The VISES of Garage Journal

[balane]

I can't say if it's original or not, the vise is likely very old but it isn't the first vise I've seen with the main screw protruding past the end of the slide.

 

[drivesitfar]

Balane: i was hoping to check that vise out tonight to see why the main screw protruded out the back of the slide. nicely done again and is your turn around time about an hour and are you cooking these vises in the family oven? how the heck can you get paint to dry that fast when it's 32 degrees in my garage?

cheers and if you find out anything more about why the screw is that long i'd like to know.

ALL: OH YA, how did we get to start posting cute gals in pink dresses? Maybe a NEW VICE or the oldest one??

 

[Evergreentree]

Here's a few parkers. No 973 1/2 swivel, and no 954 fixed. Untouched since purchase so far except slight lead screw and internal cleaning.

 

[Evergreentree]

Another. My athol 633 1/2 with swivel jaw. Not a mark on this one, and original paint remains, though hard to see in the picture. Just internal cleaning so far.

 

[Loydski29]

Evergreen: you have a very nice collection I'm jealous!

 

[Shiftless]

Evergreen: you have a very nice collection I'm jealous!

I am too!

 

[Evergreentree]

Thanks. I have one collection, this is it. My wife thinks I'm crazy, which I am. Also helps I'm in pa I think. Kinda vise central in my opinion, ny made, pa made, ct made, etc. there are also 4 decent flea markets within 10mi of me, 2 auctions, and C list. I also have a lot of older clients with quality tools.

There's a lot of great vises on here to, and I can't wait to see more.

 

[drivesitfar]

EG: nice vises and sounds like you have the Vice for Vises too so BEE CAREFUL and make sure to buy a stout shelving unit so when you start finding the BIG ones they will have a nice place to sit until you build a stand or bench to put them on.

cheers and again welcome.

 

[CRSINMICH]

HB SMITH No.2A vise with patent date of August 1, 1865

I completed the deal with my brother-in-law’s brother-in-law. It was a straight swap. I hope this will become a family heirloom. The patent was issued to HB Dart who worked at the Smith Company. Do those jaws look familiar?

EDIT: That 4th picture is NOT from the HB Smith. Don't know how I mistook that.

 

[mbsinmich]

HB SMITH No.2A vise with patent date of August 1, 1865

I completed the deal with my brother-in-law’s brother-in-law. It was a straight swap. I hope this will become a family heirloom. The patent was issued to HB Dart who worked at the Smith Company. Do those jaws look familiar?

That's a nice vise.

 

[Evergreentree]

That smith is awesome. I've seen a lot of those particular vises with holes cracked behind the static jaw when people hammered on them. Seems to be the real weak part of that particular vise. Parker jaws?

Drivesit- I really only want one big big vise. 8" or bigger. A centerpiece of sorts.

I'm taking my time with the vises. I have no patience, but vises are simple, and they are helping me with that.

 

[Jcrapola]

HB SMITH No.2A vise with patent date of August 1, 1865

I completed the deal with my brother-in-law’s brother-in-law. It was a straight swap. I hope this will become a family heirloom. The patent was issued to HB Dart who worked at the Smith Company. Do those jaws look familiar?

Nice vise CRS! Looks pristine.

No beer can for scale? I was reading the older posts. And a beer (or soda) can for scale was nearly ubiquitous. I have noticed a decline in their usage lately. (the quality of photography is up in general however).

I am guilty of abandoning the tradition myself. So i hope my glass house will survive the stone throwing!

 

[Rileysan]

Seattle folks ....

Columbian 506 for $100.

https://seattle.craigslist.org/est/tls/5343243592.html

 

[dittle fart around]

Nice vise CRS! Looks pristine.

No beer can for scale? I was reading the older posts. And a beer (or soda) can for scale was nearly ubiquitous. I have noticed a decline in their usage lately. (the quality of photography is up in general however).

View media item 55302
Just want to fit in....

 

[CRSINMICH]

Nice vise CRS! Looks pristine.

No beer can for scale? I was reading the older posts. And a beer (or soda) can for scale was nearly ubiquitous. I have noticed a decline in their usage lately. (the quality of photography is up in general however).

I am guilty of abandoning the tradition myself. So i hope my glass house will survive the stone throwing!

jcrapola: Beer didn't come in cans in 1865. I used to have an antique tin lunch bucket that the local bartender would fill with beer for a nickle. I'll look for it. (Damn! Now I'm going to have that Hank Williams song stuck in my head. "Oh, my bucket's got a hole in it. I cain't buy no beer.)

Dittle: Your post came up while I was typing mine. Looks like you might have an antique bucket too.

 

[drivesitfar]

DFA: what is that behind the Bud light?

ALL: still need to take a few pics of my new (old) Kurt drill press or mill vise, but for size comparison here's the beer can. i might add the beer in this can is pretty tasty.

also for any of you wanting to shed a few pounds from Thanksgiving or just because we have a weight loss thread in FREE PARKING that a few of us are trying to lose 5 or 10 pounds before Christmas. small portions and trying to eat better foods is the key.

ok back to vise talking.

Riley: with Balane picking up almost every decent vise that comes on Craigs and now you posting the links for the lurkers it will make it pretty easy for me to not buy any more vises. you should drive up for that big guy because i'm not a Columbian fan at this point unless a swivel jaw and it might be too big for Balane unless he already has it in his truck.

 

[CRSINMICH]

That smith is awesome. I've seen a lot of those particular vises with holes cracked behind the static jaw when people hammered on them. Seems to be the real weak part of that particular vise. Parker jaws?

Yeah, I thought they looked like Parker jaws too.

"I really only want one big big vise." - Famous last words.

 

[drivesitfar]

Bagged: i remember you posting an Ebay listing that was a pretty nice Snap on Wilton bullet, but i think this Snap on 1760 might be even nicer. i don't know how to copy and paste to post pictures off of Ebay so here's the link in case you or somebody else wants to post pictures.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Snap-on-WIL...:g:J-AAAOSw8-tWW6a2&item=111837030259&vxp=mtr

 

[CRSINMICH]

THE WORLD IS UPSIDE DOWN

I was taking out the garbage for tomorrow’s collection and I saw our local scrapper drive past. I motioned at the folding chair that I had just set out thinking that he might want the metal in it. He stopped and we chatted for a spell. He didn’t want the chair but he said that he appreciated that I always put metal pieces where he could see them. On a whim, I asked if he ever found vises. He reached into the front of his truck and insisted that I take the 3” no name he had just found. A free vise was delivered to my house – by a scrapper. Listen! Is that Rod Serling narrating?

 

[Jcrapola]

THE WORLD IS UPSIDE DOWN

I was taking out the garbage for tomorrow’s collection and I saw our local scrapper drive past. I motioned at the folding chair that I had just set out thinking that he might want the metal in it. He stopped and we chatted for a spell. He didn’t want the chair but he said that he appreciated that I always put metal pieces where he could see them. On a whim, I asked if he ever found vises. He reached into the front of his truck and insisted that I take the 3” no name he had just found. A free vise was delivered to my house – by a scrapper. Listen! Is that Rod Serling narrating?

I just realized that all your cool vise stories seem to involve "chatting for a spell". Hmmmm..........
I feel I may be on the verge of a breakthrough for my vise collecting!

Seriously though. Freebie! Delivered!? you ****!

 

[mbsinmich]

THE WORLD IS UPSIDE DOWN

I was taking out the garbage for tomorrow’s collection and I saw our local scrapper drive past. I motioned at the folding chair that I had just set out thinking that he might want the metal in it. He stopped and we chatted for a spell. He didn’t want the chair but he said that he appreciated that I always put metal pieces where he could see them. On a whim, I asked if he ever found vises. He reached into the front of his truck and insisted that I take the 3” no name he had just found. A free vise was delivered to my house – by a scrapper. Listen! Is that Rod Serling narrating?

Wow!!

 

[CRSINMICH]

I just realized that all your cool vise stories seem to involve "chatting for a spell". Hmmmm..........
I feel I may be on the verge of a breakthrough for my vise collecting!

Think -karma. I chatted with Fred on Tuesday morning in the rain while mbs and I waited for the sale to start. Fred was o-l-d and I was afraid he would stumble and hurt himself trying to take out his garbage so I offered help. Did that help get the Versa Vise? Maybe.

 

[Jcrapola]

Dittle : thanks for the beer pic!

Drives:Issat the pic of the Kurt? That must be a LITTLE one if you can hide it behind a can of beer....

 

[bagged89s10]

Bagged: i remember you posting an Ebay listing that was a pretty nice Snap on Wilton bullet, but i think this Snap on 1760 might be even nicer. i don't know how to copy and paste to post pictures off of Ebay so here's the link in case you or somebody else wants to post pictures.



http://www.ebay.com/itm/Snap-on-WIL...:g:J-AAAOSw8-tWW6a2&item=111837030259&vxp=mtr

It's the same seller who has restored this one.

 

[va.grouseman]

Originally posted by Evergreentree.

Drivesit- I really only want one big big vise. 8" or bigger. A centerpiece of sorts.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Me to Evergreen.---I just want one big 8''er, and when I find it, I just want one more.---And you are going to find that you've probably contracted the same affliction when you find (just that one big big vise).---There's no cure as of yet, but researchers are working around the clock.

 

[CwazyWabbit]

I have one big 8" vise ..... and another ..... and another .... and if one more should appear at a good price I'd probably find it difficult to say no

 

[drivesitfar]

ALL of you with more than one 8 inch vise i'd say it, but i don't talk like that (very often). i'm still looking for my first one to even touch in person.

EG: while i'm still looking for those big 8 inchers these other vises just happen to cross my path and if vise funds are in my pocket somehow they end up following me home. good luck with that and as I mentioned BEE CAREFUL.

Bagged: same guy? pretty cool imprints and gold Snap on emblem on the one i just found. even though it almost looks imported i do like all the bling.

cheers

 

[Evergreentree]

A vise story...
My first was a craftsman hand me down from my wife's grandfather. I didn't know a thing about them, and used it strictly as intended for. Holding things! I spend I don't know how many hours file chainsaws over it. It did everything well enough.

Then I visited a friends body shop, and I used his Parker. A completely different animal. I didn't know how bad the quality of the crapsman was until I used the Parker. I had to have it. It was used hard for years in his shop,originally a aviation mechanics shop, then a gas/mechanics shop, then the body shop. I started to recognize quality at flea markets, and picked up and cleaned up a little athol that was tighter then tree rings. There it started.

I finally pried the Parker off his bench with a trade of what he wanted, a bigger aff vise. Yes I felt bad, but he was happy and so was i.

Drivesit-I keep vise money in my pocket to. I'm only buying quality now, but it's still hard to walk by a exposed lead screw columbian, or a broken slide yost....I just tell myself they will find a home! Ha

 

[bagged89s10]

ALL of you with more than one 8 inch vise i'd say it, but i don't talk like that (very often). i'm still looking for my first one to even touch in person.

EG: while i'm still looking for those big 8 inchers these other vises just happen to cross my path and if vise funds are in my pocket somehow they end up following me home. good luck with that and as I mentioned BEE CAREFUL.

Bagged: same guy? pretty cool imprints and gold Snap on emblem on the one i just found. even though it almost looks imported i do like all the bling.

cheers

Here is the link to the last one he restored and sold.

http://r.ebay.com/ifxkO5

 

[Evergreentree]

And yes, I want 1 real big vise. Then I'll need a better real big vise because I settled on the first one, just because I was excited to find one, Then I'll need a real big swivel jaw vise, the I'll get tired of the big and want a baby bullet....

I've had some vices, and this is proving to be the cheapest and most satisfying. My vise squad sits on my bar now, there's no alcohol in it, and only a few sit in my fridge! So what if I hand my business cards out to flea market vendors with the word "vise" on it with a sharpie?!

How many do you have drivesit? This bee careful warning sounds like somebody was not so careful....

 

[drivesitfar]

Bagged: i didn't need it but maybe somebody else can use it. i try to keep off Ebay to look for vises so i can maybe have a chance to have some vise funds in my pocket. if i only needed one vise i'd probably shop there or if i flipped them as fast as you, Joe, Kevin, Balane and Top i'd probably buy more.

EG: not sure how many, but we had a pole last month you might have seen as a lurker that i checked over 100. i know i don't have the most by any means, but i do have more than a few. also no matter how many vises you buy if you find a baby bullet on a power arm with a clamp you will love it as i do. thanks for the great story and I've warned a lot of members since i've joined here and only a few have managed to participate in our thread and only buy one or two.

good luck and again welcome

 

[dittle fart around]

View media item 55302
So here's the reply to, "Hey what's behind the Bud Light?"

View media item 55303
Emerson oscillating fan type 73648

View media item 55304
Maybe I should find the fan thread?

 

[Evergreentree]

DriveSit I see how this thread can enable ones ability to quit seeking out vices...

May I see the bullet you speak of? I'm not really sure what my holy grail vise is, but I bet long term it'll wind up being one I already have...

 

[drivesitfar]

EG: i've posted it a few times and since i'm making a post anyway about a different vise here's maybe my favorite vise. Wilton baby with power arm and clamp for all the small stuff.

ALL: so anybody have or see one of these pipe vises? it's in Joe's area for sale and it looks interesting, but i know he won't buy it because it's a pipe vise.

 

[Blue Frog]

OK Drives, how does one locate one of those clamps? I don't recall ever seeing one.


Blue

 

[CRSINMICH]

ALL: so anybody have or see one of these pipe vises? it's in Joe's area for sale and it looks interesting, but i know he won't buy it because it's a pipe vise.

I'd buy that pipe vise except that I only have a small bench and I'd be concerned that it would make my **** look big.

 

[Evergreentree]

Way cool drivesit! Thanks

 

[drivesitfar]

Blue: i was shopping in Joe's and Bagged's area (Boston) and saw it. pretty cool looking if you ask me. he wants a benjamin so i wouldn't want to pay that and add shipping, but if i was closer I might be tempted. here's the link. glad you liked it too. Neither one of those guys like pipe vises so it might be there for a while for you to buy.

http://boston.craigslist.org/nos/atq/5336592945.html

EG: with the power arm that baby wilton is amazing. i'm going to strip it and put on Fretter's cool wax recipe he shared with us on the vise repair 101 thread last week. you might want to do the same with one of your cool vises. good luck with that vice for vises and unlike a vise for nice cars it's not quite as hard on the wallet as you mentioned.

or until you start renting storage units to store them.

CRS: I bet you'll find room for a vise or clamp like that if one pops up at your sales. or maybe you'll find something better.

 

[CRSINMICH]

CRS: I bet you'll find room for a vise or clamp like that if one pops up at your sales. or maybe you'll find something better.

drives: If I ever saw one I'd be on it like a duck on a June Bug, to use a country turn of the phrase. I just couldn't resist making the big **** joke since it was made by the HG **** Co. The only thing I could think of that might be similar but better would be a Vanderman.

Speaking of sales, I'm off to my regular Friday flea market.

 

[Blue Frog]

Drives, I wasn't clear on my previous post. I have the Baby Bullet and the Power Arm Jr. I want the clamp like the one in your picture.


Blue