The VISES of Garage Journal

[vintage nut]

I know the difference between my 2 4" ones, and my 7.25" one is about like comparing a 3" bench vise to a 6"....

For my big one I'm thinking of finding a piece of big heavy wall pipe (say 3/8" wall 8" diameter) and welding a piece of 3/4" plate on each end. One will have holes drilled through it, and bolted to the concrete floor with 8 or so of the hilti shell anchors (one would probably be strong enough....) the top I'm thinking of making say 16x16 or so to give a little space to sit tools and such while I'm working on things.
Should be perfect for when something is being very stubborn and requires clamping it in a vise, and beating the living daylights out of it with a sledgehammer!

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[Nuts]

I picked up a Columbian 4 1/2 post vise earlier this summer and was going to use it as my shop vise attached to a steel bench. But I'm reconsidering and thinking that a 5 to 6 inch bench vise would work better for me in the shop.

What I'm planning now is to get a 2' x 8' or so log and bury it in the ground in front of the shop, make a step in the log that puts my Peter Wright anvil at the right height and the other half taller to fit the Columbian. A two in one set up.

 

[vintage nut]

I've got one of those columbian post vises. Drop forged rather than hand forged like a lot of the earlier ones. Very good vises, just not as ornate as the older ones. My columbian actually has a spot for pipe jaws!

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[steelkilt]

Drives: I didn't have Ritzblitz make any part other than the hold down. I took allot of measurements so as to allow more of a sliding surface for the dj to slide on, also, to mate both the rear part of the nut and the front part of the hold-down bar at even 45°, with very little/no daylight in between. Lastly, it was designed to keep everything nice and tidy and out of the way of the dj's action.

If anybody has a vise with this condition and you have a desire to repair it instead of throwing it out? Please pm me if you need some ideas. I'm super pleased with the results and from a design standpoint, I have to think it's just as strong, possibly stronger than the original cast dovetail ways.

Fretters: two part epoxy (jb weld around here) is coined "plastic". If you look carefully at any of the finished pictures and compare them to the couple befores I later posted, you will notice within the jaw/neck areas of the after photos have much cleaner and crisper lines. While they catch the light nice enough,I wouldn't take a torch or a magnet to it...

Bagged: thanks for the props. I spent 40 years in mid/northern CT and I remember nearly tripping over all the old vises everywhere! Sadly, I wasn't into old cast in those days. Now, you and Joe are cleaning up!

All: thanks for all the kind words, I'll soon post some more pics if some other bench vises that are in they're later stages. These vises have fixed jaws and I was able to obtain some rods from Mr. Kevin Scott and did some repair weld work to some chipped/damaged jaws. More on that in hopefully a few weeks!

 

[Killinger]

Killinger: nice find. Ive got a couple pattern vises and not sure exactly what you mean by a stableizer bar. Do you have a picture? There is a vise parts thread or wanted in classifieds you can post asking for one and you might get lucky. Probably ebay is your best place or with your talent you might just make one if you can find one to copy.

Fretters: ****** cool mate. Is it english or did you snag one of the American bersions. Big guy too and maybe 100 pounds?

This head of the vice rotates 360 but it also tilts up 90%. So you mount it to the bench from the top. It has a hinge that allows it to tilt up 90%. Their is another bar and mount that goes off to the side to allow you to lock the vice in any position in between. That's the parts I'm missing. I'm looking for some pictures now. Still completely usable as is but would be nice to have that added feature. Thanks!

 

[dutchgray]

View media item 54377Record 94 1/2 pipe vice, very dirty and with slightly bent handle so its obviously well used, but its far more pipe vice than I'm ever going to need, 16" tall closed as shown.

Fretters nice blacksmiths leg vice.

 

[Mr_P]

Bagged, if there's a will, there's a way about that Post vise mount!

 

[Mr_P]

Here's a working picture of my Parker 975

BEFORE

DURING INITIAL SCRAPE OFF USING MY HANDY 5-in-1....

 

[Mr_P]

I picked up this little guy this morning for what I would say is the cheapest that I've ever paid for a vise.... a grand total of $2.50!

 

[bagged89s10]

Here's a working picture of my Parker 975



BEFORE

DURING INITIAL SCRAPE OFF USING MY HANDY 5-in-1....

What's your plans with the vise. Using it as is, stripping it and keeping it raw, or painting it? How sturdy is that stand?

 

[bagged89s10]

How do I keep the dark raw steel finish of the top of these vise jaws? Im going to sand out the usage marks but I don't want to polish them.

 

[Mr_P]

What's your plans with the vise. Using it as is, stripping it and keeping it raw, or painting it? How sturdy is that stand?

I'm not sure yet. Will sit raw until the right color combination comes to mind. I just didn't like the paint flaking all over.

The stand is great. The base measures 12"X13". It takes quite a bit of effort to tip it over. When I add to my shop, I will make a dedicated location to mount the beast, and will not think twice about hammering/grinding/cutting/torching on it.

 

[Fretters]

How do I keep the dark raw steel finish of the top of these vise jaws? Im going to sand out the usage marks but I don't want to polish them.

Do you mean the inserts? File them and then rub them on a sheet of emery or wet&dry placed on a smooth surface to finish them off. They will be hard to file though, so don't use a best file on them

 

[vintage nut]

I'll suggest a wire wheel. I always find them to leave a dark rather than a bright finish. Sand it down as Fretters suggested, then give it a buffing on a wire wheel.

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[bagged89s10]

Do you mean the inserts? File them and then rub them on a sheet of emery or wet&dry placed on a smooth surface to finish them off. They will be hard to file though, so don't use a best file on them

Almost forgot about Emory. Yea hardened steel is fun.

 

[bagged89s10]

I'll suggest a wire wheel. I always find them to leave a dark rather than a bright finish. Sand it down as Fretters suggested, then give it a buffing on a wire wheel.

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Joestriper suggested BLO for final finish. That should darken them up a little too. I thought about blueing but don't want to go black.

 

[Fretters]

Record 94 1/2 pipe vice, very dirty and with slightly bent handle so its obviously well used, but its far more pipe vice than I'm ever going to need, 16" tall closed as shown.

Fretters nice blacksmiths leg vice.

Cheers, & likewise on the pipe vice. Looks like that handle should straighten out easily enough.

 

[vintage nut]

I've noticed a lot of knifemakers use those cheap chinese rotating combination vises. I can definitely see how it could be useful for holding things at different angles.

Does anyone have suggestions for quality old vises that would serve the same purpose?
One idea I had is mounting a swivel base vise vertically on a heavy angle plate. Not quite the same rotation, but it would still be really useful.
If only I could find one of those parkers with the rotating barrel....

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[balane]

A scotch pad roloc disk will give you the look you want.

 

[Fretters]

Joestriper suggested BLO for final finish. That should darken them up a little too. I thought about blueing but don't want to go black.

Let them get a light flash rust layer on the fettled surface when you've smoothed them, and then just wipe that over with a rag soaked in paraffin/kerosene before applying the oil. It'll give it the most natural used appearance, IMHO, if you manage to time it all correctly. Just depends exactly what look you're after. The suggestions by Balane and Vintage' would be better if you're wanting more the factory finish look.

 

[Fretters]

I've noticed a lot of knifemakers use those cheap chinese rotating combination vises. I can definitely see how it could be useful for holding things at different angles.

Does anyone have suggestions for quality old vises that would serve the same purpose?
One idea I had is mounting a swivel base vise vertically on a heavy angle plate. Not quite the same rotation, but it would still be really useful.
If only I could find one of those parkers with the rotating barrel....

The only decent ones that I can think of barring that Parker variant are the original Sawyer which the Asian clones are based on, else the English Swindens.

I've also seen some quite decent homemade alternatives using a couple of pieces of thick wall steel pipe for the rotating mechanism. Can't remember whether they were made by the knife or gun crowd, but a bit of searching on Google should dig them out.

Edit: Saying that though, if you're just wanting one for things like filing, cutting tasks etc, and not for beating on in any way or form, there's no reason one of the imports won't serve you well enough.

 

[Fretters]

I picked up this little guy this morning for what I would say is the cheapest that I've ever paid for a vise.... a grand total of $2.50!

Nice and for a very good price.

 

[scooternut]

I've noticed a lot of knifemakers use those cheap chinese rotating combination vises. I can definitely see how it could be useful for holding things at different angles.

Does anyone have suggestions for quality old vises that would serve the same purpose?
One idea I had is mounting a swivel base vise vertically on a heavy angle plate. Not quite the same rotation, but it would still be really useful.
If only I could find one of those parkers with the rotating barrel....

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I'm no professional knife maker, but I've gotten my knife making tooling down pretty good. Here is an ancient Prentiss, mounted to my bench with the hitch plate/ receiver setup, with a piece of angle iron clamped in that has rubber glued surface, and one of those QR holders from HF. it just flat works!!

AND, the best part, I can change vises anytime I want, enables me to get use out of several vises as I do enjoy them.
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[vintage nut]

I'll have to keep an eye out for those. I'm sure the Chinese one would work for my use, only it wouldn't match the rest of my shop too well... I just don't really like the idea of having a Chinese vise on my bench right beside my nice ones.
I'm thinking I might try something along the lines of a small wilton swivel base mounted on an angle plate. I imagine that it would be very useful!

A baby bullet on the power arm base is on my wish list too.

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[Fretters]

This is the type I was referring to with the homemade jobbies:

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/558641-My-new-knifemaker-s-vise

As you can see, usable as is, else the same principle would also work for a rotating mount for a normal vice.

 

[vintage nut]

Ahh yes, I've seen those ones. I've been wanting to make one of those as well. Its not possible to be able to hold a part at too many different angles!

I'm kinda thinking of making one of those that can be clamped in my big morgan, instead of taking up more precious bench space.

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[Fretters]

That would be handy. Keep us updated on that, (plenty of photo's ), if you do decide to make one.

 

[vintage nut]

I'll be sure to post plenty of pictures when I get around to it!
Or if my dad decides to make it I'll get him to post it here

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[xxaler]

Found a couple of dreamers in my area during my weekly vise Kijiji browsing.

The one guy in Stoney Creek has quite a few different brand vises at somewhat high prices, but this guy in Newmarket though... $2/lb for any vises, even a Record no.5 that someone just threw a can of red paint at..

Wilton C3 - $1200
Wilton 600s - $895
Record No.5 - $225

 

[va.grouseman]

Xxaler,--That is one whopper of a C3 he's got there.---225 lbs., WOW.---I have an 800S that only weighs 220 lbs.---Normally a C3 is 204 lbs.---I guess that is a prototype for a new model.---Then it is probably worth $1200.

 

[3200fps]

This may be a little long winded but bear with me, I'm excited!

So this morning I started browsing kijiji for no reason with no intention to buy anything. This is how it always starts. I found a vise that caught my eye and the ad was a few days old but decided to text the person anyway. Brand wasn't mentioned but I saw what it was from the picture. Got nothing to lose, right? Owner responded and we agreed on 30 dollars. Damn it, I don't need another vise but whatever! On my merry way I go to get this thing, plus I have heard good things about original Records on here.

I bring the thing home and play with it. Tightens fine but when trying to loosen the jaws nothing happens. ****, I just wasted 30 dollars, right? Wrong. Turns out this bad boy has some sort of mechanism that opens up allowing you to slide the dynamic jaw by hand. WAY faster than a regular vise and I never even knew this existed up until now. Overall it's a QUALITY piece and it cleaned up very nice. It's practically brand new. It had surface rust on the top side only, like it was only getting moisture from that direction. No pitting at all. Hardly any use and it has a swivel base to boot!

You can see it sitting with Old Faithful, an Irwin Record no. 6. That's another story, I basically got it for free and it was brand new in the box. For 30 Canadian pesos I don't think I could have done better

 

[drivesitfar]

Fps: looks like you scored a made in england quick release record. If you were closer id give you a benjamin for it so yes you didnt pay too much for it. Can you show a few more pics up the bottom of the dynamic jaw so all of us can see the quick release mech?

 

[joe.striper]

I've noticed a lot of knifemakers use those cheap chinese rotating combination vises. I can definitely see how it could be useful for holding things at different angles.

Does anyone have suggestions for quality old vises that would serve the same purpose?
One idea I had is mounting a swivel base vise vertically on a heavy angle plate. Not quite the same rotation, but it would still be really useful.
If only I could find one of those parkers with the rotating barrel....

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here are some rotating alternatives:

Emmert 6A. originally designed for toolmakers. 90 lbs and heavy duty. $$$ though!

Millhoff vise. As you all know, one of my favorites. really strong, rotates 360 degrees, locks down solid, cheap when you can find them, USA made.

Parker 439 and 474. very nice, strong. I've found 4 in the last 12 months, all under $200

 

[3200fps]

Fps: looks like you scored a made in england quick release record. If you were closer id give you a benjamin for it so yes you didnt pay too much for it. Can you show a few more pics up the bottom of the dynamic jaw so all of us can see the quick release mech?

Here you go, hope this helps. Really hard to see what is happening and I'm not 100% sure how it works (like why there is a spring at the end of the screw). I'd have to take it apart completely for that and it's not dirty enough to attempt it.

 

[dutchgray]

That isn't the usual lever operated British quick release mechanism, I'm not sure how it works either. I know once you have a QR its hard to go back to a normal vice.

 

[Fretters]

(like why there is a spring at the end of the screw).

It removes any backlash between the leadscrew and slide. The only backlash you can get with that design is due to wear in the nut or on the thread, but the slide always follows the leadscrew instantly.

 

[Fretters]

That isn't the usual lever operated British quick release mechanism, I'm not sure how it works either.

That's the system they introduced on the SQ series. Someone did once post a few photo's of one. Can't remember the exact specifics, but it seems a weird setup once you're used to the old style buttress and half nut.

I know once you have a QR its hard to go back to a normal vice.

That's the truth.

That's a good deal you got there 3200'.

 

[vintage nut]

here are some rotating alternatives:

Emmert 6A. originally designed for toolmakers. 90 lbs and heavy duty. $$$ though!

Millhoff vise. As you all know, one of my favorites. really strong, rotates 360 degrees, locks down solid, cheap when you can find them, USA made.

Parker 439 and 474. very nice, strong. I've found 4 in the last 12 months, all under $200

Damn, that emmert is quite the vise!
One of those or one of the parkers are definitely on my wish list!
I'm not sure why, but I've never really been a fan of that other one.... Just doesn't look good to my eye for some reason. I'm sure it's a very good vise, just not to my taste.

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[Fretters]

Seeing as the photo's are going up, one of the Swindens:

 

[bagged89s10]

A scotch pad roloc disk will give you the look you want.

Let them get a light flash rust layer on the fettled surface when you've smoothed them, and then just wipe that over with a rag soaked in paraffin/kerosene before applying the oil. It'll give it the most natural used appearance, IMHO, if you manage to time it all correctly. Just depends exactly what look you're after. The suggestions by Balane and Vintage' would be better if you're wanting more the factory finish look.

Good tips guys. Thank you. maybe I'll try a little of everything.