The VISES of Garage Journal

[Fretters]

i don't think it was done when there were collectors. i consider it patina.

Just makes you wonder, when you see things like that, as to why they classed it as necessary to weld it on. If the holes were drilled to size and lined up properly in that plate, it'd have been just as stable as welded. There was probably some valid, (or theoretically so), reason for doing it, but it just makes you wonder what that reason was. On the plus side, at least the weld looks decent and not rough as sin.

 

[bigcaddy]

It definitely made me chuckle, hearing you say something like that.




Would a dedicated pipe/tube vice not be an option? I assume you have those across there?

Yes we do but not one at my work. I have a huge one at my shop but I would rather use them as boat anchors then an actual vise. Then again, I might be a vise snob

I'm sure it would work but it's only half the problem. Not only did we need to clamp the pipe down, we also had to assemble 6" threaded and chrome plated/polished brass fittings without damaging them AT ALL!

I've solved the former but the latter eludes me at the moment.

 

[wrenchguy]

Ok, started my Parker 26 X. I polished the dynamic jaw face, now do I paint it or do I try to polish the entire thing like this, leaving the small areas rough and give it an oil finish or clear the body? I'm leaning towards painting it sage green satin.

U haven't had any replies so i'll stir the pot. I'm not sure if would do that to a classic traditional looking vise. I got about 50 hours into a custom job i did to this modern ridgid. I decided it would never be traditional looking to me so out came the fairing file. The top faces were hard enough and more time consuming than i thought, the sides were gonna be more difficult. good luck with ur project.

 

[Fretters]

Then again, I might be a vise snob

The thought never crossed my mind, honest.

we also had to assemble 6" threaded and chrome plated/polished brass fittings without damaging them AT ALL!

Not an easy one. Are they all threaded fittings, and is it just a case of snug tight or super tight? For weird scenarios like that, or where there's crappy grip on smooth surfaces, I tend to find tourniquets made from webbing, with possibly strips of rubber lining for extra grip, tend to be very effective.

 

[autopts]

U haven't had any replies so i'll stir the pot. I'm not sure if would do that to a classic traditional looking vise. I got about 50 hours into a custom job i did to this modern ridgid. I decided it would never be traditional looking to me so out came the fairing file. The top faces were hard enough and more time consuming than i thought, the sides were gonna be more difficult. good luck with ur project.

Simply awesome man!

 

[bigcaddy]

The thought never crossed my mind, honest.




Not an easy one. Are they all threaded fittings, and is it just a case of snug tight or super tight? For weird scenarios like that, or where there's crappy grip on smooth surfaces, I tend to find tourniquets made from webbing, with possibly strips of rubber lining for extra grip, tend to be very effective.

I've learned most of the tricks from my grandpa/dad/employees that have been doing this type of work since our company started in the 60s. Large screwed pipe has gone the way of the Dodo but threaded test headers or replacements in pump rooms are still needed. We have the capability to thread 12" on site and it's not easy making that water tight at 120psi w/o making a mark.

I ended up using a 1 1/4" x 10' cheater bar stuck in an inlet hole with 275lbs of Bigcaddy hanging on one end

 

[Thrumcap]

UK GJers

Here's an unusual Fortis engineers vice on Gumtree - with a split swiveling dynamic jaw?

http://www.gumtree.com/p/clamps-vices/price-drop-heavy-duty-bench-vice-with-quick-release-and-adjustable-jaw-/1106371497



Thrumcap

 

[bluebolt]

I might have something, are these Wards models very rare? By the looks they were built by Wilton, at least their jaws seem to fit.

Kevin, do you have this vise? Is there a date on the keyway?

 

[CwazyWabbit]

UK GJers

Here's an unusual Fortis engineers vice on Gumtree - with a split swiveling dynamic jaw?

http://www.gumtree.com/p/clamps-vic...-quick-release-and-adjustable-jaw-/1106371497



Thrumcap

We seem to see quite a few nice vices at decent prices for sale as collect only in Scotland. Unfortunately couriers have an aversion to most places that far north and it's too far for me to collect a vice.

That said I already have one of those Fortis vices with the rotating dynamic jaw inserts, it's a very robust vice for a speciality vice.

 

[CwazyWabbit]

Any of us UK'ers near Spalding? This looks interesting, collect only. I'd buy it if it was closer.

http://www.gumtree.com/p/clamps-vices/very-heavy-metalwork-vice/1106413897

 

[CwazyWabbit]

Took a couple of quick photo's of the Fortis. I'll take some better ones later.

Quite a cute thing. Smaller than I expected it to be, in overall size. 4-1/2" jaws, approx. 17" in length. Judging from the look of the inserts, it appears it may not have had a lot of use. Not sure of general condition as yet, as there's a good lathering of rust and gunge masking the slide surface. The cast quality is rough as a badgers ****. Overall though, I do like it. It has a discernible cutesy factor.

That's their newer design of unbreakable vice isn't it? The older design looking more like the Record 112 style. I like Fortis .... nowhere near as rough as a Swindens

Looks like original paint to ....

Seems sound enough, bar the crappy paint job, from looking at those photo's. I'd ask them to take a photo of the other side too though, just to make sure there's no slide damage or suchlike.

I know it shouldn't, but that paint job is really putting me off :-/ It is close enough to collect though and I'm sure the paint won't be well stuck.

 

[dutchgray]

CW
I know I'm too far from Spalding to get it, had to go there to pick something up for work a month ago and that was a 460 mile round trip.

 

[CwazyWabbit]

Dutch: Yep you're even further than me I'd do the journey if there was more than one vice, however that one is a name I haven't heard of (Carter's I think) and seller reckons it's about 75lb so not actually that heavy for something with a 10" opening.

Has your No.5 arrived yet? Looking forward to some photos once you have it in your hands.

 

[dutchgray]

Not yet but its on its way, I'm expecting it will be here Tuesday. Missed a local No7 as well, but already got one so not too bothered about that.

 

[Fretters]

That's their newer design of unbreakable vice isn't it? The older design looking more like the Record 112 style. I like Fortis .... nowhere near as rough as a Swindens

No idea on the age, new/old style, thing. Can never find enough info on these vices to be of much use in working out styles, sizes etc. Have noted that it doesn't have an anvil portion like the other Fortis's I've seen photo's of. Do like this one though. Fortis's never seem to have rocked my boat, (hence why I've never bothered getting one upto just), but I do like the look of this one, for some reason.

Definitely not quite as agricultural as the Swindens.

Looks like original paint to ....

I'm thinking so. Looks like Mid Brunswick would be a good replacement colour for that. I have a tin of Moss Green knocking about too, which someone gave me. Might possibly try that one on there.

I know it shouldn't, but that paint job is really putting me off :-/ It is close enough to collect though and I'm sure the paint won't be well stuck.

I thought it was a dodgy camera photo the first time I saw it, with that blue hue. That should come off readily. Looks like they've just dusted it with a single top coat from a spray can. Likely never cleaned before spraying either, so I'm thinking it would literally fall off in the vat.

 

[dutchgray]

Fretters: What's your opinion on this one? http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/271822562669

I'd found this one too, worth the risk I think if it does stay cheap and you can collect it.

 

[drivesitfar]

Fretters: you can't change from your Burgundy colour that you are almost famous for a couple reasons. one it looks damn nice and two when we see one that isn't yours we'll know that you fettled (right word?) with it. is the one in the middle of the vice picture with 3 vices missing it's handle or is it just on another table getting a bath?

All (or English group at least): so many vises you seem to post from England have that same look of the older and newer style Record vices. so was Parkinson the first to make them or why do they all look the same? was there a family that divided up and used Dad's patent to all make vises with different names on them. i like the look and just trying to figure out the story.

 

[topop101]

U haven't had any replies so i'll stir the pot. I'm not sure if would do that to a classic traditional looking vise. I got about 50 hours into a custom job i did to this modern ridgid. I decided it would never be traditional looking to me so out came the fairing file. The top faces were hard enough and more time consuming than i thought, the sides were gonna be more difficult. good luck with ur project.

Incredible work. Love the vision

 

[drivesitfar]

Wrench: i agree with TP. i remember when you picked that vise up and posted a picture of the start to the shining up process. amazing work and here's the picture i saved. any big tool purchases lately to tell us about even if not a vise?

ALL: I've paid more for vises than i did for this truck i bought yesterday, but now i can haul almost any size vise and maybe a few of them. it runs decent and i drove it 5 miles home, but i need a good truck mechanic in case any of you are or know one in my area just to give it a general look over so i don't hurt myself or anybody else on the road.

 

[bagged89s10]

U haven't had any replies so i'll stir the pot. I'm not sure if would do that to a classic traditional looking vise. I got about 50 hours into a custom job i did to this modern ridgid. I decided it would never be traditional looking to me so out came the fairing file. The top faces were hard enough and more time consuming than i thought, the sides were gonna be more difficult. good luck with ur project.

I do like the traditional rough finishes on older vise, but that came out nice. What tools did you use and what steps to get that smooth finish?


~Veeps

 

[Fretters]

Fretters: you can't change from your Burgundy colour that you are almost famous for a couple reasons. one it looks damn nice and two when we see one that isn't yours we'll know that you fettled (right word?) with it. is the one in the middle of the vice picture with 3 vices missing it's handle or is it just on another table getting a bath?

Looks like being Burgundy then. That middle one is in the process of being done. That's my main vice, the No.7. Cleaning up that 8A made me feel guilty enough to finally give that one a good fettling.

All (or English group at least): so many vises you seem to post from England have that same look of the older and newer style Record vices. so was Parkinson the first to make them or why do they all look the same? was there a family that divided up and used Dad's patent to all make vises with different names on them. i like the look and just trying to figure out the story.

Parkinson appears to have been pretty much the originator of the modern vice style and finer features. Most major industry was in the Midlands & North, so there'll have been quite a bit of idea and workforce nicking too, with the fairly close proximity of a lot of these companies to each other.

My personal guess is that it was Record who was most prone to 'borrowing' other companies ideas. When you look at the eclectic range and ideas they had, it's indicative of ideas coming from multiple external sources rather than all internal, IMHO.

 

[Fretters]

ALL: I've paid more for vises than i did for this truck i bought yesterday, but now i can haul almost any size vise and maybe a few of them.

By eck DIF, that must be some large vice you're planning on acquiring.

 

[CwazyWabbit]

.....
All (or English group at least): so many vises you seem to post from England have that same look of the older and newer style Record vices. so was Parkinson the first to make them or why do they all look the same? was there a family that divided up and used Dad's patent to all make vises with different names on them. i like the look and just trying to figure out the story.

As I understand it Parkinsons came first and the government got C J Hampton to start producing a copy of the vices so they would have dual supply during the war ....

 

[CwazyWabbit]

I'd found this one too, worth the risk I think if it does stay cheap and you can collect it.

I'll think about it over night .... Don't see many 8a's

 

[bl00]

ALL: I've paid more for vises than i did for this truck i bought yesterday, but now i can haul almost any size vise and maybe a few of them. it runs decent and i drove it 5 miles home, but i need a good truck mechanic in case any of you are or know one in my area just to give it a general look over so i don't hurt myself or anybody else on the road.

Oh, you've done it now. Before you were limited in what you could bring home, but now darn near anything is possible. I predict your garage will be on a special episode of Old Iron Hoarders in a year or two. Start a new thread with your truck, so I can see more pics. That things is sweeeeeet!

 

[wrenchguy]

Simply awesome man!

thank u.

 

[bagged89s10]

So I bought a Parker 22x swivel vise this week. Now I'm about to pick up what seems to be a Parker 974 with swivel on Monday. Damn Garage Journal, why do these vise pile up so fast?

Is it vise or vice?
Is plural vise or vises, or vice or vices?


~Veeps

 

[EOC_Jason]

It's an 81P, the 1 probably just wore down. I'm attaching a few pictures I have of another (I forgot which member posted them originally, it's been a long time), it's a Ridgid brand (they bought DS and branded them as their own for a while).

My guess is that it's welded to that plate because they either cut or broke the angle-piece off. Check the attached pictures.

Still, a very nice find!!!

Here is a Desmond Stephan Simplex 8P

Haven't been able to find any info on it but I think it qualifies as a monster vise.

It has about 3-4 coats of paint of different colors on it. Thinking about taking it off and giving it the BLO treatment. Not sure.

 

[wrenchguy]

Incredible work. Love the vision

thank u. please look at my sig if u haven't already.

 

[drivesitfar]

B100: i might do that with the new vise transport and just curious which section i'd post it in. any idea or preference? i'll take lots of pictures and funny almost not so funny story. it was driving just fine for it's 5 mile trip to my storage and after about a mile i can't get it into 2nd or 3rd and 1st only goes 5mph. not only am i in one of the toughest parts of town it's Friday night and the sun is setting. i pull in the parking lot after about 5 minutes to go half a block, just as i'm ready to turn it off finally get the clutch gear correct and in 2nd and headed home without another issue. last time i drove a high low geared truck with air brakes was maybe 40 years ago. thanks for the compliments and hopefully you will be correct about the truck. on a side note i think i picked up an average of 1500 pounds of steel every day in March and getting ready to build some cool grinder/vise stands and welding tables to sell after i get the ones built i want to keep. My wife got a glimpse and almost had a heart attack and she's hoping i don't have one.

Fretters: Burgundy is your colour or i guess a little BLO or regular linseed oil would do.

Fretters and CW: nice thoughts about the vise companies. i bet a couple World Wars that were actually in your country played a lot to do with the steel manufacturing businesses. Didn't Paramo become a company because England wanted Record not to be the only vise company during WWII?

 

[bl00]

Free Parking. Looking forward to the pics.

 

[wrenchguy]

I do like the traditional rough finishes on older vise, but that came out nice. What tools did you use and what steps to get that smooth finish?


~Veeps

thanks, i start with flat files to bring the surface down, on plane and smooth. then i start working it with a da and several different grits too 600. then i buff it with big hand milwakee machine using white rouge.

 

[wrenchguy]

It's an 81P, the 1 probably just wore down. I'm attaching a few pictures I have of another (I forgot which member posted them originally, it's been a long time), it's a Ridgid brand (they bought DS and branded them as their own for a while).

My guess is that it's welded to that plate because they either cut or broke the angle-piece off. Check the attached pictures.

Still, a very nice find!!!

thanks jason and welcome back. good catch, i think they just didn't want to put it on a bench.

 

[root_console]

It's an 81P, the 1 probably just wore down. I'm attaching a few pictures I have of another (I forgot which member posted them originally, it's been a long time), it's a Ridgid brand (they bought DS and branded them as their own for a while).

My guess is that it's welded to that plate because they either cut or broke the angle-piece off. Check the attached pictures.

Still, a very nice find!!!

I was wondering if the 1 was worn off. It is welded on to the first plate. That plate is bolted down to the stand. Vise came from a company who works on coatings & castings to military and commercial aviation. Big operation with lots of heavy equipment. They had smaller Wilton bullet vises on some of the benches. Im sure they didn't want to bench mount this one and nobody was considering collectors when they welded the bottom.

 

[bagged89s10]

Anyone in search of a Parker No. 2 vise. I have a local lead but I don't have the need for a stationary 4" vise. Seller only wants $60




~Veeps

 

[macgee]

ALL: I've paid more for vises than i did for this truck i bought yesterday, but now i can haul almost any size vise and maybe a few of them. it runs decent and i drove it 5 miles home, but i need a good truck mechanic in case any of you are or know one in my area just to give it a general look over so i don't hurt myself or anybody else on the road.

You can't possibly be serious of thinking about driving that truck without having a vise mounted to it.

 

[Smokeshow69]

I do like the traditional rough finishes on older vise, but that came out nice. What tools did you use and what steps to get that smooth finish?


~Veeps

Really well done! I like how you sanded the edges down to make is smooth. I also appreciate the size! I really like rigid tools and will be keeping an eye out for one here!

 

[Nele]

This is columbian d43 1/2 on my computer desk, picked it up for less than $10, removed rust, tig welded crack on the base, decreased it, regressed and separated down with dry lube, replaced some of the hardware, works like charm. I'm keepin the patina.

 

[vintage nut]

Anyone in search of a Parker No. 2 vise. I have a local lead but I don't have the need for a stationary 4" vise. Seller only wants $60




~Veeps

I'd love it, but shipping could be double what the vise is..... Factor in exchange rate and I'd be looking at at least 200, probably more lol

What really ***** is I know where there is a massive old American vise, at least 6", probably bigger. Unfortunately it's not for sale at any price. Really ***** because it hasn't been used in years. Just bolted to a bench rusting outside.... Even if it was for sale you'd probably need a torch to get it off the bench

you can never have too many tools

 

[bagged89s10]

I'd love it, but shipping could be double what the vise is..... Factor in exchange rate and I'd be looking at at least 200, probably more lol

What really ***** is I know where there is a massive old American vise, at least 6", probably bigger. Unfortunately it's not for sale at any price. Really ***** because it hasn't been used in years. Just bolted to a bench rusting outside.... Even if it was for sale you'd probably need a torch to get it off the bench

you can never have too many tools

So While I was at the gym, I decided to go buy it. It was on my way home so why not. Saved $10 and now I have $50 less to spend on beer..






~Veeps