The VISES of Garage Journal

[Shiftless]

Riley:
Thanks for the explanation. I'm sure I am not the only one impressed by the scale of your operations.

 

[mnoeltne]

I'm certainly not a vise aficionado like most of you, but I did recently inherit the old vise my Dad had in his workshop. I can remember playing with this vise as a kid, so it is definitely over 50 years old.

It's a Littletown 450, which I know nothing about. After I post this, I will probably search the 1939 pages of this thread to see what is mentioned about this brand.

I also have a cheap Pony 24545 in my shop. It does what I need it to do, but certainly isn't as nice as Dad's.

 

[Provincial]

My guess on what destroyed that Wilton:
1) A case of beer. + 2) The Wilton nailed to a stump. + 3) Several sticks of dynamite clamped in the jaws. + 4) a high powered rifle to set off the dynamite.

On Monday, the boss walked through the shop and asked "where is the vise?"

 

[drivesitfar]

Gany and Provi: probably didn't happen that way, but if you have pictures to share or a youtube video i'll retract my BFH post.

Riley: nice pics of big steel. i'll retract my little steel pics shortly.

Shift: no it's not bolted to a wall or stud in my storage unit because it would pull down the building. BTW we had a 6.8 earthquake up here about a decade or so ago and i was driving in my Honda and didn't even feel it. it did do some damage on those building built on old fill and swamps though. i hope you are we don't ever live to see the 9 or 10.0 ones they predict with California falling into the Pacific.

oh and i probably should move some of that weight to the floor or a lower shelf because if it did fall it would shove my 4 x 12 foot high commercial racks out the front doors of the storage facility. at that point like Lucy used to say i'd have some splaining to do to management.

 

[Shiftless]

I'm certainly not a vise aficionado like most of you, but I did recently inherit the old vise my Dad had in his workshop. I can remember playing with this vise as a kid, so it is definitely over 50 years old.

It's a Littletown 450, which I know nothing about. After I post this, I will probably search the 1939 pages of this thread to see what is mentioned about this brand.

I also have a cheap Pony 24545 in my shop. It does what I need it to do, but certainly isn't as nice as Dad's.

Love the patina on your Dad's old Littlestown. Don't abuse it and it will be in shape to pass down to the NEXT generation!

 

[zkling]

EVERYONE

Here is the Wilton 9400 I purchased for parts yesterday. THE PARTS ARE ALREADY SPOKEN FOR. If that changes I’ll repost this.

I’m posting today because I’ve never seen a vise this abused. I thought it would be fun to get some of your guesses as to what happened to it. Jokes and absurd answers are encouraged. There are no incorrect answers because I don’t know how it got this way

WHAT HAPPENED TO THIS VISE?

Since the handle appears rather straight, I'd go with a pry bar or the like that put a jacking force on the static jaw.

 

[Outlawmws]

As hilarious as some of the responses are, I' think ZK and Drives got it, or at least closest.

I'm thinking the pry bar scenario, or another heavy piece, and a BFH (Drives thought) trying to bend said piece towards the D jaw. This provides lift and shock to the static jaw, and the form of the break sort of lends credence to that scenario.

Animals abound...

EVERYONE

Here is the Wilton 9400 I purchased for parts yesterday. THE PARTS ARE ALREADY SPOKEN FOR. If that changes I’ll repost this.

I’m posting today because I’ve never seen a vise this abused. I thought it would be fun to get some of your guesses as to what happened to it. Jokes and absurd answers are encouraged. There are no incorrect answers because I don’t know how it got this way

WHAT HAPPENED TO THIS VISE?

Riley: can you maybe tell i do like steel a little?

CRS: BFH and a welder that had plenty of brazing material to burn. i can see why you kept walking by it, but it does have a few parts so good to grab and maybe use to save another or pass on like it sounds that you are doing.

One day in anytown, 'The League Of Extraordinary Gorillas' were having their weekly craft fest. One said to the other..
"We been smashin this vise for two months and it ain't broken yet. I buy tools to use not gawk at em like one of them tool polishers".
Another left and minutes later, returned riding a forklift and parked it next to the Wilton. Then he carfully positioned one of the forks between the vise jaws and clamped down on it with a 2 ft pipe over the handle. Then he lowered the forks until the forklift raised itself 4 ft in the air. While this was being set up another member had run across the street to Walmart and bought a case of Keystone.
Then they all climbed in the forklift, put a greasy cassette tape of 'Jump' in the one speaker boom box that had been wire wrapped to the safety cage and proceeded to bounce around like kids in the opening credits to 'The Electric Company'.

My guess on what destroyed that Wilton:
1) A case of beer. + 2) The Wilton nailed to a stump. + 3) Several sticks of dynamite clamped in the jaws. + 4) a high powered rifle to set off the dynamite.

On Monday, the boss walked through the shop and asked "where is the vise?"

Since the handle appears rather straight, I'd go with a pry bar or the like that put a jacking force on the static jaw.

 

[organ]

Riley: now you are talking some righteous stuff and here's the catalog page for the 695 pound Pittsburgh RR vise. i have few chunks of steel and still a couple thousand pounds of weight plates so we could maybe make 2 (one for me and one for you while the others drool?).

will this stuff work? or maybe we can take the 4 foot 7 inch diameter piece of steel and just pound a vise out of it?

Why are you collecting weights? Are you actually gonna cast something?

 

[Dave_In_NB]

This must be the longest thread I ever came across. I could not help but to share with you my latest auction acquisition...

Specs:
6" jaw, 9" opening / 10" pushing it
Rotating fixed jaw
swivel base with spring loaded pin for quick positioning
Weight: Approx 180 lb
Manufacturer: T. McAvity & Sons, St-John NB Canada

It's a heavy beast. Has seen some wear and tear, but still has some life in it. It was covered with a layer of caked grease; a wire brush on a grinder and it revealed it's origins... I was happily surprised that it had been manufactured a 2 hour drive from home.

The swivel locking concept seems like a great way to do what it supposed to do, but yet very easy to operate. My 4" Canadian Tire vise has me swearing everytime I use it. No matter how hard I tighten it, the vise will rotate on me.
The spring loaded pin is missing a lever of some sorts to make it work. If anyone has a picture of a similar mechanism or better yet of the same vise, please post it.

The slide is broken in half lengthwise for about 8" which will prevent opening the jaws to it's maximum capacity - 6" maybe instead of 9 or 10inch.

The rotating back jaw probably will probably need a new lock pin after I manage to beat/pry it out. It has been used as an anvil, but the quality and strength of the piece has kept it going.

And lastly, the jaw inserts have been welded in place. I can grind everything down to a better looking finish, maybe replace the inserts if they are replaceable.

Overall I'm happy I bought it. I really don't have a need for something so big so I may end up selling it after sprucing it up a little.

Edit: After reviewing some of the other posts, I discovered that the Prentiss No. 22 is a doppelgänger of my find. Same swivel mechanism, similar profile and close in weight.

 

[Mark in Indiana]

Hello Dave,
Welcome to the group. Be careful, You may end up with 20 vises in the future.
To remove the pivot jaw pin, soak it with 50/50 transmission fluid/acetone for a few days. After that, this is what I did (sorry, no pictures):
1. Remove the sliding jaw from the body.
2. Get a stack of large washers to go around the top of the pivot jaw pin. The washers' ID should be slightly larger than the pin's OD. The stack can be about half an inch higher than the top of the pin.
3. Find a 5/16" bolt (size may vary) and cut the head off. This bolt piece will go in the hole, under the pivot jaw, at the bottom of the pin. You will need a heavy grease to hold it in the hole.
4. Get a large, heavy duty c-clamp. A Wilton #604 is a good one.
5. Position the clamp so the spindle foot is on top of the washer stack, and the other end is under the pivot jaw, pushing on your bolt piece.
6. Tighten the clamp. The bolt piece will push the pin out through the washers.

Sometimes, there is a hole under the base that you can stick a drift through, hit it with a hammer and drive the pivot jaw pin out. I've never had good luck with that. Also, heating the jaw to remove the pin may damage it.

There may be some good ideas on the "Vise Repair 101" thread, in the vintage tool discussion.

Good luck.

 

[anndel]

http://scuttle.dayid.org/wiki/index.php/Category:ID_Chart

Click on a manufacturer and you'll get its info. table.

ANNDEL: there is a bigger list of vise makers on the vise repair 101 thread's #2 post that the members here have compiled. here's the link to it.

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=252830

it doesn't have the pictures and individual vise specs that Dayid's has because several of the members were helping Dayid's when he put his together and we don't have a web site for one. Bl00 has a web site he's been working on and i'll let him or another member post that address because i can't recall it at the moment.

good luck and if you have questions just ask on a specific vise or a general question that might not have been asked yet. reading this entire thread might take you a few days, but there is a lot of great information here amongst the talking between members.

Joe: nice find and did you pick up the AS #79 too or is that today? BTW did you see that i started a blacksmith vise thread in Vintage section? can you post up some of your blacksmith vises there? also you might make a few posts about the chain vises you seem to find with a few links and more information on them if you have time. thanks

Thank you both very much, awesome. I bought a small Wilton 3-1/2" vise off Ebay and it's marked 4J and on the righthand side of the jaw and the usual 3" opening, 3-1/2 MADE IN USA and a datecode 121066 right beneath the lefthand side so I was just curious about the history of it. Thanks very much

 

[drivesitfar]

Dave: that's an interesting vice and a name I wasn't aware of. it looks like an old Parker, but it's had a hard life. it looks like maybe your static jaw broke so it was either repaired or replaced with weld or braze material. the handle isn't original so maybe it bent when the jaw broke. in any case those big swivel rear jaw vises are worth saving especially those with rare names.

welcome to the forum and hope you stick around. if you do want to do some restoration work just take a ton of pictures and post them on the vise repair 101 thread and if you need help just ask and we'll try to if we can.

good luck

Organ: those piles of gym weight plates used to change weekly, but i'm ready if a member might want to make a vise and needs some steel. i don't have the talent or any of the factory or machines to do so, but i do have the love for steel. i used to have up to 10,000 or 20,000 pounds most any given day in case a client(s) needed some for their gym. not the case anymore because China ships stuff so cheap and some guys lifting weights say "it's just weight" not knowing if a 45 pound plate weighs 35 or 50 or if it will crack soon.

Riley: i think you should start a thread with just BIG DAMN STEEL pictures. that bucket makes those huge links look like snow chains for a truck. nice

Anndel: just saw your post and you are welcome. post pictures of your vise and several of them and we'll try to give you as much information as you want or links to look up so you can do your own search. good luck and should be a great vise if stamped made in USA

 

[CRSINMICH]

Dave in NB: Welcome. A couple of people have already referred you to the Vise Repair thread. Here is a link to page 112 of that thread where the begin a lively discussion of unsticking pins.

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=252830&highlight=vise+repair+101&page=112

I believe that swivel pins come in two general types - stuck and missing. I have one of each.

Look below your post to anndel's post #38784. There are two other links that might be of interest to you. Both are lists of vise manufacturers. If yours isn't there maybe you could add it. Welcome again and I'll give you my standard new member warning about vise addiction IT'S A SICKNESS - A DISEASE. RUN AWAY FAST!

 

[CRSINMICH]

I'm certainly not a vise aficionado like most of you, but I did recently inherit the old vise my Dad had in his workshop. I can remember playing with this vise as a kid, so it is definitely over 50 years old.

It's a Littletown 450, which I know nothing about. After I post this, I will probably search the 1939 pages of this thread to see what is mentioned about this brand.

mnoeltne: Welcome. Glad you posted. You and your father certainly treated that vise well. It's in great shape. I will also advise you to continue to treat it well and pass it on. I have my grandfather's Columbian and use it just about every day. My son will have it someday too. Again, welcome and thanks for posting.

 

[Mark in Indiana]

Welcome again and I'll give you my standard new member warning about vise addiction IT'S A SICKNESS - A DISEASE. RUN AWAY FAST!

Dave,
Don't run away from vises. Given a choice between vises & strip clubs, take vises. You will have something to show for the bucks that you tuck.

 

[drivesitfar]

Dave: on an addendum to Mark's statement vises are cheaper than divorce especially if you can get your bride to ride in the car with you to go pick one up. or even better have your wife go pick it up once you've decided from pictures and the price it ok. note this though. put them in different spots and out of view if you are not planning on re selling them.

again welcome

 

[mnoeltne]

mnoeltne: Welcome. Glad you posted. You and your father certainly treated that vise well. It's in great shape. I will also advise you to continue to treat it well and pass it on. I have my grandfather's Columbian and use it just about every day. My son will have it someday too. Again, welcome and thanks for posting.

Actually, not knowing any better at the time, I abused the heck out of it in the late 70's and early 80's. I beat on things with a large BFH, used it to press bearings and u joints, and beat on the lever a few times to try to hold something tighter.

It's obviously just a good vise since it survived me!

 

[GETRIDAONE]

Pictures of a Parker 134 with a anvil plate I made. It had a big crater to start with so I filled & covered it up. I'm pissed because my whole write up disappeared before I could post it

 

[CRSINMICH]

GET: Good work on that vise. It came out great. Fantastic idea to use a Parker for a mailbox.

By the way, I'm long winded in my posts so I have timed-out a lot. I've started writing my posts in Word and then cut-and-paste them into GJ. Saves hassles.

Beautiful finish on that vise and great photo documentation of the process.

 

[noisenormajean]

Pictures of a Parker 134 with a anvil plate I made. It had a big crater to start with so I filled & covered it up. I'm pissed because my whole write up disappeared before I could post it

It's almost a two-tone metallic gray. Noice.

 

[Rileysan]

This must be the longest thread I ever came across. I could not help but to share with you my latest auction acquisition...

Specs:
6" jaw, 9" opening / 10" pushing it
Rotating fixed jaw
swivel base with spring loaded pin for quick positioning
Weight: Approx 180 lb
Manufacturer: T. McAvity & Sons, St-John NB Canada

It's a heavy beast. Has seen some wear and tear, but still has some life in it. It was covered with a layer of caked grease; a wire brush on a grinder and it revealed it's origins... I was happily surprised that it had been manufactured a 2 hour drive from home.

The swivel locking concept seems like a great way to do what it supposed to do, but yet very easy to operate. My 4" Canadian Tire vise has me swearing everytime I use it. No matter how hard I tighten it, the vise will rotate on me.
The spring loaded pin is missing a lever of some sorts to make it work. If anyone has a picture of a similar mechanism or better yet of the same vise, please post it.

The slide is broken in half lengthwise for about 8" which will prevent opening the jaws to it's maximum capacity - 6" maybe instead of 9 or 10inch.

The rotating back jaw probably will probably need a new lock pin after I manage to beat/pry it out. It has been used as an anvil, but the quality and strength of the piece has kept it going.

And lastly, the jaw inserts have been welded in place. I can grind everything down to a better looking finish, maybe replace the inserts if they are replaceable.

Overall I'm happy I bought it. I really don't have a need for something so big so I may end up selling it after sprucing it up a little.

Edit: After reviewing some of the other posts, I discovered that the Prentiss No. 22 is a doppelgänger of my find. Same swivel mechanism, similar profile and close in weight.

Another victim! Welcome to Garage Journal.

Brian

 

[Rileysan]

Dave: on an addendum to Mark's statement vises are cheaper than divorce especially if you can get your bride to ride in the car with you to go pick one up. or even better have your wife go pick it up once you've decided from pictures and the price it ok. note this though. put them in different spots and out of view if you are not planning on re selling them.

again welcome

I still haven't figured out how to tell my wife I've started collecting vises. She tolerates my acquisition of tools at estate sales, et al, but vises are in a different category simply because of the real estate needed to store them. Perhaps you can give me some advise on how to reveal my vice?

Brian

 

[GETRIDAONE]

Rileysan, Tell her you could be out chasing women and drinking or just keep collecting until you get caught and then lie about where they came from. Tell her your sick and can't help yourself, they belong to a friend and your just storing them. The list goes on and on. My favorite is to ask how many pairs of shoes & pocket books do you need ?

 

[drivesitfar]

Riley: haven't crossed that bridge yet and hope not to. two words of advice "STORAGE UNIT" and "PAY CASH" for the unit and the vises (vices).

here's one of my little cabinets so if she happens to drop by the doors are closed. i also have some nice filing cabinets full of some old gems.

cheers and GOOD LUCK

 

[AnotherJarhead]

I had picked up a Wilton 600S a few weeks ago for a very good price and posted it up on here. After looking at all the redone vises here I decided that mine needed a freshening up also. Not a lot of resources here, just a normal Joe with a garage, although a friend of mine at work turned the hold downs to clean them up.

Before

 

[AnotherJarhead]

Freshened up

 

[AnotherJarhead]

Definitely got inspiration from a lot of the vises here. Picked up some good tips while searching through the threads.

 

[CRSINMICH]

Anotherjarhead: Swell job on that Wilton. What color is that? It's close to a color I am thinking about using on a very special vise I'm doing. Keep posting.

 

[rmalkow2]

Definitely got inspiration from a lot of the vises here. Picked up some good tips while searching through the threads.

Very nice job!. It should do very well in your shop.

 

[AnotherJarhead]

Anotherjarhead: Swell job on that Wilton. What color is that? It's close to a color I am thinking about using on a very special vise I'm doing. Keep posting.

It's the Rustoleum Hammered "verde green". I had found through some of the threads here that it's fairly close to the original Wilton color. Bad news about it...I couldn't find any place where I could buy it in a single can. Ended up buying a 6 can box from HD for around $36.

 

[Shiftless]

Jarhead:
Great work on that big bullet!
As Drives always says "stick around and join the fun...post more pictures of your projects"

Edit: I am also curious about the brand and color you used. Doesn't look exactly like the Verde Green, at least on my screen...
Did you make a new handle? If not, how did you do such a great job polishing out all the dings that seem to always be included in old vise purchases?

 

[dittle fart around]

Pictures of a Parker 134 with a anvil plate I made. It had a big crater to start with so I filled & covered it up. I'm pissed because my whole write up disappeared before I could post it

Those bases go for big bucks up here as antique table bases.

 

[AnotherJarhead]

Jarhead:
Great work on that big bullet!
As Drives always says "stick around and join the fun...post more pictures of your projects"

Edit: I am also curious about the brand and color you used. Doesn't look exactly like the Verde Green, at least on my screen...

It is the Verde Green. Maybe because I used a flash for the pictures ? The only other reason might be because I blasted it in a cabinet (major pain) and then hit it with a gray etching primer prior to paint. It also has around 5 coats on it. Don't really know though.

 

[joe.striper]

Freshened up

Now that's slick. Great job!

 

[AnotherJarhead]

Jarhead
Did you make a new handle? If not, how did you do such a great job polishing out all the dings that seem to always be included in old vise purchases?

New handle. New rods for the hold downs. All were set up in my drill press and sanded from 80 to 600 grit to pretty them up. The ends of the handle I had to get creative with. Bought some 1 1/4" case hardened ball bearings. Annealed them and then drilled through up to a 1/2". Then some free hand grinding to get a nice flat where they meet the handle. Re-hardened and polished up again. The handle and ball bearing ends were the most difficult part. Once set up I peened over the ends (after drilling a recess to make it easier, again...normal Joe in his garage).

 

[AnotherJarhead]

I do appreciate the comments. Thank you. Problem now is that I keep looking for vises on Craigslist all the time. Wife is starting to make comments, lol.

 

[drivesitfar]

AJ: you did a fantastic job spiffing up that big Wilton 600. it's one of my favorite Wiltons because of the size and the jaw design. just an FYI you'll have a hard time finding another $1300 vise for $75, but the hunt is half the fun. now that you have that one might i recommend a baby bullet and maybe a swivel rear jaw vise to use in your garage? if i could only have 3 vises that would be close to what i would put at the top.

good luck and read a few pages and know that a vice for vises is a real thing because they are an amazing tool with many uses and so simple in design.

 

[Fretters]

AJ: you did a fantastic job spiffing up that big Wilton 600.

What DIF said. Tidy work on that vice.

...but the hunt is half the fun.

Very true. Gives a nice feeling when a lengthy search ends too.

 

[Outlawmws]

"What happens in the garage, stays in the garage"

Seriously, SWMBO is very tolerant of my habit, as long as it doesn't creep into the house, at least for too long. And she has her own collection habits, so....

 

[jreb10]

It's the Rustoleum Hammered "verde green". I had found through some of the threads here that it's fairly close to the original Wilton color. Bad news about it...I couldn't find any place where I could buy it in a single can. Ended up buying a 6 can box from HD for around $36.

Sounds to me like you need to find a few more Wilton Bullets!