The VISES of Garage Journal

[bluebolt]

Reed 206R I picked up today. Missing the swivel base. I looked it over carefully and though a bit worn and really dirty it works smoothly, no welds or cracks I could find. The jaw serrations are a bit worn but still usable. The base is 1 1/2" thick by 13" round solid steel. Putting this in the back of the truck was a workout!

Also picked up a Ridgid pipe vise missing the jaws on a heavy base and a homemade anvil that is 36" long! Look like I forgot to take a picture will update later!

$125 for everything.

Edit added picture of the anvil and pipe vise. As rough as the pipe vise is I may just scrap it. I like that long anvil though!

 

[Thrumcap]

I was digging around ads online when this photo of a workbench appeared:

Took a while to remember where I'd seen these.
These are piano maker's vises. They're also known as Studley vises, after a chap named Henry O. Studley. Here's a photo of him. If you read Fine Woodworking magazine, you would probably recognise the item on the wall behind him.


The Studley Tool Chest is a masterpiece.
Less known is that he also had a workbench.


Both of these items are documented in a new book.

Anyhoo, I was amazed to see this. I negotiated price and went for a drive.

I have to figure out how exactly to restore these. The bench is a type like Hammacher-Schlemmer sold in the early 1900s. The vises weigh in at eightyish pounds apiece. The wheels on the front are solid. Once restored, the spin inertia on these should be amazing. And nickel plating?
Interestingly, there don't appear to be much maker's marks on these, so who made them (there are around twenty known examples of differing variations) is unknown.





Out of all the digging, this photo I've seen around has been cleared up to me -


it's a tiny Prentiss vise buried in the Studley tool chest.
Thrumcap

 

[CwazyWabbit]

I like those piano makers vises a lot! Great find Have you a picture of one open? Does it have cast iron rails running inside the cast iron mounting section similar to the early Parkinson wood vise?

 

[Van Steele]

I have to thank Fretters for spotting the stand for me It has to have been the worlds worst ebay advert

The description just said Parkinson display stand, about 6ft tall and heavy.

No wonder my Parkinsons was trying to lift off the workbench the other day, it was CW's suckage!

 

[bagged89s10]

I was digging around ads online when this photo of a workbench appeared:

Took a while to remember where I'd seen these.
These are piano maker's vises. They're also known as Studley vises, after a chap named Henry O. Studley. Here's a photo of him. If you read Fine Woodworking magazine, you would probably recognise the item on the wall behind him.

The Studley Tool Chest is a masterpiece.
Less known is that he also had a workbench.

Both of these items are documented in a new book.

Anyhoo, I was amazed to see this. I negotiated price and went for a drive.

I have to figure out how exactly to restore these. The bench is a type like Hammacher-Schlemmer sold in the early 1900s. The vises weigh in at eightyish pounds apiece. The wheels on the front are solid. Once restored, the spin inertia on these should be amazing. And nickel plating?
Interestingly, there don't appear to be much maker's marks on these, so who made them (there are around twenty known examples of differing variations) is unknown.

Out of all the digging, this photo I've seen around has been cleared up to me -

it's a tiny Prentiss vise buried in the Studley tool chest.
Thrumcap

That's a badass toolbox made by Studley and that bench/vise should be amazing once restored!

 

[BlueBomber]

Here's my $5 purchase from yesterday's garage sale safari:



I now have more functioning vises than I have work benches.

Does that mean I've crossed the dangerous line from "user" to "collector"?

 

[Thrumcap]

I like those piano makers vises a lot! Great find Have you a picture of one open? Does it have cast iron rails running inside the cast iron mounting section similar to the early Parkinson wood vise?

Here's a link to some pictures of others of the type. I'm not familiar with the Parkinson, but these are quite different. In the first article, my vises are like the one on the right in the comparison photo.

Thrumcap

 

[CwazyWabbit]

Cheers So yours have dovetailed runners, that is very nice

There are some good pictures of the Parkinson style I mentioned on Fretters website http://vintagemechanic.co.uk/notes/...e3250/older-style-parkinson-woodworking-vice/

Thos piano ones look to be much higher quality.

 

[CRSINMICH]

I need some information and some suggestions. I bought this Toledo 00 pipe vise yesterday. As you can see I was able to get all the parts off.
EXCEPT one.

Does anyone know what this second shaft is for? (No off color puns, please.) It seems to be a depth stop. Can you give me suggestions for removing the nut? I have tried WD 40, heat, boxed end wrench, and a socket with breaker bar. I even tried turning it upside down and putting the nut in another vise then trying to turn the main body of the pipe vise. You can see that the nut has begun to round over so I thought I'd better ask for suggestions before it gets too round. It might not show up in these photos but the upper pipe jaw is threaded onto the the bottom of the shaft. It turns but there is not enough room to swing it completely around so it can't be removed until the shaft turns. Did I buy a $5 paperweight?

 

[CRSINMICH]

I just noticed on the enlarged photo that the threads on the top of the shaft don't go all the way to the nut. What is the point of this nut? What is holding the shaft in? Rust?

 

[KMScott]

Looks like you are missing a U fork and clamp nut that fits in the groove of your spindle handle that will raise the top clamp, very similiar to the Horseshoe washer Wilton uses on their Dynamic Jaw Support.

 

[CRSINMICH]

Looks like you are missing a U fork and clamp nut that fits in the groove of your spindle handle that will raise the top clamp, very similiar to the Horseshoe washer Wilton uses on their Dynamic Jaw Support.

I guess I forgot to put those pieces back on for the photo shoot. I do have them. Are you saying that turning the main spindle should raise and lower this second shaft? It should be free moving then and it certainly isn't. Should I concentrate on the shaft and forget the nut?

 

[Outlawmws]

Have you tried tightening the nut? is it possibly left hand thread?
or is that simply a sliding shaft rusted in place?

A pic of the thing assembled from the front would help.

Edit: the more I look at it, that's a sliding "Idler shaft" the nut is to give you purchase when you bolt on the plate which engages the main screw, Right?

Try getting a lever between the jaws under that shaft, and lifting on it.

 

[sstruckguy]

Here's a link to some pictures of others of the type. I'm not familiar with the Parkinson, but these are quite different. In the first article, my vises are like the one on the right in the comparison photo.

Thrumcap

Good read. Nice find on the bench too

 

[CRSINMICH]

Here's a picture of the Toledo 00 from the front. It sure looks like the spindle should lift the second shaft. There is access to the bottom of the shaft through a screw hole in the bottom of the base. I'll try a long punch. Thanks Out. (You don't mind if I call you Out do you?)

 

[CwazyWabbit]

I guess I forgot to put those pieces back on for the photo shoot. I do have them. Are you saying that turning the main spindle should raise and lower this second shaft? It should be free moving then and it certainly isn't. Should I concentrate on the shaft and forget the nut?

I'd agree, the second shaft looks like it should just slide up and down, gonna need a good soak in something to free up the rust holding it in.

 

[CRSINMICH]

Now my question is, "Does anyone have a suggestion about how to free the shaft if driving it out with a punch doesn't work?"

Cwaze (you don't mind if I call you Cwaze, do you?) Your response came in as I was typing this one. I've got the shaft soaking in WD 40 as we type.

 

[Outlawmws]

Get a bit of heat on the outer housing. that will "grow" the hole it is in. I suspect as soon as it starts moving it will go quickly.

WD isn't the greatest penitrent, Kroil, a 50/50 mix of ATF and Acetone, (shake well and only mix a little, as the two don't stay mixed well...), even Liquid wrench works better. got any old brake fluid? that too...

 

[CRSINMICH]

Here's a question for all. Is there a way to post on this thread and then have that thread followed all the way through before everyone becomes distracted by a post about a 1913 Hoyt-Clagwell Invincible that someone's neighbor discarded?

 

[CRSINMICH]

Get a bit of heat on the outer housing. that will "grow" the hole it is in. I suspect as soon as it starts moving it will go quickly.

WD isn't the greatest penitrent, Kroil, a 50/50 mix of ATF and Acetone, (shake well and only mix a little, as the two don't stay mixed well...), even Liquid wrench works better. got any old brake fluid? that too...

Thanks Outlaw. I suspected that the 40 might not be the way to go but I just happened to have some so I started there.

 

[Outlawmws]

Here's a question for all. Is there a way to post on this thread and then have that thread followed all the way through before everyone becomes distracted by a post about a 1913 Hoyt-Clagwell Invincible that someone's neighbor discarded?

Not really, but in the Vise repair thread Drives encourages people to start a post, then save a number of posts that can then be edited with updates as you go.

This one move so fast its impossible to do so, and even if you did, it would be a hundred pages back in a month.

 

[CRSINMICH]

Bonus points to whoever knows what a Hoyt-Clagwell really was. I just made up the Invincible part.

 

[Thrumcap]

Cheers So yours have dovetailed runners, that is very nice

There are some good pictures of the Parkinson style I mentioned on Fretters website http://vintagemechanic.co.uk/notes/...e3250/older-style-parkinson-woodworking-vice/

Thos piano ones look to be much higher quality.

fretters' site is quite interesting!
These vices all have a lot of design parallels of that time. Remove the wheel and add the QR assembly and it looks like the Parkinson.

Thrumcap

 

[thursday]

Anyone else have a big, shiny Black Widow crawl out from under a vise mid-lift? I wish I had a recording of the sound I made when it touched me. Half grunt from the heavy lift, half excited school girl. Neighbors gave me strange looks.

Thoroughly sprayed down with poison.

 

[Outlawmws]

Anyone else have a big, shiny Black Widow crawl out from under a vise mid-lift? I wish I had a recording of the sound I made when it touched me. Half grunt from the heavy lift, half excited school girl. Neighbors gave me strange looks.

Thoroughly sprayed down with poison.

I just goosh them. Why scream? They are more scared of you than you should be of them...

 

[oldldh]

Outlaw---

Maybe he's not as old as we are, and still thinks about the long range future...

As opposed to "Next Week"...

By the way, my favorite way to kill creepy crawlies, is under a 48 oz ball pien...

Works like a champ...

 

[McBrownie]

Out of all the digging, this photo I've seen around has been cleared up to me -

it's a tiny Prentiss vise buried in the Studley tool chest.
Thrumcap

Here is my Prentiss that I refinished with Gilsonite or Asphaltum (a kind of japanning). What interests me is the color similarity. Mine looks black indoors, but in the sun it looks similar to the color of the tiny vise in your picture. Is it time for me to do some gold pin striping?

View media item 52513

 

[Outlawmws]

Outlaw---

Maybe he's not as old as we are, and still thinks about the long range future...

As opposed to "Next Week"...

By the way, my favorite way to kill creepy crawlies, is under a 48 oz ball pien...

Works like a champ...

Could be, but I've been gooshing them since I was a kid. if they are on you, flick them off (First), but if not, they can't bite you from the top...

 

[Outlawmws]

Here is my Prentiss that I refinished with Gilsonite or Asphaltum (a kind of japanning). What interests me is the color similarity. Mine looks black indoors, but in the sun it looks similar to the color of the tiny vise in your picture. Is it time for me to do some gold pin striping?

View media item 52513

I think so! that looks cool!

 

[Thrumcap]

I think so! that looks cool!

Yep, Von Dutch treatment that bad boy!

Thrumcap

 

[jakemac]

Some quick help here please!!

I was picking a junkyard today and saw a modern Craftsman vise molded pipe jaws, grey with a rounded slide (not completely round) swivel base bolted to a bumper. Thing is it had 8" jaws. Now I cannot find a thing about this one on line. Trying to figure if it is worth the 1 hour round trip to go back and get it. Normally I'd pass but I can't find this one online anywhere which has me scratching my head!!!

Here's a page from the 1986 catalog showing an 8" "Industrial" Columbian made Craftsman vise.

1986 page 87 (look at item #15)

 

[JML2]

Thanks for all the advice and ideas about mounting a vise! This is not a heavy-duty garage setup for working on automotive repair, but it's my new basement tool bench (a 48" Gladiator, with a maple top). Picked up the Ridgid 890-9569 4-1/2" F-Series German-made forged vise (all I really need) when Enco had 20%-off and free UPS shipping. Used stainless M12 bolts/washers/nuts from McMaster-Carr and a 7" x 7" stainless steel plate cut to size by Stainless Supply (in hindsight, 6 3/4" square would have been perfect). I drilled 1/2" holes in the bench top and plate. Although I'm right-handed, the vise is on the left front corner because I use AC-powered desktop tools frequently (dremel, soldering iron, glue gun, etc.) and have an AC power strip mounted to the right side of the bench top, to keep the cords from crossing in front of me. Degreased the threads and used SuperLube grease instead (never goes rancid or dries up).

 

[General Geoff]

Speaking of vise mounting, my Starrett 324-1/2 has three mounting holes on the swivel base., with the fourth quadrant of the base being cut much closer to center. Looking at the top of the vise, the static jaw is essentially parallel to the edge of the base where the mounting holes are, but overhangs a bit over the quadrant where there is no mounting hole. Is there any reason I shouldn't mount the vise with this part of the base over the corner of the bench I'm mounting to, so that the static jaw overhangs the edge of the bench?

You can see the base in this pic.

edit: Upon putting it where I want, it would appear that no matter which way the base is bolted, the jaws will at best be flush with the edge of the bench. Then again I think this vise wasn't exactly meant to hold long workpieces vertically.

 

[JZiggy]

Anyone else have a big, shiny Black Widow crawl out from under a vise mid-lift? I wish I had a recording of the sound I made when it touched me. Half grunt from the heavy lift, half excited school girl. Neighbors gave me strange looks.

Thoroughly sprayed down with poison.

Nice paramo!

 

[Outlawmws]

Don't forget, with the jaw plates on you gain a bit, and yes, that is the way they are meant to be mounted; at least flush, if not a bit proud.

 

[Fretters]

That's an impressive vice & bench setup Thrumcap.

 

[bagged89s10]

Thanks for all the advice and ideas about mounting a vise! This is not a heavy-duty garage setup for working on automotive repair, but it's my new basement tool bench (a 48" Gladiator, with a maple top). Picked up the Ridgid 890-9569 4-1/2" F-Series German-made forged vise (all I really need) when Enco had 20%-off and free UPS shipping. Used stainless M12 bolts/washers/nuts from McMaster-Carr and a 7" x 7" stainless steel plate cut to size by Stainless Supply (in hindsight, 6 3/4" square would have been perfect). I drilled 1/2" holes in the bench top and plate. Although I'm right-handed, the vise is on the left front corner because I use AC-powered desktop tools frequently (dremel, soldering iron, glue gun, etc.) and have an AC power strip mounted to the right side of the bench top, to keep the cords from crossing in front of me. Degreased the threads and used SuperLube grease instead (never goes rancid or dries up).

Nice mounting. My workbenches are made of similar butcher blocks I got from sears/craftsman, and I will be eventually mounting a vise in a similar way. I just can't decide which vise I want to permanently mount so I've been using c-clamps.

 

[KMScott]

Nice looking bench and vise jml2, I know that I am a minority here but I do not have room for mounting a vise on my work bench, all my vises are on stands. I have a Record wood working vise mounted level with my work bench that I use for most of my work. This vise holds all my work like refinishing vises, filing, tapping work and just holding something at a comfortable height (I like the jaws to be at my the height of my elbow) with the oak jaws I made 4 years ago. I made this work bench for building furniture but the vise's have kind of taken over my woodworking duties. My American Scale #25 is my work horse with my torch work for my handle building and heavy holding. I like to rotate the vise around to make it comfortable for my work, so I am not much of a fan of swivel base vises. A swivel base vise is only good for +or- 20 degrees on a bench unless you mount it like jml2 did, or you will be hitting your bench with the handle.

 

[va.grouseman]

Pop the corn fellows, we've got another show in progress.---A little baby Sawyer Oswego NuTYP up for grabs.---1 3/4 inch jaws.---These Sawyer rotating heads, don't come up for sale very often period, but this is only the second baby I've seen.---I think Balane sold the other one.---Should get interesting.


http://www.ebay.com/itm/281778395028?_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT

 

[bagged89s10]

Pop the corn fellows, we've got another show in progress.---A little baby Sawyer Oswego NuTYP up for grabs.---1 3/4 inch jaws.---These Sawyer rotating heads, don't come up for sale very often period, but this is only the second baby I've seen.---I think Balane sold the other one.---Should get interesting.





http://www.ebay.com/itm/281778395028?_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT

I think I had the first or second bid. Too rich for my blood.