va.grouseman
Well-known member
Nice iron Joe.---You can't hide good stuff like that.---Vise people will spot'em if nothing but a handle ball is showing.
The VISES of Garage Journal
- Thread starter mjozefow
- Start date
a990dna
Well-known member
Hi..
I posted photos of my original Craftsman 5162 many pages back.. I inherited this from my late brother in-law in 1980. It may be too late, but here's a photo of the original color.. or what's left of the original color.
I hope this helps..
.
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Fretters
Well-known member
A good collector can smell old iron, ne'er mind needing to see it.
Plus old oil and grease. They're like homing beacons for the nose. Nuts
Well-known member
Merrill Brothers 175lb vise on fleabay.
Has to be one of the heaviest exposed screw vises made.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Rare-Antiqu...412027?hash=item43e5a20f3b:g:3cUAAOSw~bFWOXXK
Nuts
Has to be one of the heaviest exposed screw vises made.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Rare-Antiqu...412027?hash=item43e5a20f3b:g:3cUAAOSw~bFWOXXK
Nuts
FMC1959
Well-known member
I like that vise, 175 lb for a 6", exposed or covered screw, that's up there with the big boy 6"er's, and with a $99 starting bid. Yup, I like it!
I have been looking for a good quality vise for general use and working on muzzle loaders. I have searched ebay but I really don't know what to look for regarding best quality. I need a mentor...someone that I could actually talk to by phone that would take a little time to coach me as to what to look for and how to buy. I am not in a hurry to get one as I already have a craftsman in my shop which I have used for years...I am thinking of setting up another work bench in another place. I don't know how this forum works...I guess you can send me a message or email. Thanks for any help. Have a blessed day. Life NRA.
joe.striper
Well-known member
http://m.ebay.com/itm?itemId=181930969610&action=BIN&kmsi=true
Which GJ jerkoff bought my Millhoff vise before I could! I am sure whoever bought it knew what it is.
Which GJ jerkoff bought my Millhoff vise before I could! I am sure whoever bought it knew what it is.
http://m.ebay.com/itm?itemId=181930969610&action=BIN&kmsi=true
Which GJ jerkoff bought my Millhoff vise before I could! I am sure whoever bought it knew what it is.
$38 and free shipping. Someone basically got a free vise.
Well, unfortunately the 608 (actually 508 without the base) I was after had gone after someone waved $200 under the seller's nose. However, at the next stop an hour down the road a complete Parker 436 was shoved in the trunk for $100 so goood enough.Pictures eventually.....
Thrumcap
that's a you **** deal if I ever saw one. And a massive beast, your rear of the car must be riding a little low back homeCraptain
Well-known member
I would start by reading this thread. OK, maybe not all of it but go back and read plenty of it. Everythingy you need to know is in here somewhere. Best quality is a variable thing depending on use. From personal experience I would be looking for a 5 or 6 inch, preferably swivel jaw swivel base vise. Equip it with soft jaw protectors. However that is my ideal not my reality. What I have is a 3 1/2 inch, a 5 inch and a woodworking vise. None of them swivel jaw. The wood vise is gentle on my guns for most light work. The 5 inch is the big vise for heavy work and the 3 1/2 is my go to everyday vise. As for names. I like Wilton. I also have Columbian and Yost. Depending where you are you might do better with Parker or one of the other brands. Basically if you avoid chrome anywhere on the vise you will avoid the lower quality Asian vises. Any US or European made vise should get you the quality you want.
Are you looking at gunsmithing or just maintaining your guns? I usually just maintain my own not big repairs.
Sent from my LG-D801 using Tapatalk
wed4life
Active member
http://m.ebay.com/itm?itemId=181930969610&action=BIN&kmsi=true
Which GJ jerkoff bought my Millhoff vise before I could! I am sure whoever bought it knew what it is.
Joe,
It was me
I missed out on the local one here in Minneapolis craigslist about 6 months back for $100, so when I seen this pop up, I jumped on it.It is only a single swiveling ******* thou.
David
CRSINMICH
Well-known member
YOU LOSE SOME - YOU WIN SOME
I lost out on a really sweet deal on CL. There was a listing for a “Large Industrial Vise with Table” – for $100! The table was 18x24x34½ and all steel. I called on it before I even finished reading. I had to leave a message with a secretary to have Jim call me first thing in the morning since he had already left for the day. The next morning, even I couldn’t convince myself that he would be at work at 6:30 so I forced myself to wait to call again until 8:00. He still wasn’t in. I was told he’d be in “around 10:00”. I left another message. Coincidentally, around 10:05 I found myself just outside the shop so I knocked on the door. The secretary let me in and got Jim. He told me that there were THREE vise and table combinations, but that one had already been sold. I asked if I could take a look since I was already there. One of the combo vises was a Rock Island. The other two were Chicago Wiltons. I didn’t get the model numbers cuz I was in a daze. Jim chose that moment to crush my very soul by telling me that he was saving the other two for a “valued repeat customer”. I had my hands on them! I was that close. When I could speak again I asked if he had just a vise he would sell. He showed me one sitting on the loading dock. From the depths of despair to the heights of triumph.
(CONTINUED IN NEXT POST)
I lost out on a really sweet deal on CL. There was a listing for a “Large Industrial Vise with Table” – for $100! The table was 18x24x34½ and all steel. I called on it before I even finished reading. I had to leave a message with a secretary to have Jim call me first thing in the morning since he had already left for the day. The next morning, even I couldn’t convince myself that he would be at work at 6:30 so I forced myself to wait to call again until 8:00. He still wasn’t in. I was told he’d be in “around 10:00”. I left another message. Coincidentally, around 10:05 I found myself just outside the shop so I knocked on the door. The secretary let me in and got Jim. He told me that there were THREE vise and table combinations, but that one had already been sold. I asked if I could take a look since I was already there. One of the combo vises was a Rock Island. The other two were Chicago Wiltons. I didn’t get the model numbers cuz I was in a daze. Jim chose that moment to crush my very soul by telling me that he was saving the other two for a “valued repeat customer”. I had my hands on them! I was that close. When I could speak again I asked if he had just a vise he would sell. He showed me one sitting on the loading dock. From the depths of despair to the heights of triumph.
(CONTINUED IN NEXT POST)
joe.striper
Well-known member
Joe,
It was me
It is only a single swiveling ******* thou.
David
********!!!!!
CRSINMICH
Well-known member
YOU LOSE SOME – YOU WIN SOME (continued from post #37865)
For the second time in less than a week, I had found a vise on my wish list – an Emmert Tiger! Good old Jim let it go for $40. Life is good!
For the second time in less than a week, I had found a vise on my wish list – an Emmert Tiger! Good old Jim let it go for $40. Life is good!
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Jcrapola
Well-known member
At the urging of CRSINMICH, I am posting my grinding vises (well the good ones anyway). I wasn't sure if it fit the vise thread or not...
The real star of the show is the 7" USA made one form 1980 that I picked up from a guy at his retirement for $300. Most expensive vise i own.
The real star of the show is the 7" USA made one form 1980 that I picked up from a guy at his retirement for $300. Most expensive vise i own.
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jakemac
Well-known member
Well, I bought my first Wilton for only $25 this morning.
but don't get too exited, it's only a little 3-1/2" Shop King. Made at SCHILLER P'RK ILL [sic].
Normally an exposed screw vise won't get a second look from me, but this was in near pristine condition and included the pipe jaws that always go missing. Other than a little ding, the jaws look unused. Even the grooves were still sharp. There were a few metal filings left on the vise, but I doubt that this one was used very much. I had to pay up to get it, but I just couldn't leave it behind for the unwashed masses to paw over.
but don't get too exited, it's only a little 3-1/2" Shop King. Made at SCHILLER P'RK ILL [sic].
Normally an exposed screw vise won't get a second look from me, but this was in near pristine condition and included the pipe jaws that always go missing. Other than a little ding, the jaws look unused. Even the grooves were still sharp. There were a few metal filings left on the vise, but I doubt that this one was used very much. I had to pay up to get it, but I just couldn't leave it behind for the unwashed masses to paw over.
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CRSINMICH
Well-known member
Is that big guy the one that you said cost so dang much? They are beautiful in a space-age, high tech way. I always admire well machined tools. It's cute that they stack too. Thanks for the pix.
Jake: Shop King has all the style points. Cool find. Give it a little gold leaf on the lettering and the crown and it would make a great stocking stuffer.
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BassProCamaro97
Well-known member
Anyone know anything about the Chas Parker No. 22X ? I'm going to look at one later this afternoon.
Thanks,
Thanks,
jreb10
Well-known member
http://m.ebay.com/itm?itemId=181930969610&action=BIN&kmsi=true
Which GJ jerkoff bought my Millhoff vise before I could! I am sure whoever bought it knew what it is.
I guess the Milhoff vise goodness is getting spread around. I like mine very much, and I know you like yours.
Funny story. It turns out I met the guy who invented the Milhoff vise. His name was Bob Hofmeister, and that is where the "hoff" part of the company name comes from.
After retiring from Milhoff, he opened a Harley dealership in Faribault, MN. I met him there a few times and spoke with him a little bit, unfortunately not about vises as I did not know his background then.
Here is a link to his obit which is an interesting read:
http://www.startribune.com/biker-bob-hofmeister-rode-his-hog-until-he-was-89/27078964/
Tiger, tiger burning bright . . . . Awesome vise! Did you say it was a 5 incher?
CRSINMICH
Well-known member
5 1/2 inches to be exact
Jcrapola
Well-known member
CRSINMICH: Is that big guy the one that you said cost so dang much? They are beautiful in a space-age, high tech way. I always admire well machined tools. It's cute that they stack too. Thanks for the pix.
Yeah thats the one. I tried to look up the replacement cost, but they dont even make em that big anymore. last time i saw them listed they were at $2500.
It is crazy accurate. <.0004" across the whole base, <.0002" on the jaws! That is nice work on something that large. Very nice work.
Incidentally it was made right here in the D!
Yeah thats the one. I tried to look up the replacement cost, but they dont even make em that big anymore. last time i saw them listed they were at $2500.
It is crazy accurate. <.0004" across the whole base, <.0002" on the jaws! That is nice work on something that large. Very nice work.
Incidentally it was made right here in the D!
drivesitfar
Well-known member
Alcalde: Craptain's post about covered it all. if you can only buy one vise any 4 to 5 inch Reed, Rock Island, Parker, Morgan, Prentiss, Wilton or Craftsman should work great. i have 4 set up in my small garage other than the DP vise. on is a Wilton 2 inch bullet on a powerarm with it's clamp, a Reed 404.5 that has a swivel back jaw and it's 4.5 inch wide jaws, Reed 4C that is over 170 pounds and is 6 inch wide jaws with pipe jaws and i'm going to mount my AMT patternmaker's vise on my wood bench. i don't do guns, but i'm sure i could easily with this set up.
if i could only have one the Reed 404.5 would be the one most likely, but i'm hoping to get down to 20 vises some day so i can use a trailer hitch type mount and be able to remove and replace them as the ones not in use sit on a shelf.
if i could only have one the Reed 404.5 would be the one most likely, but i'm hoping to get down to 20 vises some day so i can use a trailer hitch type mount and be able to remove and replace them as the ones not in use sit on a shelf.
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dittle fart around
Well-known member
Just purchased a Parker 93-1/2
View media item 54764
View media item 54763
Like the sweet deco design. Cost me 35 bucks and a drive across Porland, always a lovely experience. Works great the paint is olive drab under a lighter green.
View media item 54764
View media item 54763
Like the sweet deco design. Cost me 35 bucks and a drive across Porland, always a lovely experience. Works great the paint is olive drab under a lighter green.
bagged89s10
Well-known member
bagged89s10
Well-known member
bagged89s10
Well-known member
ekegelmann
Well-known member
FMC1959
Well-known member
Just purchased a Parker 93-1/2
View media item 54764Like the sweet deco design. Cost me 35 bucks and a drive across Porland, always a lovely experience. Works great the paint is olive drab under a lighter green.
Not the most heavy duty, but definitely cool art deco look...nice
CRSINMICH
Well-known member
bagged: I don't know the weight yet but the table it's on sags about an inch an a half. It must be well proportioned because without something near it for scale it looks like any other vise. Here are some of the other specs in visual form.
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Your location would be a place to start. There are a lot of helpful people here. In my opinion, if I were to have one vise, it would be a 5" (or 6") Rock Island, Morgan, or Parker (My preferred brands). 4" vises just don't get it done for me.
Fretters
Well-known member
The quality of the vice is more important than the jaw width. My 4-1/4" vice is still my favourite, (probably always will be too), and it's never balked at anything I've asked of it, even when I was hanging off it trying to get some damn stubborn adjuster sleeves off some track rods.
My whole bench was moving before owt else did, and that's no lightweight. 5" and 6" vices are nice, but the extra space they consume on a bench for the limited extra they give in real world use isn't necessarily justifiable. A good quality 4" or so vice is pretty much a perfect vice, IMHO, for general use.The quality of the vice is more important than the jaw width. My 4-1/4" vice is still my favourite, (probably always will be too), and it's never balked at anything I've asked of it, even when I was hanging off it trying to get some damn stubborn adjuster sleeves off some track rods.
I brought one of my Starrett 924s into my old job and bolted her down. Yes, it worked, but it was inadequate for probably 25% of the tasks I was throwing at it. Of course it was better than a chicom wilton or something. Thats why I rattled off those quality names, of course its all just my opinion, and you know what they say about opinions..
oldldh
Well-known member
scooternut
Well-known member
Fretters
Well-known member
What do you work on; Railway axles?
What type of jobs wouldn't it cope with? I'm assuming it must've been something which needed larger clearance than the jaw height would allow?Outlawmws
Well-known member
What do you work on; Railway axles?
I'm curious about that also. I've been using a 4" Parker 974 for ages and it's always been up to the job, unless it simply won't open wide enough. (Rare, but that is why I want a pattern makers vise...)
Of course, If I get the base sorted out for the Parker 386...
What I always wanted (but never had and don't have the space for) is an 8 to 10' bench with a pair of identical vises, one at each end for those times I want to clamp a long piece. Probably a better way is one on the bench and one on a stand at the same height...
topop101
Well-known member
The one on the right is probably foreign made. The one on the left is a Columbian/ Craftsman. 1960's ... Only a guess from a limited view in the photo. I buy them around 35 bucks depending on condition. Argue the paint job and maybe get it for a 20 !Especially if you are buying anything else.
drivesitfar
Well-known member
USC: i agree with TOP on the vises and i've done a little searching in your areas and for $150-$200 you can get some nice old vises that weigh 4 times what those weigh and will last forever if treated correctly.
Outlaw: when my neighbor (my welder for now) quits riding his bike on the weekends i have the material to build two welding benches so i can do just what you described and sort of use them as big sawhorses if i need to also. Wood wood work too and even a couple workmates probably would if the project isn't too big or heavy.
JRobb & Fretters: size isn't what always determines the best user as in almost everything.
it all depends on how you use it and what the need is. A good old 4.5 or 5 inch vise (pre 1960's) that weighs more than 60 pounds should do most any job, but there are times when they won't especially with this crowd.
Oldie: so the guy selling his 6 inch Wilton for $75 found it in a dumpster? they sell for $400-500 in great shape and that one doesn't look that bad. it also has the jaw design i like better too.
Outlaw: when my neighbor (my welder for now) quits riding his bike on the weekends i have the material to build two welding benches so i can do just what you described and sort of use them as big sawhorses if i need to also. Wood wood work too and even a couple workmates probably would if the project isn't too big or heavy.
JRobb & Fretters: size isn't what always determines the best user as in almost everything.
it all depends on how you use it and what the need is. A good old 4.5 or 5 inch vise (pre 1960's) that weighs more than 60 pounds should do most any job, but there are times when they won't especially with this crowd.
Oldie: so the guy selling his 6 inch Wilton for $75 found it in a dumpster? they sell for $400-500 in great shape and that one doesn't look that bad. it also has the jaw design i like better too.
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