The VISES of Garage Journal

[zkling]

Well a true Rock Island #95 is a fixed base, 5" fixed jaw vise ~70lbs. So he is wrong on something. It might be a #75 which is the swivel base version 5" fixed jaw, ~100lbs.

 

[drivesitfar]

Vintage: great job on the baby bullet end cap you made for Charger's wilton. sorry to hear and see that Charger's Wilton was not the same size as you made it for, but maybe he can pass it on to another member that needs it or send it back to you so you'll have it for the Baby Bullet you'll find some day.

I posted a couple huge Drill Press or machine vises a couple months ago that both need some serious work, but if you think you might want them to join your other vises let me know.

 

[vintage nut]

Vintage: great job on the baby bullet end cap you made for Charger's wilton. sorry to hear and see that Charger's Wilton was not the same size as you made it for, but maybe he can pass it on to another member that needs it or send it back to you so you'll have it for the Baby Bullet you'll find some day.

I posted a couple huge Drill Press or machine vises a couple months ago that both need some serious work, but if you think you might want them to join your other vises let me know.

I might have already found a nice 6" one, but I might be interested depending on what you have

you can never have too many tools

 

[drivesitfar]

RvrDog: $125 for a 5 inch Rock Island vise is a good deal if it doesn't have any broken parts, welds or cracks. good luck

Vintage: here's the 2 huge maybe 100 pound DP or machine vises i think could use your magic touch.

Zoomie: any chance you can PM me with Dayid's email address so i can ask him if Bagged can copy his existing vise lists? that way we can manage and maintain them on the Vise Repair 101 thread or maybe start a new thread?

or did you already ask him for permission which we probably don't need, but his blessing for him doing all that great work over the past few years would be nice to have. he has had a great list which a lot of our members helped him make over the years, but it looks like he hasn't worked on it for maybe a year now to post updates. also his vise company list is only maybe 10% of all the vise companies.

 

[drivesitfar]

SC: any old 5 inch or wider jaw old US vise is easily worth over a Benjamin if it doesn't have any welds, cracks or missing or broken parts. that said you are adding half a day's drive and maybe $50 in gas so i'd get a few more pictures.

if it's a 956 i'd be on the road now and you know i don't really need another vise. if it's a 955 it would be a coin toss unless i really needed it or had a client or friend that was asking for that Parker.

good luck and post pictures if you have any because some of these guys can tell which vise it is even without the #'s.

 

[zkling]

There's been a Parker 956 I have the opportunity to buy. $125 and the guy claims it's a 5". Dayid's site shows it as a 6" 132 pounder.

I am pretty sure it is actually a 955 and he misread it. It's a couple hours away but do you think it is worth it as a 5" still? I know it depends on my area but just looking for a general estimate.

How many screws are in the front collar? IIRC the 6" units had 2 where as the 5" units only had one retainer screw. If in good condition and not destroyed that's not bad. The Parker jaws aren't my favorite though. I've got a 955, it's a stout vise. The couple hours drive kinda blows so I'd make sure you know what you are going to see upon arrival, size and condition wise.

 

[drivesitfar]

SC: ZK made a good point if you can get a few pictures of the front of the vise. to show you what he meant here is my old Parker 956 with the two screws in the Parker mounting plate to keep the main screw in the dynamic jaw.

BTW the 956 does weigh about 130 pounds in the non swivel version so your research was right on.

 

[muddyriverdogz]

See what you guys are doing to me.

The handle for the swivel isn't original and is to small.I was also wondering if this didnt have some type of jaws that hooked on.I can't hardly find any information on this vise.

You can see where he got the "95" from.Somebody else called about the vise 5 minutes after i handed him the cash.

 

[drivesitfar]

SC: it looks like a 955 so if you have other business in the area it might be worth it. or will he meet you half way which would make it a decent deal? those extensions on his table saw might work for yours if you can use some.

Muddy: so are you disappointed because if you were closer i'd probably hand you the money you paid for it and i don't need it. i do however like Rock Island vises. the top of the jaws are the scalloped design that is one of their trademark looks in their castings. you can buy Wilton copper 6 inch jaws on Ebay for $35 until that seller runs out of them or they are $100 or more on Wilton's site.

nice vise

 

[muddyriverdogz]

No im not diappointed,i was just kidding.

Will those 6" jaws fit the 5" Rock Island?

 

[KMScott]

Thanks, if it was a 6" no questions asked I would be gone. The picture looks like it says 955 and his measurement confirms that.
As a 5" I am on the fence, I might be going down to that area for something else this weekend and will see if it's still there.

If the jaws are in good to great shape then you should get it. It is a 5inch vise. I have the 956 and it is big. I think the 5 inch would be a perfect size. just my thoughts.

 

[drivesitfar]

Muddy: yes the 6 inch Wilton copper jaws will fit your 5 inch Rock Island. they'll hang over 1/2 inch on each side as is or copper is pretty easy to trim. i used a set on a Wilton C1 with 4.5 inch jaws without trimming them and they were a bit too big, but gave me a little extra grab on bigger items i put in that vise.

nice grab and that is all the vise most any of us would need in our garages or shops.

 

[CwazyWabbit]

Craptain, ZK, & CW: thanks for the heads up on the little Blacksmith vise. does the one i have pictured look like it's missing anything or does it have all it's parts to work?

......

I'm sure you noticed the missing handle and foot for the clamp, a number of the ones I've seen have also had two spikes designed to embed themselves in the top surface of what ever it was clamped to .... (obviously not for use on the kitchen table ), they also seem to be missing from the one pictured.

EDIT: can't seem to find the advert for one that I know is somewhere here ....

 

[CwazyWabbit]

Random advert picture that I noticed and thought interesting.

 

[joe.striper]

Thanks, if it was a 6" no questions asked I would be gone. The picture looks like it says 955 and his measurement confirms that.

As a 5" I am on the fence, I might be going down to that area for something else this weekend and will see if it's still there.

Scimon...give me his # and I'll get it for you...yeah thats the ticket!!!

Seriously i'm in the Spld MA area, and I'm in VT on business all the time. If it is anywhere near me I'll pick it up for you and we can meet up next time I'm up there

 

[XCMTB83]

Thanks to all who complimented me on the American Scale 3". It was a fun project. That vise was a freebie that the guy threw in with a Chicago Wilton 400S and a Sawyer 4" both of which are in MUCH better shape than the A.S. was. I dug right into the ugliest one now I need to find the motivation to get the other two cleaned up and atleast the Wilton painted. The only problem is the other two won't be as challenging/fun as the A.S. was so my motivation is lacking! Yet I keep looking for more to resto on Craigslist, thanks a lot GJ...

 

[CwazyWabbit]

hey cw: Did you ever post photos? Or just got to the beer cans and then forgot the rest?

Man of my word I chucked it up on the bench this evening and placed a couple of cans between the jaws. There are 30 cans (440ml) in total in a 5x6 arrangement.


I then thought it was cheating to pop them in width ways, so here they are length ways


TBH: length ways is cheating a little as although the screw is still fully engaged the back end of the slide is now inside the tower so not really designed to be extended that far.

 

[drivesitfar]

CW: that is some vice. do you guys start drinking beer at age 5 or do tell how you can drink pitcher size cans or glasses of beer all day long? some of my friends used to call those Guiness beers a MEAL IN A CAN. of course we were a lot younger then.

so are you going to take that vice and set it back down on the floor and take a couple of those beers to soothe the pain or just wait to lift it until tomorrow? is that your 8 inch Record and how heavy is it?

anybody ever squashed a can of beer or pop in their vise's jaws maybe before getting ready to dunk it in the E tank? i should have maybe tried that with my old Parker 956 that i had outside.

 

[CwazyWabbit]

DIF: Guinness is a nice easy drink, it's not particularly strong and not gassy like lager. Best drank slowly with good conversation and you can make a day of it ..... like a good meal I think I was probably 14 before I tried Guinness.

That is the biggest one of my 8" vices at 240lb, it can stay up on the bench now till I'm motivated enough to move it again ..... although I might strip it down for the next move as I'm curious to look inside the towers to see if they are solid.

 

[topop101]

Thanks, if it was a 6" no questions asked I would be gone. The picture looks like it says 955 and his measurement confirms that.

As a 5" I am on the fence, I might be going down to that area for something else this weekend and will see if it's still there.

I'd get it now !. But I drive 23 miles one way just for groceries . I always bring extra cash and look for other sales in the area. One never knows what they may find. A couple weeks ago I pulled a 250.00 dollar grenade out of a 20.00 tool box. Heck the box was worth the 20.

 

[bagged89s10]

Thanks, if it was a 6" no questions asked I would be gone. The picture looks like it says 955 and his measurement confirms that.

As a 5" I am on the fence, I might be going down to that area for something else this weekend and will see if it's still there.

You should buy it.

 

[schor]

I picked up this vise a while ago. Anyone know it's age?

 

[trijeff]

Hey CW: did you ever post photos? Or just got to the beer cans and then forgot the rest?

Man of my word I chucked it up on the bench this evening and placed a couple of cans between the jaws. There are 30 cans (440ml) in total in a 5x6 arrangement.

Thank you, sir!! That Record is the mutt's nutts. Agreed, Guinness is a great "day beer"

 

[Nuts]

Here's the pics as promised of yesterdays find.

Nothing exotic, just a fairly clean Columbian.
Did weigh it at 48.6lbs minus the spring that holds the jaw open.
Will have to build that.
Clamped to the spot where it will be mounted.


Nuts

 

[muddyriverdogz]

Well i just could't stand it and thought i would jump right on that Rock Island,no better time than the present.I did notice you could see a line in the jaw like it was added and not part of the cast.

There was also the Number 30 stamped into the side of the jaw.Could it be the date of manufacture?

And this was on the bottom.

 

[joe.striper]

Ran across this yesterday. American scale. 6". Thought you'd appreciate it

 

[drivesitfar]

Muddy: nice looking vise and did you blast it to get it so clean? if so with sand or glass bead? those #'s look like part #'s, but Rock Island liked to stamp the top of their slides and my 577 has the date stamped 1935 on the bottom of the slide. are you planning on painting or it might look great with BLO (boiled linseed oil)?

Joe: is that American Scale in your shop or are you just teasing us? is it a #79 or a smaller #78? looks almost exactly like my Wilton 606 SJ that i'm still not positive who made it.

 

[zoomieport]

Joe: is that American Scale in your shop or are you just teasing us? is it a #79 or a smaller #78? looks almost exactly like my Wilton 606 SJ that i'm still not positive who made it.

DIF, this is just a guess and probably a wrong one, lol!
But it look Morgan-ish to me...
Your thoughts?

Take care!
ZOOM

EDIT: Untill i looked at the mounting tabs...hmmm...

 

[trijeff]

Joe: is that American Scale in your shop or are you just teasing us? is it a #79 or a smaller #78? looks almost exactly like my Wilton 606 SJ that i'm still not positive who made it.

Drives, I think you nailed it ... those things look exactly alike right down to the last detail. Perhaps you solved your mystery!

 

[muddyriverdogz]

drivesitfar,I blasted it with glass bead at a lowered pressure.Then wire wheeled the shine back.I plan on painting and am really kicking the can's around on the color.Hammered black with white letters or maybe bright orange with white letters,just dont know what i want to do yet.

I did not find a date on the slide like you described but i did find another number 30 stamped on the side of the jaw attached to the slide.Maybe thats how they paired the 2 jaws together.

 

[bigcaddy]

Well i just could't stand it and thought i would jump right on that Rock Island,no better time than the present.I did notice you could see a line in the jaw like it was added and not part of the cast.

There was also the Number 30 stamped into the side of the jaw.Could it be the date of manufacture?

And this was on the bottom.

Its a part number. I've seen quite a few Rock Islands and almost every one of them have that 75C stamped on the base

 

[drivesitfar]

MRD: your vise your color, but one color combo i like is the green John Deere with yellow trim that Filson painted his huge Reed 208. if i only had a choice between orange and black i'd probably pick orange to give the shop some color. of course you can paint it a florescent green like Balane and others have painted theirs that seems to sell well because it looks like a Snap on toolbox.

probably my favorite paint jobs I've seen on a vise if you want color is Ritzblitz' Reed 1C, but not everybody has a sister with a lot of talent to copy that one. here's a few pictures and BTW nice job so far. since you are a new member you have a bit of catching up on reading just this thread, but there is a 4 video series on YouTube that somebody made if you have time to watch. the link is in the Vise repair 101 thread if you can't find it searching on YouTube.

 

[muddyriverdogz]

drfivesitfar,after seeing that vise it made me think about something that crossed my mind last night .........Zebra stripes!LOL

Im sure John Deer used Rock Island vises back in the day(might be why they are built like tanks),Moline is right on the boarder of Rock Island and John Deer's house sets right on that boarder.John Deer's head quarters is still in Moline.There was also Farmall/JI Case,.Today there is still the Rock Island Arsenal and Alcoa right on the other side of the river.It was at one time a big foundry,tractor assembly and machine shop area.Its almost all gone today.

 

[ritzblitz]

Here is a machinist vise I picked up with a load of stuff about a week ago.

I am an idiot about machinist stuff so the question is whether or not this is a vise made by a machinist for himself or is the maker R.G. Bradley?

It hit the Evap-O-Rust tank and then it was just time on the buffing wheel. I like it...came out SHINY!

Thats a jig bore vise Joe. Meant to be precise, square, and parallel, etc. Nice. Hope you didnt buff it too hard

 

[Lobo74]

[/IMG]

This was out of the home next door to where I grew up. My sister and brother-in-law inherited the home from our neighbor and I got it when we were cleaning out the house prior to it being sold. It was pretty rusty and had been sitting in my basement for the past few years. Got inspired to clean it up from viewing this thread. Thought of painting it but I think it looks pretty good with just the cleanup. I'll mount it on my garage work bench (as soon as I build it). There are no identifying marks at all on the vise.

 

[CwazyWabbit]

Another couple of random pictures of the Record No.48. Despite it's heavy weight it seems the jaw towers are hollow. The main screw is 1 1/2" diameter and 2.5tpi.

You can remove the dynamic jaw just by opening it to the max, there is nothing that needs undoing


The main nut is removable

 

[topop101]

Picked a pair of lil' Columbians up yesterday. Thought I'd give some love to this old guy first. Not real sure how to determine age on these Columbians but best guess is the ones that say Col. HDW. Co. are from the 1920's. Any one have any other info ?

 

[JZiggy]

Okay, now that you've shown us the nut I'm starting to get really jealous of that vice

Looks like you need a bigger can of beer when working with a vice of that size.

Another couple of random pictures of the Record No.48. Despite it's heavy weight it seems the jaw towers are hollow. The main screw is 1 1/2" diameter and 2.5tpi.

You can remove the dynamic jaw just by opening it to the max, there is nothing that needs undoing


The main nut is removable

 

[454ragtop]

[/IMG]

This was out of the home next door to where I grew up. My sister and brother-in-law inherited the home from our neighbor and I got it when we were cleaning out the house prior to it being sold. It was pretty rusty and had been sitting in my basement for the past few years. Got inspired to clean it up from viewing this thread. Thought of painting it but I think it looks pretty good with just the cleanup. I'll mount it on my garage work bench (as soon as I build it). There are no identifying marks at all on the vise.

Looks good with the patina. How wide are the jaws? What's that red thing underneath it bolted to the bench?
Jim

 

[drivesitfar]

MRD: as i mentioned your vise and your color because you don't need to please us if you are going to look at it almost daily.

nice story and post up pictures of your Rock Island painted when you have time. if you do like black and would maybe want to paint it later may i put in my last pitch to put a few coats of BLO (boiled linseed oil) on your Rock Island. here's my big Reed 4C with BLO on it just for a preview.

Zoomie: I've only seen one other one of these Wilton 606 SJ vises and that is owned by another member here. any chance you have one in the Sea of Tetnus? i'm betting American Scale was the maker of mine because it is almost identical, but not sure and if you think Morgan made it any reason why?

TJ: I've thought that for a while about my Wilton 606 SJ which is about 190 pounds and started a thread about it last year. Still not certain sort of like the dates on Wilton's slides. we need to find an ex or old Wilton factory to tell us that story.

i do need to spiff it up and make a new handle for it and even though it's not a 300 pounder it ain't no little thing and about the same size as my Reed 4C.

CW: i didn't know Record made a vice that unscrewed like most of all our old US vises where you can just unscrew the dynamic completely out of the static jaw. also hadn't ever seen a Record over 200 pounds because most of their 8 inchers weigh closer to 100. cheers and try Stella on those days when you don't need a meal in a can.