20150331_180147 by xcmtb83, on Flickr

20150331_175330 by xcmtb83, on Flickr

20150331_175319 by xcmtb83, on Flickr

20150331_175310 by xcmtb83, on Flickr

20150331_175306 by xcmtb83, on Flickr

20150331_175301 by xcmtb83, on Flickr

20150331_175251 by xcmtb83, on Flickr

20150331_175245 by xcmtb83, on Flickr

20150331_175241 by xcmtb83, on Flickr

 

[drivesitfar]

XCM: first things first. congrats on your first (second and third) old US vise purchase. the Wilton bullets of those years sometimes came with 2 nuts on the swivel bolts and it looks like maybe one was upgraded and the pin went MIA. several of our members make their own swivel pins and since you are a machinist i'm guessing you might. or if you don't want to reinvent the wheel PM KMScott or order a pair off his website. Balane has mentioned the closest green color for those older Wilton bullets and i think he just posted one yesterday or earlier today. good luck and plenty of help you need any on the vise repair 101 thread or here if you need some just ask.

the American Scale is (was) a nice vise and you can either try to fix or ask for parts or put up your parts in the vise parts thread for others to fix their vise. your swivel base looks ok, main screw and vise nut probably ok and it looks like the jaws got hammered so they are scrap unless you have the time and talent to fix them.

now your Oswego vise looks pretty good except that might be a huge braze/weld on the dynamic jaw under the jaws. is it or am i just seeing some crud?

nice finds and welcome to the vices for a vise bunch

 

[joe.striper]

This picture is for you, joe.striper. I bet it makes your back sore just looking at it. That Vanderman you picked up a few weeks ago is pretty rare. I've only seen a few up for sale in the past 5-6 years and only one of those was a no1.

For those that does see what it is, it's a pile of Vanderman No.1 vises and a Ridge 4.5" combo vise I have in the back of the tool crib

Thanks for the pic . These are fairly common up here believe it or not. They were made in Willimantic CT which is 45 minutes away. Everyone up here was chasing the table under the vise.... as far as my back goes, its bad. Picked up my Greenerd arbor press about 6 times today (150 lbs) and then that damned Zoomieport bought my reed 404 1/2 and packaged up it went 105 lbs. Had to carry it to the fedex office...ouch!

 

[joe.striper]

So as many of you know recently, using Jakemac as my proxy, I bought a Reed 403 1/2. I was perplexed though because the slide was bolted in the back.

Well Jake cleaned it a bit and found (as you can see in the attached pic) the 3 words 'ORD DEPT USA' which means this vise was Govt issued and worked around ordinance. THAT'S why the pin is chained and the rear of the dynamic slide is bolted so it couldn't accidently come off, hit the ground and spark.

How cool is that ????

 

[drivesitfar]

Joe: do you or can Jake take a close up where the chain for the pin is attached to the vise? was it factory or do you think the Army/Navy/Marines/Coast Guard or Air Force modified the vise and installed it for their special use. very cool. sort of like VA's copper vise (I think it was copper) that was made to work around areas where sparks would be dangerous.

I do like those double swivelers a lot

 

[Fretters]

For those that does see what it is, it's a pile of Vanderman No.1 vises and a Ridge 4.5" combo vise I have in the back of the tool crib

Don't know if it's just me, but it always makes me cringe when I see vices piled on top of vices, (or any other heavy machinery/tooling). Give them their own spots man.

 

[bigcaddy]

So as many of you know recently, using Jakemac as my proxy, I bought a Reed 403 1/2. I was perplexed though because the slide was bolted in the back.

Well Jake cleaned it a bit and found (as you can see in the attached pic) the 3 words 'ORD DEPT USA' which means this vise was Govt issued and worked around ordinance. THAT'S why the pin is chained and the rear of the dynamic slide is bolted so it couldn't accidently come off, hit the ground and spark.

How cool is that ????

That's the second vise I've seen with something stamped onto the slide that implies govt use.

I have a Reed 2C with Defence Substitute marked on the rear nut. I still haven't figured out the marking but wonder if it has to do with all of the aerospace business around me

 

[Fretters]

That's the second vise I've seen with something stamped onto the slide that implies govt use.

I have a Reed 2C with Defence Substitute marked on the rear nut. I still haven't figured out the marking but wonder if it has to do with all of the aerospace business around me

Wouldn't that be spelt defense over your side of the pond?

 

[topop101]

So as many of you know recently, using Jakemac as my proxy, I bought a Reed 403 1/2. I was perplexed though because the slide was bolted in the back.

Well Jake cleaned it a bit and found (as you can see in the attached pic) the 3 words 'ORD DEPT USA' which means this vise was Govt issued and worked around ordinance. THAT'S why the pin is chained and the rear of the dynamic slide is bolted so it couldn't accidently come off, hit the ground and spark.

How cool is that ????

gota love the history of a vise when it's stamped in and the reason for the mods are known.

 

[bigcaddy]

Don't know if it's just me, but it always makes me cringe when I see vices piled on top of vices, (or any other heavy machinery/tooling). Give them their own spots man.

Sorry about that but there isn't much room in the tool crib and those have been there for longer then I've been around. Once I have more room, I'll display them properly

 

[bigcaddy]

Wouldn't that be spelt defense over your side of the pond?

Yes, I'm typing this half asleep and it didn't auto correct.

 

[Fretters]

Yes, I'm typing this half asleep and it didn't auto correct.

Was just checking, as it would likely have suggested non US use/issue if it was spelt the other way.

 

[joe.striper]

Joe: do you or can Jake take a close up where the chain for the pin is attached to the vise? was it factory or do you think the Army/Navy/Marines/Coast Guard or Air Force modified the vise and installed it for their special use. very cool. sort of like VA's copper vise (I think it was copper) that was made to work around areas where sparks would be dangerous.

I do like those double swivelers a lot

i dont know if it was ordered that way or an onsite modification. there was a military base not far from the seller... JAKE can you take a pic for drivesitfar please?

 

[Fretters]

That vice looks in fairly tidy nick Joe.

Sorry about that but there isn't much room in the tool crib and those have been there for longer then I've been around. Once I have more room, I'll display them properly

I'll let you off then.

 

[jakemac]

Joe: do you or can Jake take a close up where the chain for the pin is attached to the vise? was it factory or do you think the Army/Navy/Marines/Coast Guard or Air Force modified the vise and installed it for their special use. very cool. .........

i dont know if it was ordered that way or an onsite modification. there was a military base not far from the seller... JAKE can you take a pic for drivesitfar please?

I already did. I knew someone would ask.

Given that the chain is simply held into the side with a tapped screw, I'd be willing to bet that this was done onsite at the bases machine shop to comply with it's intended use on the Naval base nearby (about 20mi from the seller). The crimped rings on the pin and screw were done really well, as was the stop post fitted into the slide.

The vise is in really good condition. It's an honor to have it sit on my bench until Joe and I can meet up for the handoff.

EDIT -
I just remembered that in addition to the Naval Base in Portsmouth/Kittery, there is/was an Air Force Base just outside of Portsmouth as well. So this vise could have come from the flyboys instead of the wetfeet.