Blacksmith vises 101 companies that made them, catalogs and history show and tell all

[drivesitfar]

ALL: surprisingly i do not yet own a blacksmith vise. one of the best tools ever built to make a quick tool or fix something.

I'd like to own one or more some day and just want to know a lot more about them so i can buy one that will last to pass on to my kids and grand kids.

anybody that wants to post their blacksmith vise please do and if you know any history or details about it please share that. i'm guessing blacksmith vises are pretty similar to bench vises and would like to know the particular part's names and purpose if you know and can share that.

i'll keep links to catalogs stored on post #2 and start a list of all the blacksmith vise making companies on post #3.

post pictures of any and all blacksmith vises and of course this can be a members discussion thread on many subjects pertaining to blacksmith vises and their uses and history.

thanks all and hoping I (we) learn more than we knew yesterday about these wonderful old tools.

 

[drivesitfar]

Blacksmith vise catalogs and links:

 

[drivesitfar]

Companies and manufacturers that made Blacksmith or Post vises:

Columbian
Fisher Eagle
Indian
Iron City
Keenkutter
Peter Wright (English also made high quality anvils)

 

[drivesitfar]

Reserved for ??

 

[drivesitfar]

Reserved for ??

 

[drivesitfar]

Filson: posted his blacksmith vise with a table when i first joined and i still like it's design so until he sees this and maybe posts a few more pictures and details of it i'll share the pictures i have of it.

ALL: post up pictures of yours or some that you've seen or found online and add any information you can add would be great.

cheers and Happy Thanksgiving

 

[drivesitfar]

ALL: here's a Peter Wright blacksmith vise and sorry i don't have all the specs on it, but heard it weighed close to 200 pounds.

 

[drivesitfar]

ALL: here's one that i didn't buy and probably should of. the bottom of the old growth log was a little rotten, but i could have sawed it off and had a unique stand with a nice blacksmith vise. probably was too sore or couldn't figure out how to unload that off my trailer once the seller loaded it so passed. maybe another GJ member here owns it and can show more pictures.

 

[twertsy]

So is that the best way to mount these?

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[drivesitfar]

Twertsy: i'm sure there are other methods of mounting a blacksmith vise just like there are many versions of vise stands and benches. the stump or log mount or on a steel table is the most common. i picked up this steel tubing homemade stand a while back so i can mount my 6 or hopefully 8 inch old blacksmith vise to it.

ALL: anybody have blacksmith vise to post pictures of or have history or information or more questions to post please do.

 

[Fretters]

So is that the best way to mount these?

Something wooden would always be my choice, whether it be a bench, log/stump etc. Affixing to something steel would be like attaching to a large amplifier, IMHO.

 

[jakemac]

^^^^ ^^^^

I have 3 leg vises, but 2 are still in storage. I don't recall seeing any makers marks on the ones I have.

I've posted this before, but here's how I mounted my 3-1/4" leg vise so that it would be portable. I occasionally need to put a foot on the base to keep it in place when I'm working on a piece, but it has always gotten the job done.

 

[RustnGrease]

Drives: Great idea for a thread, Here's some crappy pics of two of the three i own, haven't had chance to clean these two up yet so no idea of markings on them. The third one is similar in form to these, possibly the same company but not sure. no marks on that one.

The usual/standard way from what i understand, is these are to be mounted to a post or timber that is installed into the ground, then the post/leg of the vise would set onto another post/timber that was buried and cut at ground level to distribute the forces.

 

[drivesitfar]

ALL: i wonder if i put some 3/4 inch rubber under my steel stand if that might help?

Jake: love that set up. do you still have that vise and just the one blacksmith vise? i know you used to make some horseshoes and wondering what else you made with your vise and anvil blacksmith set up?

RG: nice looking old iron and feel free to post more pictures of them as is or after you clean them up with maybe a few details if you find any. thanks for the kudos on the thread idea and i hope you and the others that actually own blacksmith vises embrace it and we can all learn a bit more about these awesome tools.

Fretters: any pictures of your old BS vise(s)?

 

[RustnGrease]

Drives: will do when i get chance. This is straight from anvilfire.com http://anvilfire.com/FAQs/blacksmith-vise.php

English Solid Box Vises
Weight Jaw
30 3.5
35 3.75
40 4
45 4.25
50 4.5
55 4.75
60 5
65 5
70 5.25
75 5.25
80 5.5
85 5.5
90 5.75
95 5.75

Weight Jaw
100 6
110 6
120 6.5
130 6.5
140 7
150 7
160 7.25
170 7.25
180 7.5
190 NA
200 7.75
220 8
240 8
270 +8, 8
Weight in Pounds Jaw width in inches.

also

 

[twertsy]

^^^^ ^^^^

I have 3 leg vises, but 2 are still in storage. I don't recall seeing any makers marks on the ones I have.

I've posted this before, but here's how I mounted my 3-1/4" leg vise so that it would be portable. I occasionally need to put a foot on the base to keep it in place when I'm working on a piece, but it has always gotten the job done.

That is a good idea but mine is much larger and I'm not sure it'd work. I need to finish cleaning it up and get it on something solid.

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[jakemac]

Jake: love that set up. do you still have that vise and just the one blacksmith vise? i know you used to make some horseshoes and wondering what else you made with your vise and anvil blacksmith set up?

Drives - I have two 4" to 4-1/2" post vises in storage that I've never mounted. I still have the 3-1/4" one in the picture that's sitting in my shop right now. I never made horseshoes, it was mostly spoons, forks, and nails for the tourists. Lots of tent pegs for Re-enactors and the occasional candle holder. I was more of a metal bender than a blacksmith.

 

[scrapdaddy]

Here's the mount I made for my 6" vise. The post is filled with cement and was sunk in the ground 4'. Then poured cement around it. 800 pounds of cement total.

 

[code4pay]

Is there an advantage to a blacksmith vice compared to an engineer style vice?

 

[jakemac]

Yes, it is designed to take more of a beating. The leg on the vise should transfer the shock of the blow down to the ground, rather into a bench like when using a machinists vise.

This is also why the leg of a post vise should be mounted onto a block of wood. The wood helps to absorb some of the shock. A metal or concrete base on the leg bounces the shock of the blow back up the vise.

The same principle applies to mounting an anvil on a stump or wooden stand, rather than a metal or concrete base.

For the record, the mounting bracket on the vise that is mounted to the bench, isn't there to keep the vise rigidly on the bench. It's there to keep the vise in one spot and let the movement of the vise go in a vertical direction when being hit. Thus transferring the blow down the leg and minimizing the chance of stress fractures in the metal.

 

[code4pay]

Yes, it is designed to take more of a beating. The leg on the vise should transfer the shock of the blow down to the ground, rather into a bench like when using a machinists vise.

This is also why the leg of a post vise should be mounted onto a block of wood. The wood helps to absorb some of the shock. A metal or concrete base on the leg bounces the shock of the blow back up the vise.

The same principle applies to mounting an anvil on a stump or wooden stand, rather than a metal or concrete base.

For the record, the mounting bracket on the vise that is mounted to the bench, isn't there to keep the vise rigidly on the bench. It's there to keep the vise in one spot and let the movement of the vise go in a vertical direction when being hit. Thus transferring the blow down the leg and minimizing the chance of stress fractures in the metal.

Makes sense, thanks for the info!

 

[drivesitfar]

Jake: thanks for the posts and information.

ALL: so maybe the reason so many big old bench vises are broken is because they have been hit with a BFH thinking they could take a beating like Blacksmith vises do. bench vises were not built to hammer on like a blacksmith vise is and built as more of a third hand.

anybody have a few more blacksmith vises to post and more information and links to post like RustNGrease did would be great. thanks in advance

 

[36truck]

Here's my blacksmith vise that my dad & I made a bench for. I've since sold it when I moved. Not the best idea to sell as I do miss it. No makers marks on that I remember. I think it was a 6" vise.

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[drivesitfar]

36: i would have bought that one. the vise is good size and the lines are appealing to me and the stand you and Dad built is AWESOME. thanks for sharing and sorry it's not yours any longer.

 

[36truck]

Thanks Drives. It was a great project.

 

[sandman54]

Hey drives I really like this site, I believe I have 7 leg vises, 3 are German made by Heuer. I will try to take pics, tomorrow. Sandman

 

[drivesitfar]

36: i don't see any welds on the legs of that cool stand you and your Dad made. did you tap and use bolts to hold it together. again nicely done.

Sandman: you are more than welcome to post 7 pictures of each and every blacksmith vise you own and if you want to have big anvils and vises in the pictures i'm sure I (we) won't mind a bit. Looking forward to seeing what a German blacksmith vise looks like. thanks in advance

ALL: here's a 1908 Fuller that i had a few pictures saved on my laptop of. if anybody knows more about this vise feel free to post.

 

[organ]

I own two Iron City post vises... One in great shape, one not so much. Neither mounted.

 

[36truck]

Drives I believe that's what we did. It's been a long time since we built it. Probably been over 20 years ago that we built it. Sold it a year ago.

 

[vintage nut]

Picked up a big piece of box section today to build the stand for my big blacksmith vise. This should be quite the beast when finished

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[RustnGrease]

Finally got back to this thread, Drives that Fuller vise is outstanding,obviously foot operated to allow both hands free to position the item into it. Rare for sure, i've never seen a foot operated vise in person or for sale. Some guys would potentially kill for one.

I've recently learned that a company, i believe they're in germany has starrted or has been making brand new post vises. will look into that more and report back.

Also Most post vises were generally not marked since they were such a common item back in the day from what i understand. On a general value, the larger jaw vises are worth exponentially more than the smaller jaw, due to size and rarity.

ALL: love the vise pictures and info, keep em rolling in!

Even more rare and desireable is the Fisher Parallel chain driven leg vise. Not many of these around anymore.

 

[drivesitfar]

RG: post more pictures of your blacksmith vise family as you can. thanks for the great words and because you asked i had a few more vises on stands saved to post.

Vintage: can you post a few pictures of your piece of steel tubing? also email me dimensions of the plate you might want for each side and maybe i have a couple extra pieces to set aside if you make it down my way??

ALL: here's a few blacksmith vises i have found over the years and i liked their stands so pick a favorite and tell us about why you like it. or if you have your own or more history to share about these tools please do because I (we) all want to learn more.

have a great weekend all

 

[RustnGrease]

Drives: that fisher isn't mine. Found that pic on the internet. Perhaps if i get chance i will get a pic of my 3 tomorrow with their measurements.

#4 in those pics is wayy too ornate to even think about using, I'm digging the mount on #7 might have to use that idea on one of mine. #2 is just perfect, nice,clean and simple.3

Edit: Just found a foot operated vise for sale on CL. Price is a little too salty for the tool budget right now though. 650

 

[scrapdaddy]

#6 is mine, the one I posted above with the tractor holding it up. 800 pounds of cement in that 4 foot hole holds the vise very well. It's a 6 inch Ironcity.

 

[Maui]

I have seven post leg vises ranging in size from a 1" jaw to 6+ inches. I'll take some photos and post them. Here's the CL ad where I am selling two of these vises:

https://rochester.craigslist.org/tls/5342994491.html

Maui

 

[RustnGrease]

SD: I was thought that was just a plate at the bottom, didn't take notice that was concrete. what size square tube did you use? I want to permanently mount one of mine. Always have the vise wanting to move on me.

 

[drivesitfar]

SD: can you post more pictures of your old vise and the cool stand you made?

Maui: can you make several posts with a bunch of pictures of your vises? what is the weight of your 6 inch vise?

 

[Maui]

Drivesitfar, yes I can do that. I'll weigh the 6" vise and let you know. Most of my post leg vises have no manufacturers markings on them.

Maui

 

[drivesitfar]

Maui: thanks and that would be great. even if no manufacture's name still worthy of plenty of picture posts. i'm sure a lot of them were actually made by a blacksmith.

ALL: this thread is really lacking pictures so if you have any of your own or others please post them. also could use links, posts and more words about these great old tools so post what you know because i know there is a ton of good stuff in the heads and computers of our members to share.

thanks

 

[GETRIDAONE]

RustnGrease

ALL: love the vise pictures and info, keep em rolling in!

Even more rare and desireable is the Fisher Parallel chain driven leg vise. Not many of these around anymore.[/QUOTE]

I thought everyone had a Fisher lying around I got lucky and saw it shortly after being posted on CL. $150.00 It is a 5" and might be my next project. The leg is bent
and will need straighting, the chain link couplings are stretched so the chain has a lot of sag in it, the knob on the bottom is missing but I have a wrought iron fence post ball that will work perfect.