The VISES of Garage Journal
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Outlawmws
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PERFECT!balane
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I post that in fear of being called a Jammy Git or something like that. 
trijeff
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oldldh
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Holy cow Fretters...Oh yeah, you forgot something.
.
As to model number...
It's an "Elizabeth the Twoth"...
drivesitfar
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Fretters: nice looking KIT there old man. hard to tell it's the same vise. nice work.
Tedsters: Outlaws link to all the awesome Craftsman catalogs he posted in that thread don't say a word about who made the 519x series vises so the mystery still needs to be solved. I bet you are happy to own 2 of the series so far aren't you?
ALL: so in my craigslist searching i find more Vices like this lately than some good old US or English or Canadian steel.
Tedsters: Outlaws link to all the awesome Craftsman catalogs he posted in that thread don't say a word about who made the 519x series vises so the mystery still needs to be solved. I bet you are happy to own 2 of the series so far aren't you?
ALL: so in my craigslist searching i find more Vices like this lately than some good old US or English or Canadian steel.
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Hi all!
So here my 1st vice is..got off e-bay and decided to restore. As a note I have mainly worked customer service, but in the last year decided I need to do something more real as that is wholly unsatisfying as a guy. So been going to black-smithing classes and picking up tools as I learn more.( Also decided going to try to make all my own truck repairs from now on). So im a newb at this.. /cough /cough
looks to be a 3/83 date for those wondering..so older then me..by a month in terms of exp date of that warranty.
A) So I am lacking a Horseshoe washer
(does that worn area look okay on the handle?..from reading the past i read this can be an area of concern)
B) I am also lacking swivel clamps..as the one it came with looks rough.
C) The handle looks like it was hammered on?
D) The anvil..whats the best way to flatten this welding out..can i just take a angle grinder to it..cause it's soft metal right?
Thanks for listening!
So here my 1st vice is..got off e-bay and decided to restore. As a note I have mainly worked customer service, but in the last year decided I need to do something more real as that is wholly unsatisfying as a guy. So been going to black-smithing classes and picking up tools as I learn more.( Also decided going to try to make all my own truck repairs from now on). So im a newb at this.. /cough /cough
looks to be a 3/83 date for those wondering..so older then me..by a month in terms of exp date of that warranty.
A) So I am lacking a Horseshoe washer
(does that worn area look okay on the handle?..from reading the past i read this can be an area of concern)
B) I am also lacking swivel clamps..as the one it came with looks rough.
C) The handle looks like it was hammered on?
D) The anvil..whats the best way to flatten this welding out..can i just take a angle grinder to it..cause it's soft metal right?
Thanks for listening!
drives it says a certain year with a pic and says they were made by columbian me an (autopts) were both looking it over go thru it slower you will see it, if i knew how to copy it half way thru the link i would
balane
Well-known member
Ah, OK. I know about those vises. The Columbian I posted is a combination vise with pipe jaws and I thought you had a Cman copy of that one which would have been a sight.
Still, those are awesome Columbo/Cman vises you have there. Thanks for the pics.
Still, those are awesome Columbo/Cman vises you have there. Thanks for the pics.
Sorry i didn't even see it had pipe jaws, yea i haven't seen a crown with pipe jaws either, i am looking for a 4in in these also
CwazyWabbit
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The position locking is neat, with the base being sandwiched between the concave recess in the base of the vice and the large domed washer underneath the amount of grip is much better than any modern ball vice.Cheers CW. You're a star.
Nuts
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Fetters, your shop might be cluttered, but damn man it's carpeted!!!
Nuts
Nuts
Nuts
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There's a pair of your Grand C clamps listed on FleaBay.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Set-of-2-Ra...044?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3aa78494a4
Nuts
CwazyWabbit
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There an interesting sort of clamp Nuts, they bare a very vague similarity to the Carver rack clamps we have in the UK, in that the tightening doesn't impart a twisting action on the clamp.
EDIT: example of the larger size carver http://www.buckandhickman.com/find/keyword-is-clamp/product-is-016016
EDIT: example of the larger size carver http://www.buckandhickman.com/find/keyword-is-clamp/product-is-016016
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Fretters
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I post that in fear of being called a Jammy Git or something like that.
Much as I'd like to give you one of those bemused glares, or call you a plonker, I honestly have to say I quite like that Regina silhouette. I'm half tempted. CwazyWabbit
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Your No. 7 has scrubbed up lovely Mr F
Fretters
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What can I say. I like it homely. Carpet is no fun when you're cleaning, (or attempting to), swarf up though. CwazyWabbit
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Cheers CW. You're a star.
If I ever see another one it will have your name on it.
Fretters
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I can fair imagine that being rock solid when it's clamped. I've tried/used a similar cam clamping on a lathe tailstock, and that clamped like there was no tomorrow with minimal lever movement, so the setup on that vice must be even better, as it's pulling it in rather than just working on flats.
It's nice to finally know how they did the clamping. I'd always assumed it must be something more reliable and less detrimental to the ball surface than a pure tip contact bolt, but I wouldn't have guessed that method.
Your No. 7 has scrubbed up lovely Mr F
It's going to be using it and getting that first scratch which will be the hard bit now.
Fretters
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You're a gent. Been kicking myself for years over the only other one I can recall seeing which I decided to give a miss with it being collection only from the far side of Lancashire. Had one of those moments thinking that surely one would crop up a bit more local someday. Someday had never arrived yet though, (just seeing one anywhere seems to be nowt short of a miracle, as you've probably noted too), so I still occasionally chide myself for not getting that one.econotrk
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Awesome vise/vice Fretters. That thing looks rock solid.
Mark in Indiana
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Fretters,
They are SOLID IRON. Although mine has 3.5" jaws, it weighs over 60 pounds. I think that the body is more stout because of the possible weak area from the pivot jaw. Here's a before and some after pictures:
Joe,
Sorry for the mis-spell. I paid waaaaay more than 30$ for mine, and I'm not sorry. As far as the welded base goes, I wonder if the previous owner found the swivel base lock down to be loose, then welded it. If I remember, I had to do some grinding on the lock so it would mesh with the base ring, then add a shim under the nut.
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vintage nut
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Having used a swivel base vise that was loose, I can see the temptation to weld it. The thing to remember is that when it was welded it was just a vise, not a really nice old vise. If I had a common, new vise doing that I might be tempted to weld it if it was really being a pain.
you can never have too many tools
you can never have too many tools
vintage nut
Well-known member
Like this chinese hunk of junk at my work. Complete with 1/8" of flaking off bondo over everything...
There was one day I would have been really close to welding it if there was a welder in the shop there...
Binds when you try to swivel it, moves when you want it solid...
you can never have too many tools
There was one day I would have been really close to welding it if there was a welder in the shop there...
Binds when you try to swivel it, moves when you want it solid...
you can never have too many tools
Worth a look For Collectors near by.
http://jerseyshore.craigslist.org/tls/4972352124.html
To many pictures for me to grab sorry
Cypher
http://jerseyshore.craigslist.org/tls/4972352124.html
To many pictures for me to grab sorry
Cypher
Craptain
Well-known member
Let me encourage you. [emoji1] [emoji106]
I think it looks pretty darn cool and wouldn't be that difficult to do. (He says from a few thousand miles away)
I mean that vise has given so much service it deserves a bit more love and respect than just a simple (!) paint job.
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Craptain
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BTW I have carpet in part of my shop too. And fatigue mats in front of my main benches.
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vintage nut
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Craptain
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Oh my lawd. There is history there. Several that really caught my attention but no way I could ever realistically own them. I just love the replaceable jaws on pic 23.
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vintage nut
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Not technically vises, but they are old iron (actually forged steel) squashy things, so I figured you guys might like to see them. My dad picked them up for me yesterday. He's keeping one 8", the other two, and the two 6s are mine. I'm a real sucker for old C clamps with the butterfly/ram's horn thumbscrews
The one smart-Brockville one is pretty cool. Old long gone canadian forge, made really good axes, didn't actually know they made clamps! I have a hatchet by them, probably 90+ years old. (I'm also an axe collector)
you can never have too many tools
The one smart-Brockville one is pretty cool. Old long gone canadian forge, made really good axes, didn't actually know they made clamps! I have a hatchet by them, probably 90+ years old. (I'm also an axe collector)
you can never have too many tools
vintage nut
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trijeff
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trijeff
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drivesitfar
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Tedsters: do you recall which year the Craftsman tool catalog says in writing that the 519x's are made by Columbian? i know they made the crowntop and the less expensive ones, but curious to see if it says in the catalogs they made the 519x's. I know Outlaw made a nice thread with several of the tool catalogs and I have most of the Craftsman tool catalogs saved to my laptop. Woody is trying to start another thread in the vintage section with all the Craftsman tool catalogs and a few members here bought the Cd's from Ebay that have all the catalogs.
ALL: speaking of Craftsman vises i picked up this 5163 last night that was made by Rock Island vise company probably in the 1930's or late 1920's. i'm guessing it weighs close to 60-70 pounds which is pretty good for a 4.5 inch jaw vise. speaking of Craftsman vises with pipe jaws i wish i could have bought this one last year, but seller didn't want to ship it. sorry for the sideways pictures of the only Craftsman vise I've seen with a Heritage badge and this style vise probably made by Rock Island, but the seller had this vise mounted to a vertical stud which might not be a bad way to mount a vise in a small garage or shop.
ALL: speaking of Craftsman vises i picked up this 5163 last night that was made by Rock Island vise company probably in the 1930's or late 1920's. i'm guessing it weighs close to 60-70 pounds which is pretty good for a 4.5 inch jaw vise. speaking of Craftsman vises with pipe jaws i wish i could have bought this one last year, but seller didn't want to ship it. sorry for the sideways pictures of the only Craftsman vise I've seen with a Heritage badge and this style vise probably made by Rock Island, but the seller had this vise mounted to a vertical stud which might not be a bad way to mount a vise in a small garage or shop.
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It's only taken me around twenty years to get around to sorting this one.
Great job, in the traditional Fretters color. I really like that unit for a few reasons. First off it looks absolutely beefy, but the external jaw mounting screws, flat base fixed base mount unlike many fixed bases that have a 90° for extra support; and the quick release make it a very practical vise.
Holy cow Fretters... simply gorgeous! That is a stunning vise.
Oh yeah, you forgot something.
My 2¢
A) Doesn't look too worn, but take a thickness measurement. You can make a custom thickness collar to take up the slop.
B) You can use nuts and a wrench, make basic clamps with a cross bar, or purchase a custom made set.
C) Yes it does unfortunately. Depending on how much it bothers you, it can be sanded down or a new custom handle can be made.
D) The BEST way is to do it on a mill to ensure the surface is smooth, flat and crisp on the edges. For taking off just the high spots from welding spatter, a 60grit flap wheel on a 4.5" grinder and a careful hand will get the surface smooth.
That is a really poor and highly questionable ebay ad.
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dutchgray
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View media item 50013Got this old Record 111 in the post today, 5 1/4" jaw. Its very well used, QR spring is broken so I will need to find one of those, need new jaw inserts and bolts really, QR rod is twisted and has be modified so it will work on the screw without using the QR. Spindle is very oval from handle wear.