The VISES of Garage Journal

[Rileysan]

p.s. Will someone else please have a word with Riley about his vise habit? He doesn't seem to want to listen to me anymore.

Is having a vice for vises a classified disorder yet?

I missed out on a Rock Island 591 a few weeks ago but found another one that I will be picking up this afternoon. I may have to start mounting them on the wall ...

Brian

 

[Rileysan]

Picked this Morgan 135 for $40, technically sight unseen. My girlfriend spotted it at an outdoor flea market and asked if I wanted it. For less than $1/lb, absolutely.

There's a problem with the image hosting site you are using (security certificate error) that causes my company's firewall/internet securty device to block your pix.

Brian

 

[Fretters]

Is having a vice for vises a classified disorder yet?

Over here it would be a vice vice.

 

[General Geoff]

There's a problem with the image hosting site you are using (security certificate error) that causes my company's firewall/internet securty device to block your pix.

Brian

I'm not using https on that site, there should be no certificate to give an error.

 

[Rileysan]

I'm not using https on that site, there should be no certificate to give an error.

Further investigation ... your site is classified by our ISD as a "video gaming site" and is therefore blocked. I have no explanation as to how or why our IT department does what they do - I just know they usually ignore my comments and requests ...

Brian

 

[General Geoff]

Further investigation ... your site is classified by our ISD as a "video gaming site" and is therefore blocked. I have no explanation as to how or why our IT department does what they do - I just know they usually ignore my comments and requests ...

Brian

It's OK, I have an old gameshark (video game console hacking device) code database hosted on my site, which is probably why it's classified by some automated site blocking services as a gaming site. I've attached the photos, just for you!

 

[Rileysan]

It's OK, I have an old gameshark (video game console hacking device) code database hosted on my site, which is probably why it's classified by some automated site blocking services as a gaming site. I've attached the photos, just for you!

And for that, I thank you! Nice find for $40!

Brian

 

[Rileysan]

Over here it would be a vice vice.

Got any advice for vice vices?

 

[CRSINMICH]

GEOFF: Whatever you do with that great Morgan you should KEEP that girlfriend.

 

[dodge610]

Question? I might have a chance to get a bench vise but not a name I have heard of on here. Lakeside what can the vice gurus tell me about this vice. From the pics seems to have had an easy life.

 

[Spn1025]

The rusty old Athol 613 1/2 I picked up 2 weeks ago.



My new Pink Athol. Say it fast.





Not the most professional job, but I'm happy with the results


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[Rileysan]

My new Pink Athol. Say it fast.

Might one assume you painted it pink just for the purpose of saying "Pink Athol" over and over? LOL! Well done!

Brian

 

[balane]

I guess that's better than a red Athol.

 

[Fretters]

Got any advice for vice vices?

No advice other than to say you're screwed if you think your collection will stay within reasonable limits. Stopping collecting is like trying not to chew a Fruit Pastille.

 

[Gazedo]

Biggest vise I have seen in South FL also the biggest simplex I have seen. 53cp Desmond simplex missing a jaw and way our of my price range.
https://spacecoast.craigslist.org/tls/5264778225.html

 

[Outlawmws]

Question? I might have a chance to get a bench vise but not a name I have heard of on here. Lakeside what can the vice gurus tell me about this vice. From the pics seems to have had an easy life.

Dodge, is it a machinist's vise, or an exposed screw homeowner's vise? I think all but one Lakeside's I've seen have been the latter...

 

[dodge610]

Dodge, is it a machinist's vise, or an exposed screw homeowner's vise? I think all but one Lakeside's I've seen have been the latter...

More info on the lakeside vise it is a swivel vise #27 anvil vise exposed screw. So is this a fairly decent vise. Worth restoring guy says he will take $25.00 for it. Just lookin to start my vise collection. Didnt know price was too high or not and is it USA made. 31/2 in jaws also.

 

[drivesitfar]

Dodge: its probably a good vise but not worth a lot more so unless you need a vise today you might spend $50-150 and get a nice 70 year old one with a lot more heft to restore. My 2 cents.

Spn: nice color choice and maybe my second favorite color after bright green. Nice job

 

[Egapgt]

New, old vise. Wilton 2-1/2". Partially lubed and assembled, primed and ready for paint. Stamped 6-47 (no "GAR EXP"). Traces of original light green paint.

 

[dodge610]

Dodge: its probably a good vise but not worth a lot more so unless you need a vise today you might spend $50-150 and get a nice 70 year old one with a lot more heft to restore. My 2 cents.

Spn: nice color choice and maybe my second favorite color after bright green. Nice job

Thanks drives it far I will just wait and get something else Looking at a wilton too may just bite on that one.

 

[S4cruiser]

Picked up a Wilton 745 this morning at a yard sale. Date stamp of 4-81 on the slide. I'm thinking this may be non USA made as it has no markings indicating COO.

Paid 25 bucs, but it comes with issues. Wire wheeled this evening and paint tomorrow.

It's been over torqued at some point and the dynamic jaw is tweaked keeping the vise from totally closing. Thoughts on correcting? Beat back into place then heat and weld? I'm not looking for a beauty queen here just something I can attach to my welding table and not worry beating on it.

Also needs a set of pipe jaws.

 

[drivesitfar]

Dodge: just an fyi. All wiltons are not made with the same quality. Their bullet vise are top notch and a bit more spendier than some of the old vises we see a lot on this thread. Other names to put on the top of your list just to name a few of my favorites are Reed, Rock Island, Prentiss, Athol/Starrett.

Good luck and feel free to ask more questions if you have any. Also post pics if you have any.

 

[Spn1025]

Still looking for a Millers Falls Anvil Vise. That's my dream vise

This friggin guy has had it listed for months in Boston and he still hasn't budged on the price.
$375

http://boston.craigslist.org/sob/tls/5260174877.html

 

[vintage nut]

Is that an anvise or a vanvil?

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[bagged89s10]

This is the third Wilton I've seen locally in the past 2 months with the jaw support broken off. Whats up with these old Chicago Wilton's?.

 

[FMC1959]

The rusty old Athol 613 1/2 I picked up 2 weeks ago.



My new Pink Athol. Say it fast.





Not the most professional job, but I'm happy with the results


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Nice!

 

[wrenchguy]

Still looking for a Millers Falls Anvil Vise. That's my dream vise

This friggin guy has had it listed for months in Boston and he still hasn't budged on the price.
$375

http://boston.craigslist.org/sob/tls/5260174877.html

that same 1 has been 4 sale 4 couple years now.

 

[General Geoff]

Update on the Morgan 135: The main nut was very loose in its channel, drifting at least 1/4" back and forth and causing a lot of slop in the screw. The nut lock pin was a bit mutiliated so it was a pain to punch out, but I have it mostly apart now. I also discovered that someone DID abuse this vise and broke the swivel lock bolt (it was booger welded together) as well as the swivel base itself (also welded). Anyone know if Milwaukee Tool sells individual replacement parts for these old vises? They still show the 135 as current production so I'm hoping the new parts are interchangeable with the old models. After cleaning up the main nut channel and main nut itself to figure out exactly where the slop is, I'd like to possibly get a new main nut, nut lock pin, and jaws; maybe even a new swivel base, but I imagine that will be somewhat pricey.

Also, the main body and dynamic jaw are in great shape, no breaks, cracks or welds. However as-is, the top of the jaws contacted before the bottom. Any ideas on troubleshooting why it the jaw faces would meet at an angle like that? I'd love to save this vise and get it back to tip top shape.

 

[topop101]

Still looking for a Millers Falls Anvil Vise. That's my dream vise

This friggin guy has had it listed for months in Boston and he still hasn't budged on the price.
$375

http://boston.craigslist.org/sob/tls/5260174877.html

Might be time to talk trade with him . Find out what he like. Meet him. check out his shop . Maybe he like beer sign's or something you can buy cheaper or maybe already have to trade him for it. But do a face to face. Heck tell him you have a sister....lol

 

[Spn1025]

that same 1 has been 4 sale 4 couple years now.

Maybe because he says "leave your number for callback" and "no emails" but yet he doesn't list his phone number

 

[drivesitfar]

Spn: that avnvil vise looks more stout than it is. Not even close to a real anvil. Better to buy a real anvil and use the new vise you painted pink because i cant tell you how many of those anvil vises ive seen broken.

 

[Spn1025]

Hmm good to know

 

[vintage nut]

If you think about it, that thing is hollow, and it's cast iron. Both things you don't want in an anvil. Even solid cast iron anvils are worthless for real anvil use.
Proper anvils are made from a solid piece of forged steel (there are exceptions though, such as the old ones that are a hand forged wrought iron body with a steel too plate, and some new ones that are cast tool steel)
I can almost guarantee you that those anvil vises have no rebound, and I could probably completely destroy one in an afternoon forging.

I agree they look cool, but I'd consider them to be a shop decoration rather than a useful tool

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[S4cruiser]

Picked up a Wilton 745 this morning at a yard sale. Date stamp of 4-81 on the slide. I'm thinking this may be non USA made as it has no markings indicating COO.

Paid 25 bucs, but it comes with issues. Wire wheeled this evening and paint tomorrow.

It's been over torqued at some point and the dynamic jaw is tweaked keeping the vise from totally closing. Thoughts on correcting? Beat back into place then heat and weld? I'm not looking for a beauty queen here just something I can attach to my welding table and not worry beating on it.

Also needs a set of pipe jaws.

Any ideas on fixing this or should I toss it up as junk?

 

[Outlawmws]

Preheat, get it back into position and weld. Cool slowly. You have nothing to lose and other than the same abuse that cracked it to begin with, it should hold up.

 

[Outlawmws]

While I agree that for hot forging the Anvil vises are not up to it, for reworking light sheet metal and soft metals like copper/silver, those will work fine. You have to get out of the full blacksmithing box though...

 

[Shiftless]

Over here it would be a vice vice.

I wondered too about that anthropological anomaly.

In order to gather some data on the problem, I posted the question "how many vises do you own" and included a poll. (BTW, my number is 10)

In case you didn't notice it yesterday, here is a link. Some interesting results.

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=307020

 

[jrobb316]

Update on the Morgan 135: The main nut was very loose in its channel, drifting at least 1/4" back and forth and causing a lot of slop in the screw. The nut lock pin was a bit mutiliated so it was a pain to punch out, but I have it mostly apart now. I also discovered that someone DID abuse this vise and broke the swivel lock bolt (it was booger welded together) as well as the swivel base itself (also welded). Anyone know if Milwaukee Tool sells individual replacement parts for these old vises? They still show the 135 as current production so I'm hoping the new parts are interchangeable with the old models. After cleaning up the main nut channel and main nut itself to figure out exactly where the slop is, I'd like to possibly get a new main nut, nut lock pin, and jaws; maybe even a new swivel base, but I imagine that will be somewhat pricey.

Also, the main body and dynamic jaw are in great shape, no breaks, cracks or welds. However as-is, the top of the jaws contacted before the bottom. Any ideas on troubleshooting why it the jaw faces would meet at an angle like that? I'd love to save this vise and get it back to tip top shape.

Email them and find out. Www.milwtool.com they have swivel bases, jaw inserts, etc on the shelf, I'm sure they have what you need. Question is whether the Chicago stuff interchanges. I know for a fact they have Chicago jaw inserts on the shelf. The swivel bases are actually pretty cheap especially for a small one like that. I want to say I paid $50 for a 140 swivel base for a vise I gifted to my dad, but I went down the shop and picked it up personally.
In case the new guys haven't seen it, here is a pallet full of Morgan 60s and 80s ready to be sent out.

 

[vintage nut]

Just noticed this on my Morgan 160 the other day. A sign from the aliens? Lol


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[vintage nut]

If you look at it at the angle the vise sits, it looks just like an alien looking down at my bench....
Quite the casting flaw haha

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